Open Letter to the Chicago Cubs

[NUCubEra]

Listen guys, of course boycotting the Cubs will do absoultly nothing but perhaps sending a letter will have some effect. I don't mean any letter but something to these flakes in management. I have never seen a bigger bunch of arrogant, elitists jerks who only care about there bottom line. If the team plays like garbage the rest of the century just like they did last they wouldn't care. I reckon that the Cubs management probably has some sort of deal with the "briefcase crowd" in order to maintain their attendance for years to come. It's time we send a message to MacPhail and the rest of the Cubs crew like FitzSimmons by delivering them a letter they can't refuse. What about this? Of course mabye we could send it to their country club while their having their dinner talking about more ways they can rip off legitimate Cubs fans while pleasing their stockbroker buddies in Club Box.

 

Sorry admins for my orginal post- I edited back. Thx.

Edited June 18, 2006 by NUCubEra

[Post Count Padder]

Your heart is in the right place, but you might wanna cut back on the cusses. The mods are gonnaa be all over this one.

[Pickle]

It was nice of you to quote him, though. That way, the cusswords will still be up there even if he edits it.

[BWcubs21]

Let it all out man, but I doubt there is any thing we can do:( Also as much as we all want to let out a cussing tirade against this team, try to keep it in good taste for all the young ones reading this.

[1908]

Thanks for editing your post, NUCubEra. It's done.

[NUCubEra]

No prob, 1908 I did mean to add those cusses originally. It was just heat of the moment. thx.

[Fro]

There ought to be a way we can tank the Tribune's stock price or something.

 

There's tons of places you can attack that corporate structure... it's not like it's some crazy old owner who doesn't have to answer to anyone owning the team. A lot could be done by going after newspapers and TV stations (and their sponsors).

Edited June 18, 2006 by Fro

[fiver]

The "bottom line" is not the true problem as over 90% of teams that have won the World Series have done so with a payroll smaller than that of the Chicago Cubs. MacPhail, Hendry, Baker, etc. simply haven't made wise decisions.

 

I'm very unhappy with this team as well, but I'm a bit puzzled when you reference a conspiracy b/w the Cub's front office and the "briefcase crowd". I'm not sure where country clubs come into the picture either....misdirected angst, IMO.

 

Also, it's my opinion that a boycott would likely do more to coerce change than sending a letter.

[NUCubEra]

The "bottom line" is not the true problem as over 90% of teams that have won the World Series have done so with a payroll smaller than that of the Chicago Cubs. MacPhail, Hendry, Baker, etc. simply haven't made wise decisions.

 

I'm very unhappy with this team as well, but I'm a bit puzzled when you reference a conspiracy b/w the Cub's front office and the "briefcase crowd". I'm not sure where country clubs come into the picture either....misdirected angst, IMO.

 

Also, it's my opinion that a boycott would likely do more to coerce change than sending a letter.

 

Already, number 1 the bottom line isn't winning. The bottom line for the Cubs is money. They don't care about the chance at going deep into the playoffs (where the majority of teams make their money) because they know US the Cubs fans will be stupid enough to go to Wrigley and spend money on an overpriced bunch of bums. While the organization has made terrible decisions they think raising the payroll will buy them time to continue their fleecing of the regular fans. Just because the Trib Co. has maintained a relatively high payroll means NOTHING. The Cubs make a ridiculous profit margin the 90-100 mil dollar payrolls are grocery money. The Trib. Co is run by some smart businessmen who know how to squeeze every extra penny they can out of this team and thats all they do regardless of success on the field.

 

Secondly, the "briefcase crowd" reference is to the business aspects the Cubs will partake in at any cost. This is a team for godsake that has its own scalping service "Cubs premium tickets" so they can boost the prices of their OWN tickets. The sell out everything about the ballpark and give the "briefcase crowd" virtual personal seat lisences on the majority of Field/Club box seats. I dare anyone to try and get 4 tickets for a weekend game even when the Cubs are 20 games under in the Field/Club box area. It won't happen. While their are corporate interest everywhere in baseball, I don't think we would see this consistantly with the Cards, Sox, etc. And, when it comes to the country club reference without going into personal details. I have been around that scene and trust me these are the type of people the Cubs love, fake fans who go to the game and buy up 12-14 tickets through corporate interests while doing business the entire time on their blackberrys. What a joke.

 

On your third point about boycotts, while besides IMO being absoultely useless they would never work. Is their really anyway besides through a direct letter of work to conve the messages of diehard Cubs fans. Management knows that a few hundred here or their that decide not to come will just be replaced by fools who go and drink beer in order to get drunk and act like a fool. You go to a baseball game to cheer your team to victory and because you love the sport. You DONT go to get plastered while having to be escorted out by security.

