If It Takes Forever...
Greetings from Plover, Wisconsin!
As I was just invited yesterday to post on YIFTM, this is my first posting. I am sure that most, if not all, of the YIFTM charter members do not approve of the logo accompanying this posting. But whether you like or hate the Chicago Cubs, they just happen to be the topic of today’s posting.
You may or may not be aware that on March 31st of this year, the Cubs and the Brewers are matched up for their first game of the season at Wrigley Field. As opening day usually falls fairly close to my birthday, there was a time when I would get tickets to the Cubs’ home opener as my special birthday indulgence. After the season of ’98 that changed.
Following a season where Sammy Sosa was breaking home run records and chasing Mark McGwire for the single season home run record, Kerry Wood, then a rookie, tied the major league record for most strikeouts in a game, and the cubs earned a hard won trip to the playoffs, opening day tickets became nearly impossible to get for an ordinary, average schlep like me. After failing to get opening day tickets for the one or two subsequent years, I stopped trying-until today.
This year I got excited. Not only are the Cubs playing a crucial game right out of the gate against the division rival Brewers, but the home opener is also game number one and it falls the closest to my birthday that I figure it will ever get.
Last year, courtesy of my ex (imagine that), I was able to take my son, Gus, to his first Cubs game. We had a great time, being just the two of us, and it was an extra special day that I won’t ever forget. I thought that this year I would make the extra effort to try to get opening day tickets so that I could share with Gus his first opening day at the greatest ball park on earth, Wrigley Field (I know some of you disagree with this statement, but after all, this is MY story).
Today I took some personal hours off from work - for the sole purpose of entirely investing my time and attention into acquiring these much-coveted tickets. When I started writing this, it was going to be about how I was sitting in a Starbucks, already so wired on coffee that my heart was about to explode, and anxiously awaiting my turn to purchase tickets in the virtual waiting room on the Cubs’ website. As I was getting things started, however, I was informed by the open web page on my screen that tickets were now sold out.
FUCK!!!
I am indescribably disappointed that Gus will have to wait at least another year to experience his first Cubs home opener.
Alas, the frustration continues.
7 comments:
Welcome aboard Frybyrd! You've already contributed more than Hennessy has done in 6 months.
Is it Captain or Frybyrd? There seems to be a discrepancy on the left.
First of all, let me say that it was MY idea to include this individual of fine writing standards. And, might I add, credit for all further enjoyable and cohesive reports submitted by Frybyrd are to be solely attributed to JDot.
Second, this is a good story. All baseball stories, in my opinion, are good. Yes the team in this story happens to be MY teams rival, but for the sake of the overall good (baseball) such mundane things are quietly overlooked.
Third, my heart goes out to you and your son for next year's opening day experience. This year would have been a good one, but it just wasn't in the cards.
Thanks for the post.
Thanks for the good reception.
I must admit that when I posted my story, I half expected there to be a little bit of trash talk from the Cub-Haters.
I'm impressed with the restraint for my first post.
Now the gloves are off!
BTW Chas: Frybyrd is the name that I've been used for posting, but, as you may or may not know, I was known as Captain Caveman amongst my friends back in my senior year of highschool (oh, so many, many years ago).
That's the reason for the tat.
I may decide to go with that one afterall.
It's a tough call: personal history, or fan allegiance to the greatest rock n roll band ever!
Hmmm....
Simple Kind of Man, man!
"...was known as Captain Caveman amongst my friends"
Face it. You never had any friends.
Never had any friends...
Apparently I still don't.
"Cast that leg up and, welcome to the family."
Bucho said that.
"That's what it is. BUCHO!"
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