[Last Day of the Howard Stern E! Show]

I've heard the Spike TV possibility too. It makes sense because that's who he's developing his cartoon with.

 

Can someone summarize the KC interview? I only heard the end. I always thought he was funny, and I feel sad for him.

[Cancelled wedding ends with]

Great story. I hope one of them was wearing my old gym shirt.

[SI's midseason awards]

AL Rookie of the Year - Tadahito Iguchi

 

Deserved or undeserved? I really don't like when guys have been playing pro ball in Japan for a few years but are still classified as a rookie when they come to MLB, so I don't think Tadahito deserves the ROY award.

Guys playing minor league ball in the US are playing pro ball, too.

[Contreras and El Duque]

At this point, El Duque is the #4 and Contreras is basically the #5. All we need is for Contreras to eat up some innings for the rest of the season. Hernandez needs to get his arm right for the playoffs. If he has a good September, the Sox will give him playoff starts. Otherwise, it's MB, Garcia and Garland. Not bad. It would be nice to have Duque's experience, though.

[Sox Day at The Taste of Chicago]

Nice turnout, big big crowd there.  

Finally, a positive attendance post!

[Putting a freeze on the Meltdown talk]

This thread is pointless because 75% of the Meltdown Thread was people berating anyone being slightly negative.  The Meltdown Thread itself was mainly optimisitic.

At best it's 50/50. Most of the posts in the first few pages are by people who've posted a few thousand times. Kind of funny that some of these vets are the same guys that went on and on a week and a half ago about "newbies" starting dumb threads. Nothing's dumber than saying that a team that is 26 games over .500 is in the midst of a meltdown.

[June Quotes of the Month.]

I just copied this from the first page and agree. One of the best things I've ever read on this site. PS I volunteer to take the housewives from Naperville out for a night on the town. one at a time, ladies.

 

QUOTE(JimH @ Jun 4, 2005 -> 01:05 PM)

OK, I have read the whole thread. Actually I think it's one of the better threads recently.

 

Commentary on the thread

 

1. Attendance is a legit topic to discuss. There is a direct correlation to revenue vs. what the White Sox spend on payroll. They run the team as a zero sum operation and have increased payroll steadily. Steff knows all the numbers by heart.

 

2. I disagree with bashing the guy who started the thread. Yes, the topic is somewhat worn out but so is Timo bashing, Crede bashing, Ozzie bashing, etc. Since everything is fair game on this site, so is discussion of attendance.

 

3. For the "you don't go to games so you have no right to b**** about attendance" crowd: B.S. He brought it up for discussion vs. b****ing about it. Everybody has their reasons for going or not going to games. We are all fans. Anything about the franchise is fair game to discuss. Maybe this guy goes to Sox road games in California. Part of the gate always goes to the visiting team anyway. It's a very small portion but that is the case.

 

4. b****ing about attendance (if he is indeed b****ing) is no different than b****ing about anything. He presented the argument very well, to say he isn't entitled or qualified to b**** about attendance is ludicrous. The same goes for all of you who b**** about Timo ad nauseum, what makes you qualified to b**** about that? Because you are a fan, and it's a relevant topic to the Chicago White Sox. Stop the elitism crap. I have probably been to more Chicago White Sox games in my lifetime than almost everyone here, save for Steff and quickman and possibly a few others. When I didn't live here I went to their road games (Anaheim and Milwaukee) and traveled in whenever I could. Attendance and lack thereof has been an issue since I can remember and that dates to the mid 1960's.

 

How to Increase Attendance

 

1. First of all it will not be an overnite thing. Attendance is on the upswing as Mike stated in his post. IMO the casual fan is beginning to notice (rediscover?) the White Sox. People like to do the "in" thing. The Sox are becoming more "in" but this never changes overnite. It took the Cubs 20 years to become the "in" thing (from early/mid 60's to the mid 1980's). The PR people need to keep pressing forward and doing the promotions they do. Over time it will make a difference.

 

2. Continue redeveloping the neighborhood. I grew up there. There's a mistaken impression about Bridgeport, people hang onto old stories and draw conclusions. Talk to some housewives in Naperville, they think Bridgeport is a slum. Then take them to a few establishments in Bridgeport and watch them go "wow ... this is not that bad, this is kinda nice". Word of mouth is very powerful. They are cleaning up Halsted St. big time, that will help.

 

3. The White Sox and local establishments should aggressively joint venture. The Sox should promote the neighborhood spots, and vice versa. Example: on the back of every ticket they have a Dunkin Donuts promo. Why not rotate it with a promo for the neighborhood places? "Take your ticket stub to Ricobene's within one week of this game date, get $3 off a pizza." Get the fans out into the neighborhood and they will see it's safe and a nice area to hang out. The establishments in Bridgeport need to press this with the White Sox and the White Sox need to be more open to this idea. Embrace the neighborhood.

