Article:Out With the Old . . .

Hey fans,

Today's Blog is about the cavernous stadiums in which the great athletes we so admire get an opportunity to showcase their incredible ability.

I learned today that Tigers Stadium will, in a few weeks time, become nothing more than a memory, and for some an expensive one at that. When Sportsman's Park. . . Polo Grounds. . . Crosley Field were demolished there weren't snake oil salesmen selling bits and pieces from these rickety old ballparks.

Today, nothing comes down without a projected ROI on the old stadiums that brought such joy to its fans as well as the men who played there. I wonder if the Yankees will charge the Hall of Fame for any piece or pieces that make its way up to one of the most beautiful villages to which I have ever been. If it's up to blabbering Hank Steinbrenner, who I hear is going to become a sportswriter (in the new digital Sporting News) I'm sure he'll ask a pretty sum for anything that leaves the Bronx.

And now, just a few months near its completion the Yankees have asked the local government for half a Billion dollars they need to finish the ballpark that will replace the House that Ruth Built. Come on already. The team that charges four figures for regular season seats and is reducing the seating capacity in their new stadium by almost 20 percent (read keeping out the average baseball fan) so they can have close to 200 luxury suites, needs the government to chip in an extra $500 million dollars. Where will it end?

Meanwhile, the Cubs who are enjoying one of their best seasons, although Soriano just went down with an injury that will keep him inactive for a long stretch are to be sold and probably separately from their awesome little ballpark (and my personal favorite) Wrigley Field.

The Mets owners who are so excited about their new Citifield - not so about their team at the moment - are also reducing their seating capacity by about 20 percent, so they can have lots of fancy suites as well. The Mets owners say Shea is out of date, well Dodger Stadium was built the very same year and you don't hear the Dodgers' owners say they need a new ballpark. I wonder why?

So, average baseball fans, we lose Tiger Stadium and its seats that were oh so close to the action of immortal greats like Hank Greenberg. . . Al Kaline and that 300 lb. felon, Denny McClain.

There will be great big leaguers in the future to hit towering home runs. . . make incredible plays in the field. . . and who throw no-hitters. Unfortunately, my grandchildren will not get to see many of those plays in person, unless of course if they get a job @ Goldman Sachs or maybe even a hedge fund.

Till next time.

Chuck T

www.wonfan.com