Baffoe: Talk Is Cheap, And So Are White Sox Fans
By Tim Baffoe-
(CBS) Some say it's beating a dead horse. Some take serious offense at the accusation. Some immediately unleash their Napoleon complexes and divert to an irrational comparison to a team about nine miles away.
Whatever the response to the pointing out of you not showing up to games may be, let's face it. You're cheap, White Sox fans.
And you're allowed to be cheap. But if you're cheap, you're not allowed to complain.
Attendance so far for the series against the New York Yankees has been a joke. Less than 28,000 for each of the first two games of the series and likely not much better for Wednesday night's finale as the Sox look to sweep the boys from the Bronx.
The Yankees. Most historic franchise in American sports. Team with the best record in the American League. MLB hits leader Derek Jeter bearing gift baskets. You've heard of that team, right?
And the White Sox are in first place, if that wasn't reason enough to fill seats with butts. But the butts remain in Barcaloungers. Doesn't sound much like folks are appreciating the game.
Jim Margalus over at SouthSideSox.com points out that "… Charging small-market prices doesn't mesh with the desire for big-market prestige (and the prestigious fans who buy much more than a ticket), so the Sox are forced to put the cart before the horse and wait for their vision to be realized." Maybe that's true, and maybe the Sox will have a "let them eat cake" attitude toward their peasant fans who already lack bread.
If so, though, you fans who constantly bemoan your favorite team's often little brother status, both locally and nationally, need to shut up. If you want the team to be treated like it is nationally relevant, you have to accept paying nationally relevant prices. You can't have it both ways.
You can also take in a game without all the typically American slobbery, too. When I hear the excuse "I can't afford to spend $100 at a game," I always respond that I've never sat in a $100 seat at U.S. Cellular Field. The most expensive available seat on WhiteSox.com for Wednesday night's tilt is $70, and that's for a premium game.
"But I need beer and junk food!" No, you don't, but did you know that you can bring your own food and into the park? There's also the option of eating while tailgating in the parking lot. So the concessions excuse isn't a valid one. You also don't need souvenirs, grown-ass man who likes to wear jerseys. It's a baseball game, not a carnival. And if a hot dog and pop inside the park for your kid breaks your bank account, you've made some bad life choices.
And don't give me the parking prices complaint either. First, be happy the team provides parking. There's also public transportation, ye who pride yourselves on a working-class reputation (which is actually inaccurate). Excuses—stop making them.
Embrace your cheapness instead. You aren't allowed to complain about the way Kenny Williams conducts business, though, if you and your wallet are boycotting games. Williams has said that lack of attendance hinders his ability to put the best possible product on the field. His ability to makes impactful deals this season that have greatly improved the team is even more a testament to his quality as a general manager since he's hamstrung by his own fanbase's unwillingness to get off the couch.
This is a first place team that's 24th out of 30 in attendance. Twenty-first in 2011. Damn economy, right? That same economy that has an underachieving Philadelphia team with the best attendance in the game and the team in Detroit—America's own cute little Beirut—seventh.
So go ahead and pinch your baseball pennies, White Sox fans. But then stop feeling persecuted and underappreciated, and stop demanding management give you blood from a turnip year in and year out.
Money talks. Cheapness whines.
Tim Baffoe attended the University of Iowa and Governors State University and began blogging at The Score after winning the 2011 Pepsi Max Score Search. He enjoys writing things about stuff, but not so much stuff about things. When not writing for 670TheScore.com, Tim corrupts America's youth as a high school English teacher and provides a great service to his South Side community delivering pizzas (please tip him and his colleagues well). You can follow Tim's inappropriate brain droppings on Twitter @Ten_Foot_Midget, but please don't follow him in real life. E-mail him at tenfootmailbag@gmail.com. To read more of Tim's blogs click here.