 

Who knows maybe this team just needs to what a movie like Major League where a disfunctional ballplayers come together as one to win the pennant. Im sure it would at least send a message to Wood and Prior about the fact that they are the biggest prettyboys on the face of the earth.

[cubfan1955]

A letter is all it's going to take? :shock: Maybe if the unibomber sent it. :lol:

[Blizzau]

Just a suggestion:

 

If you do end up writing your letter to Cubs management, you may want to pay extra attention while editing grammar and punctuation. It is a lot easier to follow someone's writing when the appropriate there (location)/ their (possessive) / they're (contraction) is used, for example.

 

Good luck with your letter, and let it all out...

[bhogg]

If money is truly the issue, I expect the trib to throw a freakin' fit.

 

Afterall, if a payroll of 100 million produces a sold out stadium, national recognition, tons of shirt sales, etc all without winning, then a 50 million payroll that produces the same thing is all the more appealing to the owner.

[RonnieWooWooSanto]

There ought to be a way we can tank the Tribune's stock price or something.

 

There's tons of places you can attack that corporate structure... it's not like it's some crazy old owner who doesn't have to answer to anyone owning the team. A lot could be done by going after newspapers and TV stations (and their sponsors).

 

 

Stop watching "Pepper Dennis". :shock:

[Soul]

No prob, 1908 I did mean to add those cusses originally. It was just heat of the moment. thx.

 

 

NO.

 

Those cuss words are how you REALLY feel. And you shouldn't be embarrassed about feeling anger over this trainwreck, even though it's against policy to post it here.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Pretty much the only thing you can fault the Trib for is not making front office changes. Not being cheap, not turning a profit, or anything else related to money.

[Shilzzz]

Pretty much the only thing you can fault the Trib for is not making front office changes. Not being cheap, not turning a profit, or anything else related to money.

 

so then, what don't you blame the trib for?

[Soul]

Pretty much the only thing you can fault the Trib for is not making front office changes. Not being cheap, not turning a profit, or anything else related to money.

 

:shock:

 

Really? How about faulting them for being incompetent as owners?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Pretty much the only thing you can fault the Trib for is not making front office changes. Not being cheap, not turning a profit, or anything else related to money.

 

:shock:

 

Really? How about faulting them for being incompetent as owners?

 

Again, aside from not removing any or all of the MacPhail/Hendry/Baker trio, you can't fault the Trib. They put up a good payroll and don't threaten to slash it if the team falters. They financed the addition to Wrigley. Getting mad at them for being the greedy corporation is misguided.

[Neuby]

Pretty much the only thing you can fault the Trib for is not making front office changes. Not being cheap, not turning a profit, or anything else related to money.

 

:shock:

 

Really? How about faulting them for being incompetent as owners?

 

Again, aside from not removing any or all of the MacPhail/Hendry/Baker trio, you can't fault the Trib. They put up a good payroll and don't threaten to slash it if the team falters. They financed the addition to Wrigley. Getting mad at them for being the greedy corporation is misguided.

 

Sadly it's not. The Trib was making an insane profit for years while under spending. Over the last two years they have jacked up ticket prices , added seats, and more advertising all while keeping the payroll the same. Can you imagine the money the Trib would rake in if the Cubs won the World Series? For them to have Andy MacPhail at the top this long means they do not care about winning. It's time for them to sale its a shame see how low this team has fallen.

[Big Fergie J]

There ought to be a way we can tank the Tribune's stock price or something.

There's tons of places you can attack that corporate structure... it's not like it's some crazy old owner who doesn't have to answer to anyone owning the team. A lot could be done by going after newspapers and TV stations (and their sponsors).

 

Tribune stock is down just over 30% in the last 2 yrs while the S&P 500 has rallied app. 11% over the same period.

 

Tribune stock recently hit a 5 year low as well. The company has been feeling financial pain thus the persistent rumors that the Cubs are for sale.

[impaler_240]

There ought to be a way we can tank the Tribune's stock price or something.

There's tons of places you can attack that corporate structure... it's not like it's some crazy old owner who doesn't have to answer to anyone owning the team. A lot could be done by going after newspapers and TV stations (and their sponsors).

 

Tribune stock is down just over 30% in the last 2 yrs while the S&P 500 has rallied app. 11% over the same period.

 

Tribune stock recently hit a 5 year low as well. The company has been feeling financial pain thus the persistent rumors that the Cubs are for sale.

 

http://www.cooljeans.info/public_html/yabbfiles/Smilies/clap.gif

[Pinktermite]

How can anyone blame the Trib for this train wreck? 95 million is plenty to spend for a winner. This is baloney the people on here that blame the corporation. Blame the baseball people here, the Trib has nothing to do with that.