 

4. Continue the focus on marketing to kids. Have even more kids promotions. Fundamentals is a good start, community outreach is a good start. Promote the players at kids events, there are millions of kids activities in Chicago. The White Sox should partner with those organizations more than they do.

 

5. Do special promos for the upper deck and stop treating it like a red haired step child. Give upper deck people a coupon for concessions, more special meal deals, etc. Market the upper deck to community newspapers. I can't remember the last time I saw a Sox promo piece in my local newspaper.

 

6. Market the Club Level to the swankier audience. It's a marvelous place to sit, they need to promote it to the higher end audience. Chicago Magazine is a good place to start.

 

7. Continue the crackdown on idiots at the ballpark in terms of fighting, abusive behavior, etc. Make it known that idiots have to pay consequences, put out a press release when some assclown goes to jail for starting a fight at the ballpark. Reinforce that the Chicago White Sox support a friendly, safe environment. Have fun at the ballpark, kick back a few beers and enjoy yourself but don't get out of line. If you do, you are not welcome here. This supports families going to games. And it makes moms feel safer, a very important factor because we know that moms and wives have significant say so in terms of the entertainment $$.

 

8. Have more raffle drawings, i.e. Lucky Seat winners. Give away stuff from places in the neighborhood. Not at all hard to do. Show your ticket stub at Guest Relations and win a gift certificate if your name is called. Or, have a Lucky Row contest. They do this in Tucson and the whole row wins a pizza. Makes the game more fun and it's good PR for the franchise and the establishment.

 

There are a lot more ideas but that's a start. Another thing they should do is "personalize" the players more. Boyer is trying to do this. Many of these guys are really nice and their personalities would resonate with White Sox fans. Let the fans get to know the players a bit more. Lots of ways to do this.

[What Is Your Greatest Memory]

i got blown by some drunk girl in the men's room

We have a winner!

[What Is Your Greatest Memory]

1) 1983 - The Double Leyland

A young Middle Buffalo postions himself smartly along

the 3rd base line before game-time hoping to get Ron

Kittle's autograph. Keeping his true intentions to

himself, young MB passes the time by getting 3rd

base coach Jim Leyland's autograph. As Kittle passes

behind Leyland to assume his left-field position for

warm-ups, young MB yells to Kittle for an

autograph. Kittle makes eye-contact. Young MB

asks Leyland to pass the program to Kittle for the

autograph. Leyland signs it a second time and passes

it back. Kittle is gone. The double Leyland.

 

2) Doug Jones meets Middle Buffalo's younger brother

This is Middle Buffalo at his finest. Center field

bleachers again, above the Cleveland Indians bullpen.

Young MB and younger brother are standing

above the Indians bullpen trying to get someone,

anyone, to toss them a ball. MB's brother will not be

denied. He keeps yelling for Doug Jones to toss him a

ball. Seizing the opportunity, Middle Buffalo tells

his brother that the reason Jones isn't throwing him a ball

is because he's pronouncing Jones' name wrong. My brother,

still not to be denied, spend the rest of the game

yelling, as I told him to, "Hey HONES,

throw me a ball!" Hones (pronounced with a spanish "J" sound) - classic.

[Jimmy Piersall Interview]

Always loved Jimmy. I remember when he was on that studio show demonstrating to Sox players how to put down a bunt by using a broom (because it was the only thing availabel in the studio). I wish he would have punched LaRussa. LaRussa could use a little humility.

[54 W. Hubbard, Chicago, Ill.]

usage For both transitive and intransitive senses 1b the past and past participle hung, as well as hanged, is standard. Hanged is most appropriate for official executions but hung is also used . Hung is more appropriate for less formal hangings .

So do I tell the ladies that I'm well hanged or well hung? Maybe I'll just show 'em.

[Attendence thread]

In the early 90's, I remember alot of talk about the Yankees possibly moving from the Bronx to a better location. Their problems are similar to the Sox in terms of location (I think Yanks are worse, but not sure). When the Sox consistently (for a few years, not half a season) start putting winning teams out on the field, they'll draw. Look at how the Yankees attendance spiked after 96 when they won the Series. I don't expect the Sox to have a $200 million payroll anytime soon, though.

 

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/teams/yankatte.shtml

[School Colors]

In grammar school we wore horrible polyester yellow shirts and brown pants. Just awful.

[Crede vs. Ventura]

I've never heard Crede talk, but I'll assume he's every bit the announcer that Ventura was. Welcome back, Hawk. Aaaaarrrgh. Swab the deck, DJ.

[Report: Brandon McCarthy to Start on Monday]

Agreed, I want Duque in the best form he can be at the end of the season and possibly the playoffs.  I think I'd have the most faith in him in the playoffs, with his track record there.

That's why we got him. He was a stud with NYY in the post-season.

 

PS Let's quit trying to figure out ways to get rid of BMac. Every trade "rumor" or wish I see on this site seems to include him. For some reason, I don't think he's going to be another Ruffin/Ruffcorn type.

