DVG
12-05-2001, 12:04 AM
A great front-page article by Dan Helpingstine and a rather depressing one, I might add. He's correct when he states that
the Sox fan base is shrinking and that the team is not forging its
own identity. Of course, the White Sox have had scorn heaped
on them from the baseball world when they do manage to carve out a niche.
I remember the 1970's, when Harry Caray's 7th inning stretch
rendition of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" was derided as being
part of the "circus atmosphere" of Comiskey Park. When Harry took his circus act up north, suddenly the purists looked around,
saw vines, sunshine and Harry singing and solemnly intoned that "this is what baseball is all about."
Dan also writes that the Sox are borrowing a page from the Cubs in putting foliage in center field. I recall an article in which
Jay Mariotti, heaping his usual abuse on the Sox, suggested that
they send royalty payments to the Cubs for it. Why, what a great
idea! I'm all for it. First, though, I suggest that the Cubs send roy-
alty payments to the White Sox for all of their "star-studded" cele-
brity renditions of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame." The Sox not only started the tradition, they also introduced the concept of
"guest singers" for a short time after Harry took his Bud up north.
While they are at it, every time Sammy comes out of the dugout
to doff his cap at his fans following a home run, the Cubs could
send a royalty check to Richie Zisk and Oscar Gamble.
The only comfort I can take now (cold comfort, to be sure) is that the team has been down before and always bounced back. In 1969 the current owner of the Brewers Mr. Bud Selig almost
bought the Sox and made them the Brewers. In 1975 Walter Mitty himself, Danny Kaye, nearly bought the team and moved them to Seattle. Then there was the great stadium crisis of 1988.
The Sox survived every time. The future looks bleak with the curr-
ent stadium issue, declining attendance and scorn from the media.
All I can say right now is, hopefully history will repeat itself and the White Sox will survive, rise and thrive. Hopefully.
the Sox fan base is shrinking and that the team is not forging its
own identity. Of course, the White Sox have had scorn heaped
on them from the baseball world when they do manage to carve out a niche.
I remember the 1970's, when Harry Caray's 7th inning stretch
rendition of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" was derided as being
part of the "circus atmosphere" of Comiskey Park. When Harry took his circus act up north, suddenly the purists looked around,
saw vines, sunshine and Harry singing and solemnly intoned that "this is what baseball is all about."
Dan also writes that the Sox are borrowing a page from the Cubs in putting foliage in center field. I recall an article in which
Jay Mariotti, heaping his usual abuse on the Sox, suggested that
they send royalty payments to the Cubs for it. Why, what a great
idea! I'm all for it. First, though, I suggest that the Cubs send roy-
alty payments to the White Sox for all of their "star-studded" cele-
brity renditions of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame." The Sox not only started the tradition, they also introduced the concept of
"guest singers" for a short time after Harry took his Bud up north.
While they are at it, every time Sammy comes out of the dugout
to doff his cap at his fans following a home run, the Cubs could
send a royalty check to Richie Zisk and Oscar Gamble.
The only comfort I can take now (cold comfort, to be sure) is that the team has been down before and always bounced back. In 1969 the current owner of the Brewers Mr. Bud Selig almost
bought the Sox and made them the Brewers. In 1975 Walter Mitty himself, Danny Kaye, nearly bought the team and moved them to Seattle. Then there was the great stadium crisis of 1988.
The Sox survived every time. The future looks bleak with the curr-
ent stadium issue, declining attendance and scorn from the media.
All I can say right now is, hopefully history will repeat itself and the White Sox will survive, rise and thrive. Hopefully.