Changing my tune re: Cubs fans

I saw Brock20's post about his trip to Wrigley this year and it prompted me to write about my experience this year, albeit decidedly late.

I went to Opening Day at Wrigley and game 2.  I was on a business trip to Boston and Chicago and made sure it would coincide with Cubs/Cards.  This was also my first trip to Wrigley and I went to the games by myself.

I wore my Pujols jersey to both games and did not know what to expect.  I've attended games at Yankee Stadium and Dodgers/Giants games at both Candlestick and Pac Bell that were full of vitriol and fistfights.

For Game 1, I actually shared a cab with a Cubs fan from our hotel downtown and then had a few beers with several of his Cub fan friends at the Cubbie Bear (what a great bar).  Had tickets on the third base side toward the outfield wall.  Bought an Old Style when I walked in the door.  Froze my tail off - 37 degrees at game time with a 25 mph wind.  I wore only longjohns, a T-shirt, a Pujols jersey, jeans and a hat.  A Northern California guy like me is not ready for that weather (it's been 25 years since I lived in the cold of Granite City)

  I  sat between 4 young Cub fans from Moline and two middle aged guys from Kankakee (Gino and Johnny).  I told them it was my first trip to Wrigley and they both said since I was a guest in their park, the beers were on them.  They literally would not let me buy a beer all game long.  I went to John Barleycorn after the game with the young guys and had a great time.  Met a few jerk fans, but people inside the bar were just having fun, no fights or anything.

For Game 2 I sat in the right center field bleachers.  Got there 2 hours before game time and was confornted by a completed sauced Cubs fan who wanted to show me her Cubs tattoo on her bikini line.  The crowd would cheer any time the sun shone through the fog.  

Got to witness a guy carry his girlfriend up the bleacher stairs like a fireman after she vomited and passed out - 30 minutes BEFORE THE GAME!  The vomiting happened 3 more times around me - you could tell when it was happening by the loud unified cry and everyone backing away furiously.

Loved the banter between left field and right field.  The people were getting on Edmonds ("Edmonds - how's your wife and my kids?").  Or "Edmonds takes it in the Pujols".  Good natured if crass, and a few comments went over the line, but the crowd was also getting on Jacque Jones.

Cubs fans around me sung the same tune as Friday - you're a guest and we won't let you buy beers.  Had 7 beers bought for me over the 2 games.  Went with a group to the Hi-Top bar after the game before I had to head out to O'Hare to fly back to San Francisco.

I came away with a much different impression of Cubs fans - they are a great group, with only a couple bad apples lurking in Wrigley.  The biggest grup of bad apples were the two rows of Cardinal fans in center field under the scoreboard that spent the last two innings taunting everyone and getting in fights.  I don't know if that kind of hospitality for a fan of the rival team would happen in Boston, New York, LA or San Francisco.  I don't expect it would.

Kudos to the Cubs fans I met.  I had a great time and you are a great group.

I still want the Cardinals to beat you every game we play and I won't ever be able to root for your team as a lifelong Cards fan.  BUt here's to you.

Now about the complete lack of bathrooms at Wrigley...