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QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jun 20, 2014 -> 07:42 AM) Eh, I'd buy it if history didn't tell me otherwise. Even years when they have met the winning criteria, the other complaints problems pop up, such as weather, school, cost, location, transportation, who they don't like, white flag, seat color, seat location, angle of the upper deck, parking cost, the cost of beer, the cost of food, too far away from the park. The winning criteria (i.e. make the playoffs 2 years in a row or win the WS) has only been met once in our lifetimes. And guess what? The attendance went up. QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jun 20, 2014 -> 10:13 AM) Saying "win for five years" is nearly impossible to actually accomplish. So few teams can actually pull it off, even less if you have limited resources and most importantly of all, a fanbase that will support a team when it is bad, so that resources are there when it is good. Who's asking for 5 in a row? We’d settle for 2 post-season appearances in a row. 3 in 4 years would be even better. Something 3 other teams in the AL central alone have already managed since the division was created. I’m sure plenty of other teams have done it as well.

There’s a world of difference between being in contention compared to winning the division 2 or 3 years in a row or at least 3 out of 4. Something the Tigers, Twins and Indians have all managed at one time or another. Picking out years where they had a better year than the previous one or one year where they managed to barely squeak into the playoffs isn’t a fair comparison.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jun 18, 2014 -> 09:13 AM) When the Sox had Maggs, CLee, Big Hurt...their attendance wasn't even average. According to Caulfield's post, they weren't even average when they won the division in 2000 or when they won the WS in 2005. Wasn't there a 10-15 year stretch where the White Sox won more games than just about everyone except for 3 or 4 teams? Yea, the Sox are really good at finishing in 2nd place. They’ve managed it 9 times in the 19 years the AL central has existed.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jun 13, 2014 -> 10:14 AM) I think the mentality will eventually change. But it is going to take a lot of winning, for a decent period of time. This. QUOTE (The Critic @ Jun 14, 2014 -> 08:46 AM) That's because the Hawks are good now. When the Hawks were bad, those people were not there (in fact, few people were). If the Sox are good, those people appear at USCF. That's just how it goes. and this... QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Jun 14, 2014 -> 08:55 AM) Yup, and that's been my point throughout this thread. If the Sox went on a run like the San Francisco Giants, people would feel privileged to buy those "expensive" tickets. But instead they have one playoff appearance in 8 years and no one wants to go. Families aren't being out priced, they just aren't excited enough about the product on the field to spend the money. and also this. Get in the playoffs and win a few games and suddenly all the excuses fall away.

QUOTE (greg775 @ Jun 12, 2014 -> 02:32 PM) As far as the Christian thing, cmon Quin. You know Christians have been silenced effectively. Yes by the mass media mainly but tons of believers can't even say they go to church on Sunday without getting looks of disbelief or getting mocked. I know. People around here think I'm an idiot for going to church every week. I know this won’t make a difference but I’ll post it anyway. Depending on which source you read, something like 70-80% of Americans identify as Christian.

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Jun 12, 2014 -> 05:41 AM) Greg, It's not the worst summer for deaths. It's like it has been said in in other threads: these just aren't happening in the inner-city. They're happening in places where affluent white people live, so more coverage and with it comes the illusion of more violence. Greg has never been one to let facts influence his opinion.

Neither one of those options is even close to realistic.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ May 30, 2014 -> 02:47 PM) IIRC he said something along the lines of "blood is on your hands, I hope its your children next time." Not professional or level-headed, but not exactly just wishing random violence or retaliation against their children. That’s pretty much what Greg said. I’m reading that as the dude hopes that the next time there is a shooting, that the children of NRA members are the ones that die. Sick. edit: The tweet was "The blood is on the hands of the #NRA. Next time, let it be YOUR sons and daughters. Shame on you. May God damn you."

QUOTE (greg775 @ May 29, 2014 -> 10:32 PM) They're mad because the policy is vague. It all stems from the professor at KU tweeting that he wished violence on children of NRA members following the death of 13 people in DC at the Navy Yard. He was put on leave and eventually forced out. Yea, that's pretty sick.

So I just found out today that they are finally bringing The Wonder Years out on a DVD box set sometime later this year. It’s also supposed to have most of the original music which has always been the major sticking point. I’ve been waiting for this for years.

