Hangar18

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Jun 1, 2006 -> 03:53 PM) What does this thread have to do with debate at all? Its whining about media coverage, has nothing to do with the team, or the workings of the team. Its "stating facts" about media coverage of the Chicago White Sox. You dont think coverage has anything to do with a team? Explain why 39,000 continue to fill that stadium up north, when theyve only had THREE 90win seasons? Cant be because theyre good. They stink. Its because their owners (and they control the rest of the media here because of how big they are) make sure to tell everyone how Great that park is, and how dangerous our park is. Simple as that. Well that and they have the dumbest fans in baseball. The Pittsburgh Pirates have probably one of the most "beautiful" parks in Baseball. What was todays attendance on a 85 degree day at PNC Park? 12,899. They have a more beautiful park, and are even WORSE than the northside team.

QUOTE(BigSqwert @ Jun 1, 2006 -> 03:40 PM) What sticks out is the 2003 Cubs vs the 2005 Sox. Even thought the Sox won the first WS series in ages for Chicago, the Sun Times had less to say about them then they did for the Cubs in 2003. Wow. Now that I didnt know. I had separate records for that year, and I kind of knew that to be the case (every dang time I opened the paper, they were front page headlines) 03 and 04 are the years that stand out to me as well. In 03, the northside team surprised everyone and made the playoffs, and the Media here went HOG WILD writing as many stories as they legally could. In 04, the stories for the northside team were Unprecedentedly high, and that was based on them "winning" in 03. Did the SOX get HOG WILD coverage in 05 when they surprised everyone ? NO. The media told us "lets wait and see" OR "theyre not for real" and continued to give the other team more coverage. Did the SOX get the Unprecedentedly high coverage for actually WINNING the World Series in 05?? NO. The records above bear this out. So in other words, the media here (and only here, this isnt happening in any other city) cares only about the northside team, World Series be damned. Its a crying shame, and despicable this team isnt treated better.

QUOTE(beautox @ Jun 1, 2006 -> 02:20 PM) i agree with alot of your points, but i also think sports vision played a part into it to. YES. theres a guy Liptak, who chronicled this sox experiment, generally regarded as foolish, considering one team in city was available FREE on tv, while the other wasnt available FREE.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Jun 1, 2006 -> 02:18 PM) Wait, so you are saying attendance is an indicator of how popular a team is, and therefore how much coverage they should receive, I thought you were just telling me that isn't true? It makes no sense to say that attendance during the 70's means that the Sox were more popular and therefore received more media coverage, but now the Cubs have higher attendance and more media coverage and that is a bad thing today. That arguement doesn't work both ways. I would need to see actual amounts of media coverage all of the way back for this to be anymore than a theory. Attendance is generally an indicator of how "popular" a team is. In Detroit for instance this year, the park is being filled on a regular basis .............because they are Winning. Attendance and TV ratings go hand in hand for the most part. Winning usually plays a direct role in how those numbers play out. So in a nutshell, you dont want to be a BAD team, because your numbers will drop. Nature of the Beast. The SOX were the Toast of the Town in the 1950s, and DOMINATED tv/attendance ratings because .......... They were a Darned Good Team. They got all the extra coverage and deserved it because hey, who wants to hear about a team that stinks and is losing right? Both teams fell on hard times thru the 60's and 70's, with the other team being actually a lot worse. The other team took an even harder hit attendance wise. In the early 80's, the SOX started to get competitive again, and like clockwork, so did their fortunes improve attendance wise and on TV. But along came the Tribune and something very peculiar happened. Stuck with the prospect of marketing a team that has STUNK for quite some time (only 3 90win seasons since 1950 / 16 90plus loss seasons since 1950. SIXTEEN!! / No back-to-back winning seasons since Nixon was in office / generally regarded as laughingstock franchise of MLB) the Trib did the Only thing they could do at that time. MARKET THE PARK. Tell everyone how great and "historic" it is. Tell everyone what a good time it is to be there. (but wait, noones going to buy that if the SOX are across town and are pretty good) Tell everyone how bad SOX park is. Tell everyone how dangerous the area is (publicize crime daily) Write more stories. Write less about the SOX. Well, this continued for a couple of decades to where we are now. The other team gets More Media coverage DESPITE not being a winning franchise. The old rules went out the window.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Jun 1, 2006 -> 02:01 PM) Wait, are you telling me you have the media coverage charted back to the 70's? Because unless you do, there is one big hole in your arguement/ NO. but all you simply have to do is look at tv ratings for both teams for those decades. Also, look at attendance records for both teams thru the decades. You can also ask some of the old-timers (if there are any here) whether this was a "soxtown" before now. They will all say gosh-darn yes. This was a SOXTown from the 1950's on. That other team has stunk since 1950 (only 3 90-win seasons since then. that is Pathetic) but incredibly, their attendance/tv ratings (read: popularity) rose coincidentally with the Trib Entertainment Corporation owning them. How in the world can attendance go UP for a team that has gotten WORSE? Does this mean the Rockies and DevilRays will see similar spikes in popularity/attendance? Probably not. Unless a major media magnate buys one of them. So to go back to the original statement, that the other team "sells" and thats why they get more media-coverage is false. They get more media coverage because the major news outlet in this city is More Interested in Cross Promoting one of its products AHEAD of simply giving us and reporting Sports News. A huge Conflict of Interest, by journalist standards

