Wrigley Changing Its Name Is Not The End Of The World

There are a whole lot of people talking in this city about the news yesterday that Sam Zell could care less about tradition, and will sell the naming rights to Wrigley Field to the highest bidder. That's the funny thing about rich people, they didn't get rich by not thinking up ways to make money.

Obviously, for most Cubs fans, this makes Sam Zell Satan. He's evil! He doesn't care about the team! He only cares about money!

I understand what you guys are going through. After all, US Cellular Field hasn't been US Cellular Field forever, and I was against that name change when it happened. A few years have passed though, and much to my surprise, the world hasn't ended. I've even taken to calling the place US Cellular Field.

Of course, I know you're probably not going to change your feelings about the whole situation just because of something I said, so instead I'll give you the word of somebody else. You see, if Wrigley Field changes its name, it won't be the first time in the park's history.

When the Cubs played their first game there in 1916, the place was called Weeghman Park. Then in 1919, the name became Cubs Park. Finally, in 1926, the park was named Wrigley Field after the team's owner, William Wrigley.

So I got a hold of a couple of psychics yesterday, and with their help, I was able to have an interview with a Cubs fan named Charlie who lived through all those name changes.


Fornelli: Charlie? Are you here? Knock twice if you're here.

Charlie: Knock, knock.

Fornelli: Oh hey, cool, you can actually talk.

Charlie: Yes.

Fornelli: So how's the afterlife?

Charlie: Pretty boring. What do you want?

Fornelli: Charlie, you were alive when Cubs Park changed to Wrigley Field right? In 1926?

Charlie: Sure was. Those were swingin' times in Chicago! We were still a few years away from the stock market crash, and I had a good job at a railroad company that helped feed my family.

Fornelli: That's great. So you were a Cubs fan? Did you go to a lot of games?

Charlie: You're darn tootin' I was a Cubs fan, and I went to a game any chance I could get! I'd watch Hack Wilson crush the ball all over the field. Did you know he had 21 homers and 109 RBI in 26? He did. Though the team only finished in fourth place that year under Joe McCarthy, seven games behind the eventual World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals! Those were the days!!

Fornelli: Wow, that sounds like it must have been a great time.

Charlie: Sure was, though that was my last season going to Cubs games. I died shortly after.

Fornelli: That's too bad. I'm sorry.

Charlie: It's okay. It's been a long time. How long has it been?

Fornelli: Well, it's 2008 now, so 82 years.

Charlie: 2008!? Holy smokes! You guys must be in your flying cars zoomin all around in space from place to place!

Fornelli: Sure are. I just got back from Neptune on Monday.

Charlie: Outta sight! So, how many World Series have the Cubs won in the last 82 years anyway? 10? 15? 20!?

Fornelli:Um. Uh. Well....none, Charlie.

Charlie: None?

Fornelli: None.

Charlie: So they still haven't won since 1908? That's 100 years!

Fornelli: Yeah, I heard something about that. Anyway, Charlie, we're not here to talk about how bad the Cubs suck. We're here to ask how you adjusted to the name change from Cubs Park to Wrigley Field. I'm trying to help Cubs fans understand that if Wrigley does change its name, it won't be the end of the world.

Charlie: That's an awfully nice thing to do for people.

Fornelli: Thanks. So, how did you react when the Cubs changed the name of the park?

Charlie: I killed myself.

Okay, so maybe Charlie wasn't the best dead Cubs fan to interview, but you get what you pay for, and I paid those psychics in Girl Scout cookies.

Don't kill yourselves, Cubs fans. Trust me, everything is going to be all right.