QUOTE (SoxFan562004 @ May 29, 2014 -> 04:36 PM) Expansion is not a defined term it appears, as the article mentions, probably leans towards the Cubs, but not a slam dunk. True, but they've been careful to always use that word when talking about the changes they want. Even in the approval they got from the city last year it uses the word expansion.

Full contract has been released. Lawyers disect portions of it. This seems to be the key to the whole thing: The Cubs seem to have a pretty solid case here.

QUOTE (Chi Town Sox @ May 28, 2014 -> 04:03 PM) Interesting, thanks - Just a quick google search shows that Illinois consider severance payment for PAST services. She is taking this over a 10 week span and not lump sum, is this what you did as well? It’s been awhile but I think that’s what I did. They sent a check every 2 weeks.

She can apply for unemployment immediately. I got a severance package when I got let go at my old job and they actually advised us to do exactly that.

QUOTE (ewokpelts @ May 13, 2014 -> 03:34 PM) I have argued this on Facebook and other sites: If the weekday traffic was such an issue for suburban fans, then the park would have better attendance on weekends. But there seems to be less at the park on Sundays with reduced tix and parking on a Sunday afternoon when the kids are typically up. $30 for a family of four on a Sunday afternoon WITH PARKING should be sellouts every Sunday. They do average more attendance on weekends. A little over 19,000 on Fri-Sun and about 17,000 Mon-Thurs. It would be a bigger difference but the weekday total is boosted by opening day and the 2 games vs the Cubs.

QUOTE (greg775 @ May 12, 2014 -> 10:37 PM) How many fans nowadays who can afford tickets end up taking transit to the Cell for night games where the thought is you'll get mugged? You’re proof that the only people that still think this are the people that never actually go to the games.

QUOTE (The Mighty Mite @ May 12, 2014 -> 01:13 PM) Chicago is the third largest market in the USA and we drew 18,000, pathetic and embarrassing. Don't tell me it was Mothers day, it was Mothers Day all over the country, Baltimore had 45,000, Milwaukee, LA and NY all over 40,000. We are getting outdrawn by the Rays and the Marlins. Where are all the Sox fans? Down through the years we have had lousy ownership from cheap Charles Comiskey, to underfunded Bill Veeck to the current regime who if we hadn't won in 2005 we would begging them to sell. This franchise has never made the post-season 2 years in a row, that's amazing. High prices for seats and parking plus a lousy location not to mention alienating the fan base many times many times through the years has led to a very apathetic fan base and it saddens me to no end. I may be wrong but I think the franchise is in trouble and when the lease is up do not be surprised it the Sox move to another town. You basically answered your own question. Quite a few others have mentioned it as well but the only "fix" that will make any kind of dent in the attendance is winning. Consistent winning. History proves this year after year after year. All the advertising, promotions, give-aways and ticket prices in the world won't do anything if the team isn't winning. I'm amazed we have this same discussion every single year.

QUOTE (Hawkfan @ May 5, 2014 -> 09:03 AM) They're a rival to me. I see 40,000 people pack the stands every night to watch a consistent product of minor league baseball, meanwhile the White Sox scrath and claw to hold onto a measley 15,000. It is bulls***, and I will not stand for it. Cubs need to be taken down. Not anymore you don’t. The Cubs averaged about 32,000/game last year and it’s been going steadily down for years. Even that number isn’t exactly right since the announced attendance last night was around 33,000 and at least half of those people showed up dressed as empty seats. QUOTE (chisoxfan310 @ May 5, 2014 -> 10:15 AM) I really wish they would re-work interleague play in general to make it more balanced. Year 1: ALC vs NLC ALE vs NLE ALW vs NLW Year 2: ALC vs NLE ALE vs. NLW ALW vs. NLC Year 3: ALC vs NLW ALE vs NLC ALW vs NLE and then go forward like that. Each team plays each team in the other division home and away. Makes it more fair for each team in the division to play the same teams out of the division the same amount of times each year. That’s exactly what they are doing. They played the NLE last year and the NLW this year. They’ll play the NLC next year. The only thing is they keep the “natural rivalry” games every year. QUOTE (AJUribe @ May 5, 2014 -> 09:59 AM) All about the money folks. If this were a sox/royals series ticket sales would a tenth of what they will sell for this one. They figure they will sell alot of tickets for an otherwise unattractive date. QUOTE (Chilihead90 @ May 6, 2014 -> 10:12 AM) All of the geographical AL/NL rivals play a Monday-Thursday 2 and 2 series. It's not just the Sox/Cubs, it's Yankees/Mets, Giants/A's, Dodgers/Angels, etc. Why can't they just make all these a Friday-Monday, or Thursday-Sunday series instead though? Do they figure they will take advantage of average weekday series' by giving them bigger story lines to boost the attendance? This is exactly it. It’s the reason the Sox hosted the Cubs in 2012 on weekdays while the Cubs still had weekend games vs. the Sox.

