It's a Chi-Town thing

Warning: This column contains extremely biased material aimed purposefully and directly against Cubs Nation.\nSeparated by just eight miles of Chicago roads but worlds of baseball devotion, U.S. Cellular Field and Wrigley Field are two vastly different sanctuaries of baseball haven for two remotely different kinds of fans. \nSo as summer approaches and you begin planning your usual summer trip to the greatest city, let me guide you through Wrigley's vines and my South Side summer home to help the common outsider pick their holy ground to experience summer's finest attraction. \nBy the way, if you have not yet figured out that the Cell is home to the White Sox and that Wrigley is home to the Cubs, please stop reading and buy yourself a sports encyclopedia -- better yet, buy yourself a life. \nWell, since a majority of IU students live south of Chicago then on your way into the city you'll pass by the Cell much before you ever hit Wrigley. A quick exit off the Dan Ryan and you can park so close to the stadium that the players have a longer what back to their cars. \nAnd while parking at Wrigley doesn't exist, you can park in the neighborhood for about the price of admission. \nOh yea, don't forget to leave the guy your keys.\nNo joke, I once returned to the parking lot from a Cubs game to find my car under someone else's garage with all the windows roll down and the key in the ignition. \nAfter an exhausting four steps into Sox Park and a convenient escalator ride up to the seats, the smell of grilled onions hits you quicker then a punch in the face. But wait, not a meat-eater? Then take a stroll to the vegetarian food stand or better yet, enjoy the Cell's famous and finest funnel cakes. \nTrust me, you'll wet your pants and not give a damn. \nAnd while food at Wrigley is no third world quality Gresham Food Court, it doesn't compare to the Cell. Although, I must admit, there's something fascinating about eating ice cream off a wooden spoon. \nThere's just something about that little flimsy, splinter-causing spoon that just magnifies the enjoyment of my ice cream and helps Wrigley's cause.\nBut not helping their cause are half of the fans at Cubs games. And I say half very carefully because while half of Wrigley fans truly come to watch baseball, the other half comes to watch the atmosphere. \n"Sammy hit a home run, the sun was out and I got drunk. Wait, did the Cubs win?"\nNo, I'm sorry, they didn't. But Cubs baseball isn't about winning.\n"Well, it's better then the 10,000 that showed up at the Sox game."\nYea, buying $15 seats and sitting front-row really sucks. I hate watching baseball so close to the field. \nI figure by now I've lost all my Cubs' fans, so perhaps my only compliment to them will fall on deaf ears. \nActually, most people complain about the structure of the Cell and that Wrigley is a far better ballpark. \nI admit, Wrigley is a beautiful ballpark, but the Cell has not only vastly improved, but also is an enormous reason why there are so many other magnificent stadiums today.\nComiskey Park was the first of the 'new-era' ballparks and after it's not-so-wonderful design, every stadium built afterwards used Comiskey as an example to create something better.\nWe were the guinea pigs of modern stadiums and besides, put Wrigley across from the one Robert Taylor Home remaining and see how picturesque it is now.\nRegardless, an exploding scoreboard, the best right fielder in Chicago, half-price Monday and Tuesday not to mention modern technology in general makes for a finer game on the south side. \nEither way, you'll have two choices to watch some summer ball in Chicago this year. So choose wisely -- but I warn you -- don't try and catch a foul ball at Wrigley.\nIt might have been in play.