03-24-2010, 03:35 PM
<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->The Cubs, meanwhile, are threatening to move from Mesa unless the city agrees to more than $100 million in upgrades to their camp. The funding proposal would add another fee to rental car taxes that already are at 50 percent -- my car cost $344 for nine days and the taxes were $175 -- plus an 8 percent tax on every ticket to every game their rival teams play in Arizona (White Sox fans will be thrilled to pay money to the Cubs to see their team play in its own stadium). Few things upset me in sports anymore, but owners who blackmail communities into building them new stadiums (and then hypocritically bitch about government "socialism") still make me turn so red in the face I look like Chief Wahoo.
I mean, come on. The Cubs need a $100 million makeover in this economy? In a state that has been hit about as hard as any by the recession? For a spring training site? Really? Get real. <i>There are 14 other teams in Arizona -- including a Chicago team that has won the World Series in the past five years, let alone the past century -- and fans will be only too happy to go see them instead if the Cubs move.</i>
<i>I say let the Cubs leave. Better yet, have them move to Hi Corbett, a beautiful ballpark that will be available next spring. It may not have a portable fitness room or a high-priced steakhouse, but it was plenty good enough to send a team to the World Series in its second year of spring training (Cleveland in 1948) and another one in its 60th (Colorado in 2007). The Cubs are too pigheaded and greedy to take advantage of this opportunity, </i>but a couple Japanese teams are considering moving their camps to Tucson.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Always good to see the 100 years get thrown in there -- as if it has anything to do with wanting a new Spring Training facility. And maybe Caple hasn't noticed that the Cubs are the biggest draw in the Cactus league and have been for years and years. Fans won't just go watch the White Sox instead -- they'll vacation in Florida instead. Fucking moran.
I mean, come on. The Cubs need a $100 million makeover in this economy? In a state that has been hit about as hard as any by the recession? For a spring training site? Really? Get real. <i>There are 14 other teams in Arizona -- including a Chicago team that has won the World Series in the past five years, let alone the past century -- and fans will be only too happy to go see them instead if the Cubs move.</i>
<i>I say let the Cubs leave. Better yet, have them move to Hi Corbett, a beautiful ballpark that will be available next spring. It may not have a portable fitness room or a high-priced steakhouse, but it was plenty good enough to send a team to the World Series in its second year of spring training (Cleveland in 1948) and another one in its 60th (Colorado in 2007). The Cubs are too pigheaded and greedy to take advantage of this opportunity, </i>but a couple Japanese teams are considering moving their camps to Tucson.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Always good to see the 100 years get thrown in there -- as if it has anything to do with wanting a new Spring Training facility. And maybe Caple hasn't noticed that the Cubs are the biggest draw in the Cactus league and have been for years and years. Fans won't just go watch the White Sox instead -- they'll vacation in Florida instead. Fucking moran.