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Apr 23, 2014 -> 05:19 PM) Where are you getting your figures for those years? Every place I have looked has 3 games at Wrigley in 1935 and 4 in 1945. OK, I think we're saying the same thing. I'm saying they went 1-2 as in 1 win with 2 losses, and you are saying they went 1-3 as in 1 win in three games. Yea, I probably should have worded that better.

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Apr 23, 2014 -> 03:55 PM) That is true. The Cubs' 1918 WS games were played at Comiskey--not sure why. In 1929, 1932, and 1938, the Cubs went 0-2 at Wrigley. In 1935 they went 1-2. In 1945 they went 1-3. Also don't forget that the Bears won 4 NFL Championship games at Wrigley (plus one at Chicago Stadium!) According to Wiki, the 1918 WS was in Comiskey because it had more seating capacity. Also, In 1935 they went 1-3. In 1945 they went 1-4.

I researched this one time but I don’t remember for sure if this is correct. The Sox have won the same number of World Series games in their current ballpark as the Cubs have won in their current ballpark. Two.

I use an electric mower for the lot at the campground my trailer is on. Its corded though. It works ok but it’s a really small area. Gas mowers seem to do a better job overall.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Apr 10, 2014 -> 09:21 AM) Speaking of random items that have value to someone: La Grange has it's annual spring clean up day for my neighborhood today. They let you throw anything you want out on the curb (except certain items like construction material, paint, electronics, etc.) and they'll come get it for the price of three garbage stickers. The entire area throws stuff out starting last night and for 6-8 hours there are beat up and modified trucks and vans strolling the streets, loading up trash that people had thrown out. I had sitting in my basement 3 tube tv's, a broken 55 inch LCD, a broken LCD monitor and a bunch of other random dvd players and old tivo's that i've been hanging on to for the last few years, mainly because I didn't know how to get rid of them/where to take them. I decided last night to just set them out on the curb to see if anyone would grab them. Sure enough, as i'm carrying a TV down to the curb, this mexican dude and his wife and 4-5 year old daughter stroll up and take everything. The dude (who spoke 2 words of english) had a reaction on his face like he had just won the lottery when he saw the LCD TV. I tried to explain that the tube tv's were fine, but the lcd's didn't work. But either he didn't understand me or didn't care. He kept saying something to his wife with this huge smile on his face. While I love the clean-up day and the ability to get rid of random stuff for basically nothing, the whole thing made my wife and I feel weird. One man's garbage is another man's treasure was true. All night long we had random vehicles stop in front of our house to literally dig through trash to find something of "value," while we had determined those items had no value to us. I can sort of understand picking through stuff to find metal that you can sell. But these people were taking nearly everything. 'Merica! I've put plenty of things out to the curb with the absolute knowledge that somebody would pick them up before the garbage truck came along the next day. Mostly it was stuff that still had some good use left in it but I just didn't want/need it anymore and didn't want the hassle of taking it anywhere. I got rid of a lot of my kids old plastic yard toys that way. A plastic teeter-totter, a plastic house, etc... Although I think a few of them were things that I picked up off someone else's curb years before.

Major League turns 25 It's not mentioned until the sequel (and even then only briefly) but after the Indians beat the Yankees at the end of the movie, they lost to the White Sox in the ALCS who then "lucked out" again in the World Series. So in the sequel the Sox are actually the defending champs.

Another distinction is that college is a choice. AFAIK, HS isn't option for most kids unless they are home-schooled and many don't even get the choice of which HS they go to.