[Post your weather forecast]

I just got back from beautiful McAllen, TX last week. Man, it gives Miami a run for its humidity money.

 

Phoenix temps should be 105-112 today and every day for the next 100 days. Good thing I work outside.

[Freddy in the 8th]

That game was awesome. FG was SO bad early, even Homers Hawk and DJ were dogging him. Talking about how it takes FG getting hit around sometimes before he gets going and how Ozzie has had to go out and b**** FG out on the mound several times. Good stuff to hear from the Sox announcers.

 

I was watching the game and thinking, "Could AJ please go out to the mound and slap this guy and wake him up!" I mean, just terrible, lazy body language from FG. But to his credit, he woke up and pitched 8 solid innings. In retrospect, too bad he didin't get the win.

[Player I like to see KW go out and get]

well 3 years and about 50 points difference in average.  if there was any way this could happen, it would be great.  but Helton doesn't want to go anywhere, he wants to win in Colorado.  and the money argument sucks, if we spend an extra $10M and win more, why not do it?  too bad Helton's not going anywhere.

Any "extra" money the Sox have should ALWAYS go toward improving the pitching staff.

[What's your Absolut Flavor]

It's Russian, so it's a bit strong. Nothing is stronger than K-19 Russian Submarine vodka, though. If you think Skol is rough, find a bottle of this and you'll gag for minutes.

 

But I've been told that I was seen drinking from a bottle of Stoli at a house party that I co-threw...half the bottle...while blacked out. It wasn't surprising when I woke up in some girl's room at 530 that morning.

It was surprising that she peed standing up, though.

[Pitcher Brendan Donnelly of the Angels was ejected]

Bartolo Colon is from the Dominican Republic, Guillen is from Venezuela.  Totally different countries.

Right, they're both Mexican.Hence, the pact.

[What's your Absolut Flavor]

I quit drinking Absolut when I turned 21.

[Maggs Rumor]

Did everyone hate Mags this much when he was with the team? I don't live in the area anymore, so I really don't know what the local opinion is. I just remember him being really popular before I moved away from Chicago.

[Sox Segment on Cold Pizza]

it probably costs ESPN more to insert another show.

They should just create another show for Stuart Scott. He's not busy enough.

[Best Sox Promotion Ever?]

I think the "Turn Back the Clock" promotion was among the best. Those 1917? uniforms looked great, and it led to all the teams doing similar promotions. Unfortunately, in football, the Detroit Lions still trot out those awful uniforms on Thanksgiving.

[front page of the wall street journal]

Since the attendance comparison is really always made in relation to the Cubs, here's the history of attendance at Wrigley. Their attendance can ultimately be linked to winning in 1984, Harry, becoming a tourist destination, and the rejuvination of the area. Before 1984, Wrigley attendance was not so great. I get sick of hearing about how loyal their fans are. I remember late 70's/early 80's when portions of the upper deck were roped off because they didn't want to pay ushers to work sections with just a handful of people. Too bad all the columnists don't take the time to do a little research. They'd rather write about a stupid effing goat and attend the day games.

 

Chicago Cubs

attendance at

Wrigley Field

2004 3,170,154

2003 2,962,630

2002 2,693,096

2001 2,779,465

2000 2,789,511

1999 2,813,854

1998 2,623,194

1997 2,190,308

1996 2,219,110

1995 1,918,265

1994 1,845,208

1993 2,653,763

1992 2,126,720

1991 2,314,250

1990 2,243,791

1989 2,491,942

1988 2,089,034

1987 2,035,130

1986 1,859,102

1985 2,161,534

1984 2,107,655

1983 1,479,717

1982 1,249,278

1981 565,637

1980 1,206,776

1979 1,648,587

1978 1,525,311

1977 1,439,834

1976 1,026,217

1975 1,034,819

1974 1,015,378

1973 1,351,705

1972 1,299,163

1971 1,653,007

1970 1,642,705

1969 1,674,993

1968 1,043,409

1967 977,226

1966 635,891

1965 641,361

1964 751,647

1963 979,551

1962 609,802

1961 673,057

1960 809,770

1959 858,255

1958 979,904

1957 670,629

1956 720,118

1955 875,800

1954 748,183

1953 763,658

1952 1,024,826

1951 894,415

1950 1,165,944

1949 1,143,139

1948 1,237,792

1947 1,364,039

1946 1,342,970

1945 1,036,386

1944 640,110

1943 508,247

1942 590,972

1941 545,159

1940 534,878

1939 726,663

1938 951,640

1937 895,020

1936 699,370

1935 692,604

1934 707,525

1933 594,112

1932 974,688

1931 1,086,422

1930 1,463,624

1929 1,485,166

1928 1,143,740

1927 1,159,168

1926 885,063

1925 622,610

1924 716,922

1923 703,705

1922 542,283

1921 410,107

1920 480,783

1919 424,430

1918 337,256

1917 360,218

1916 453,685

Attendance figures

courtesy of Total

Baseball