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Jun 1, 2006 -> 01:44 PM) I can explain both disparities. The Cubs sell. Why don't you see the WNBA on the front page, while you see the Bulls on the front page for everything? Why doesn't soccer get any coverage, while football owns the newspapers year round? I don't call it bias as much as filling demand. Glad you mentioned this because Thats a Myth. The other team always "sold". MYTH. There were many many many years in the 70's when you coulndt give their tickets away. Their teams STUNK, Their farm system STUNK, Noone went to the games, and their park had ivy on the walls. They alternately DIDNT get extra media coverage. Tribune buys them and WGN, gives them EXTRA coverage, tells everyone that SOX fans are hooligans and southside is dangerous dont go to the games, come to Wrigley instead and guess what happens? They get 39,000 a day, because they read that Wrigley is better, the Southside is dangerous and their fans are hooligans, despite the fact and never mind that their teams STILL STINK, farm system still STINKS, and park has ivy on the walls? Its the classic what came first, the Chicken or the Egg argument. Dont believe the myth that they sell thats why they get extra coverage. SOX fans are the only ones that know this, but The Cell will probably get 3 Million in 2006. So you see, the SOX are "selling" too, except were WINNING also. Next time someone visits our fine city, and asks you why is the Southside so dangerous, now you'll know what to say

Every single time Ive met him, he has been overly Warm, Enthusiastic, and Very Friendly towards me and SOX fans in general. He is very Boisterous, Loud, and barrel of monkeys to be around. Stand next to the guy for 1 minute and you cant help but smile. He is also, and this parts important from a media standpoint, very Quick-Witted. Him growing up in northern Indiana as a life-long SOX fan only seals the deal with me. By the way, ive met Chris Singleton, he was shopping over at Target, and is very friendly and outgoing to SOX fans. SOX fans do appreciate that

QUOTE(whitem0nkey @ Jun 1, 2006 -> 12:53 PM) But were not a midgets anymore. Were defending kings of baseball ........Agreed. The SOX should and deserve to be treated with the Respect and Coverage that is accorded to a team that Just WON the World Series. What they receive now is criminal.

QUOTE(Steve9347 @ Jun 1, 2006 -> 12:25 PM) snore. maybe the cubs had a few more stories ........... Actually, its 93 more stories. Id like less AJ Bashing stories. people read this stuff worldwide and start to believe it. Therein lies the danger about the printed word. You guys are probably right. As soon as the SOX start winning and Win a World Series, they'll get the media coverage ...........wait, we did win already didnt we?

I was listening to the radio the other day, struggling with Farmer and Singleton to figure out if something GOOD just happened on the radio. I could hear the crowd cheering, so I figured that something BAD just happened to the SOX. I started thinking, who would inject some life into that booth, and remembered it being brought up previously that Kittle was/is available

QUOTE(RibbieRubarb @ Jun 1, 2006 -> 12:05 PM) If I dropped a box of toothpicks could you tell me how many were spread out on the floor, instantly? I sure could. Id look at the BOX and if it said "500 Toothpicks", id instantly tell you 500.

