Why Can't I Spend a Day At Wrigley Anymore?

Dear Sam Zell,

You recently bought Tribune Co. and, along with it, everything that Tribune Co. owns.

That includes the Chicago Cubs and Wrigley Field.

But, you see, I have also heard that you want to sell the naming rights to Wrigley Field separately from the Chicago Cubs, which would likely give Wrigley a corporate name.

This is a problem to me, and all the North Siders that live in the city, and anywhere else.

You see, Wrigley is not just any old ratty old ballpark, it's OUR ratty old ballpark.

Did you have a little dog when you were a kid Mr. Zell? I'm sure you did.  You probably loved that thing with all your heart.

Imagine if somebody decided to change the name of that dog without your will, changing it to something like Betsy when it's name used to be Tiger.

That would make you mad, wouldn't it?

This is the same thing, only much, much more important.

Giving Wrigley Field a corporate name is like giving Clay Aiken a MMA Fighting Award.

It's shouldn't happen, and all the people that love MMA would be devastated because of how commercial they are getting.

NASCAR can give themselves a corporate name because they have to run expensive cars and maintain multiple tracks.

What do you need? Some bats, gloves, uniforms, and basic upkeep.

Hell, we don't even care if Wrigley is clean, as long as it is Wrigley, we are happy.  We are mostly simpletons, we Cub fans.

We have lived 100 years without a World Series, I think we can handle a little dirt on the floor.

But Wrigley has to be Wrigley. Wrigley has to be Wrigley. Wrigley HAS to be Wrigley.  Do you hear me Mr. Zell?

I can't say that I'm going to go spend the day at Viagra Park.  It doesn't have the same folk lore that Wrigley has.

(Insert Corporate Name Here) Park/Field isn't what Wrigley is, and we all know it.

Wrigley is as American as apple pie, not apple pie presented by Pepsi Co, just plain old apple pie.

If you change the name, all of Chicago will be mad at you, hell, the world will be.

You don't see them changing the name of Fenway Park, do you know why?  Because they know that the fans won't support the team the way that they used to.

Besides, you're #52 on the Forbes 400 anyway; do you really need more money?

And if you don't want to do it for me, do it for the little kid that is never going to get to say, "I spent a day at Wrigley Field."

I'm Joe W.