 

The solutions here are obvious to all of us on this board. They are not done by the people in charge because they'd have to admit their collective philosophies have failed, and thus would be cutting their own throats.

 

Sad, but true.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Pretty much the only thing you can fault the Trib for is not making front office changes. Not being cheap, not turning a profit, or anything else related to money.

 

:shock:

 

Really? How about faulting them for being incompetent as owners?

 

Again, aside from not removing any or all of the MacPhail/Hendry/Baker trio, you can't fault the Trib. They put up a good payroll and don't threaten to slash it if the team falters. They financed the addition to Wrigley. Getting mad at them for being the greedy corporation is misguided.

 

Sadly it's not. The Trib was making an insane profit for years while under spending. Over the last two years they have jacked up ticket prices , added seats, and more advertising all while keeping the payroll the same. Can you imagine the money the Trib would rake in if the Cubs won the World Series? For them to have Andy MacPhail at the top this long means they do not care about winning. It's time for them to sale its a shame see how low this team has fallen.

 

In the end, they are supposed to keep a profit. They've done what an owner should do financially, especially for one that's a publically owned company. Say what you want about not getting rid of management, I agree, but when it comes to money they are holding up their end.

[cubbette14]

Listen guys, of course boycotting the Cubs will do absoultly nothing but perhaps sending a letter will have some effect. I don't mean any letter but something to these flakes in management. I have never seen a bigger bunch of arrogant, elitists jerks who only care about there bottom line. If the team plays like garbage the rest of the century just like they did last they wouldn't care. I reckon that the Cubs management probably has some sort of deal with the "briefcase crowd" in order to maintain their attendance for years to come. It's time we send a message to MacPhail and the rest of the Cubs crew like FitzSimmons by delivering them a letter they can't refuse. What about this? Of course mabye we could send it to their country club while their having their dinner talking about more ways they can rip off legitimate Cubs fans while pleasing their stockbroker buddies in Club Box.

 

Sorry admins for my orginal post- I edited back. Thx.

 

 

I resent that "briefcase crowd" innuendo. I go back to the days of

Ernie Banks. I've been a blue collar slob for many years and I'm damn proud of it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

i

[scs_paradise]

First:

I have never seen a bigger bunch of arrogant, elitists jerks who only care about there bottom line

 

I've never heard them publicly say anything about the Cubs one way or the other, perhaps others have, but elitists jerks? Come on.

 

If the team plays like garbage the rest of the century just like they did last they wouldn't care.

 

They told you that? Cause their payroll seems to indicate otherwise.

 

I reckon that the Cubs management probably has some sort of deal with the "briefcase crowd" in order to maintain their attendance for years to come.

 

After the sales I've seen online the last three years I don't think they need the "briefcase crowd", there may be a deal, but they don't NEED that to maintain attendance.

 

Second:

 

Sadly it's not. The Trib was making an insane profit for years while under spending. Over the last two years they have jacked up ticket prices , added seats, and more advertising all while keeping the payroll the same. Can you imagine the money the Trib would rake in if the Cubs won the World Series?

 

You contradict yourself. First you say they only want to make money and don't care about winning and then you acknowledge how much money they would make if the won??????? Hmmmm......

 

While the organization has made terrible decisions they think raising the payroll will buy them time to continue their fleecing of the regular fans. Just because the Trib Co. has maintained a relatively high payroll means NOTHING. The Cubs make a ridiculous profit margin the 90-100 mil dollar payrolls are grocery money. The Trib. Co is run by some smart businessmen who know how to squeeze every extra penny they can out of this team and thats all they do regardless of success on the field.

 

They have a 90 to 100 million dollar payroll and you are telling me its the TRIB's fault they aren't winning???????? And even though attendance hadn't dropped, in fact it was at an all time high in 04, they still felt the need to spend MORE money to keep "fleecing" the fans? You don't make any sense.

 

Finally:

 

I don't think the Trib has been great in the past, and you can make a case for being mad at them now for not removing MacPhail, BUT you can't POSSIBLY blame them for not spending the money! You can't tell me they don't have an interest in winning:

 

1. YOU pointed out the profits to be made with winning.

2. 90 to 100 million wisely or even semi-wisely spent should easily field a very competitive team.

3. They have raised payroll EVERY time I know Hendry has asked for it.

 

Your beef is with MacPhail, Hendry, and Dusty. Your ONLY beef with the Trib is that they haven't removed MacPhail, and I'm not surprised they haven't because corporations are slow to remove very high up execs, partly due to "good ole boy" stuff, but largely because it signals corporate unrest that devalues the asset, especially if rumors are true that they might be selling.