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Jun 1, 2006 -> 11:57 AM) This is the type of thing that breeds stereotypes and keeps old ones alive . . . Speaking of stereotypes, I was in San Diego a couple years ago for the SOX Padres series. We chatted with a couple of Padre fans before the game, and they were very impressed at the fact that SOX fans very very knowledgable about their team (padres) and baseball in general. They were surprised at the number of SOX fans that were at the games also. One of them commented that he had heard that SOX fans were bare-chested, field-running, umpire-beating, unintelligent hooligans who dont go to the park. Was nice to see 5 Stereotypes all proven untrue in one fell swoop

Question. Whats the Bigger sports story in Chicago Illinois? A: The SOX who are 1.5 games out of 1st Place? OR B: The Cubs who are 1.5 games out of Last Place? If you said B, you would be correct, unfortuneately. The SOX find themselves with the dubious distinction of being Champions of the baseball world, but Cellar Dwellars in regards to Media Coverage. Im sure everyone knows that other team is owned by the Tribune, which owns other newspapers and tv stations and radio stations around the country, so that pretty much explains it. Chris DeLuca does a story today, and instead of telling everyone to HANG ON, the SOX are only 1.5 games out and they can take the lead and the division soon enough, INSTEAD decides to tell everyone to HANG ON, the other team is only 13.5 games out, and they can take the lead and the division soon enough. The White SOX, despite Winning the World Series in 2005, and being only the 5th team in MLB history to lead from wire-to-wire, find themselves INEXPLICABLY lagging in attention from the Media, to a team that is currently as close to last place as the SOX are to 1st Place. ridiculous. Chicago Tribune: 4 cub stories 3 sox stories Chicago SunTimes: 6 cub stories 3 sox stories Standings as of Thursday June 1st, 2006 Priviledged, Media Owned, Media Favored, 4th place in 2005 Cubs 507 Underdogs in Chicago, Media Ignored, WS Champions in 2005 SOX 414

QUOTE(Felix @ Jun 1, 2006 -> 10:46 AM) One might say he's more a Cubs hater than a Sox fan.. Ive heard that before and always ignored it. I cant tell you how GREAT I feel, when I see a grounder roll roll easily under the outstretched glove of a helpless cub, as the other team scores the winning run. Theres a small rush I get, I admit. But, I get a bigger kick out of (back in the day) watching a 1990's Frank Thomas fouling off pitch after pitch, in a sort of chess-match with the pitcher, looking for the ONE pitch he can drive, and then like clockwork, gets the pitch and smokes it to deepest left-center for a home-run, knowing you were right there with him, pitch-for-pitch, knowing what he was thinking, what he was doing, and for a quick moment, Celebrating that blast with Big Frank, in a small way knowing what it must feel like to hit a ball 475 feet to LeftCenter for a homerun.

QUOTE(Jimbo @ Jun 1, 2006 -> 10:43 AM) The media angers me too, but you have to take it with a grain of salt. Can you do your Media watch over here, if the mods allow it? YES, just waiting to hear which thread the Mods would like it to be in.

QUOTE(Jimbo @ Jun 1, 2006 -> 10:32 AM) Never liked WSI, so i never complimented you there. I loved your posts, you may want to meet a guy named Cuck the Fubs, he feels your passion, he is just takes a different route. Thanks. I will try to contribute as much as I can, plan as many group parties as I can, and if you guys ever see me around, lets drink a beer and toast the great year we had last year. by the way, I hate that other team, everything they stand for, because theyve made it hard for me to Enjoy my team. The Media has a LOT to do with it, and theyve gotten away with things for over 20 years. Thankfully, People like you and Me have an alternative outlet (the Internet) to let them know we dont appreciate and take exception to what theyre saying about our SOX. Heck, there are SOX fansites that prefer to side with the Media and the Status Quo. Not me. But thats all for another post/thread. Glad to be here and thanks again. Go SOX, and let the Truth Ring Free ............ QUOTE(Jimbo @ Jun 1, 2006 -> 10:32 AM) ............................................. he feels your passion, he just takes a different route. AMEN. We are all SOX fans and we all cheer for them in different ways. Who am I to tell him hes WRONG for cheering the SOX in his way? or criticize his route ? god bless and GO SOX

QUOTE(Jimbo @ Jun 1, 2006 -> 10:24 AM) Wow when did you start posting here?? Since I was banned from WSI. They didnt like my Media Watches (and neither did the Tribune) and the attention the Media Watches were bringing. The Tribune thought good times were here again, but not anymore

late in the game, Garcia on the mound, he bounces a pitch inside to lefty Victor Martinez. Martinez was just able to get out of the way of the pitch, as it bounced behind AJ and skipped to the backstop. The Umpire called it a HBP, and sent Martinez to 1st. Garcia was noticably confused, and disagreed with the umpire. Garcia was walking towards the plate and shook his head in disagreement, and Martinez jogged past him with a huge grin on his face, smiling towards Freddy. Freddy noticed this and smirked back at him and went to the mound again. The Hawk and DJ at this point began wondering if that pitch really hit Martinez and began looking at the replays, which showed Martinez was nowhere close to being hit, and explained Garcias facial expressions. Garcia was able to get out of the inning with Martinez stuck at 1st, and on the way back to the dugout, Martinez passed Garcia and tapped him, both players smiling. I laughed pretty hard

The AJ the Agitator article is a Tribune Propoganda Piece. That was put out there to MINIMIZE what Michael Barrett did, and doesnt acknowledge that Michael Barrett is a Sore Loser, and a Dirtbag. Simple as that. Heck, there was an article right after that calling for fans of the blue sheep to give Barrett a Standing Ovation, for doing something "others" have wanted to do for a long time, punch AJ Pierzynski. Incredibly, Cub fans ignored the Medias plea, one of the rare times I will give them a thumbs up. That article, which compared AJ to Bill Romanowski, Bill Laimbeer, and Claude Lemieux is ridiculous. Those 3 figures have been involed in numerous fights with other teams AND their own teammates. How many fights has AJ been in previous to this?? NONE. The Chicago Tribune is a STUPID RAG for a newspaper.

QUOTE(Kalapse @ May 27, 2006 -> 10:01 PM) If Anderson is shipped out, we're in trouble. One of the main reasons this team has such good pitching is because of the amazing defense that is played behind them. We're going to be seeing outfields of Pods>MackPods I agree. Anderson does get to the balls very well, and i'll take that right now. I do know this, we cant have TWO guys not hitting in this lineup. Anderson/Uribe need to be playing, but not at the same time, until Uribe gets his swing going. I believe Uribe is going to CLICK shortly ...............but dang, hes hurting us with his glove

I watched last nites game, and Im not sure if the guys are tired, or what. Hafner hit a smoking shot towards DYE, and he misjudged it, having let it bounce over his head (he wouldve had it). Luckily, he didnt score. There was another shot hit towards Mackowiak, and he totally misplayed it and it went soaring over his head for extra bases. These guys have to turn it up a notch ...........way too much of this the last month, and uncharacteristic. Defense has lost us a couple games already this year..

Just wanted to say hello to everyone here. Ive been documenting the Chicago Media blatant bias against the World Champion White Sox for a number of years. Its been a hot topic the last couple of years, ESPECIALLY in the last couple of weeks. Most casual fans had no idea the lengths and trouble the Chicago Media goes thru to A: Make the SOX look bad and B: Make that north-side team look great. From constantly comparing the attendance figures between both parks, hiliting the Good (them) and the Bad (always us), the Media Watch is way to shine a light right back on the people who are supposedly in charge of getting and reporting to us the News. The Internal Affairs of sports if you will. Some of you may know me from the other website, truth be known, I was BANNED for my Media Watches. Some there feel that if you Ignore the Problem, It will Go Away. (that never works, history tells us so) Some there feel it important that Everyone Agree with them or Else. Thats not the case here. If you dont agree. Hallelujah. Its a Democracy! Media Attention is very important for a baseball team, especially one in a two team city. That other team is somehow known the world over, for simply, being BAD? Were the Champions, and were going to make sure the SOX get their due. The Deserve It.

DJ is better than Singleton right now

Heres the Map where we'll be

Hey you all. I just wanted to stop over here before I forget and invite everyone to a Tailgate a bunch of us are having on SATURDAY 3pm to 6pm. Im flying out Wednesday to the west coast for this series its gonna be a blast. Whoever is out there, your all invited, just bring your own Byob, theres a private lot that allows drinking (I will attach a map shortly) By the way, for those of you who are in the San Diego CA area, Im flying there on Wednesday, take in a Padre game, then were all going to a place called BUBS, 1030 Garnet Ave, SanDiego 858-270-7269 to watch their satellite of the SOX and Mariners game. There are a bunch of SOX fans in the SD area, who are coming out to watch the game, should be pretty fun. Were currently trying to get the Anaheim bar figured out so we can all meet there before/after the Friday Nite Game, as again, there are a bunch of us heading out there for this, plus the people who already live out on the coast. For those of you who came out to the bash I threw out in SD last year at Dicks, same people basically. Oh, if anyone has extras for the Sat Nite game, im all ears, heh heh