tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064547517730087223.post7290452623355447143..comments2024-02-17T04:00:25.925-06:00Comments on The Platoon Advantage: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the "Mallpark"The Common Manhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09994070642805307798noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064547517730087223.post-26393986012566988012011-04-30T17:56:20.480-05:002011-04-30T17:56:20.480-05:00Interesting viewpoint. I'm a Cubs fan who has ...Interesting viewpoint. I'm a Cubs fan who has seen a few games at Miller Park. Don't love it, don't hate it either. It's about what I have come to expect at Comiskey: A lot of noise and junk going on that I find distracting. Of course, I also don't have any kids.Eddiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01959325290876899049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064547517730087223.post-64045657574490487712011-04-27T08:43:06.935-05:002011-04-27T08:43:06.935-05:00@Johanna
You realize that you're essentially ...@Johanna<br /><br />You realize that you're essentially accusing The Common Man of being a bad parent, right? That seems like an awful thing to do. And only the worst sort of person would jump to that conclusion without knowing TCM or his son.The Common Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09994070642805307798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064547517730087223.post-52648150150280131732011-04-27T08:01:40.940-05:002011-04-27T08:01:40.940-05:00I grew up going to games and went from the time I ...I grew up going to games and went from the time I was 4. The adults that took me talked to me about the game, taught me to keep a scorecard (even though at the early days I was just recording the advancing of the runners around the bases by drawing in the diamond). I love baseball so much that I quit my job a few years ago to begin writing about it. And I learned to love it without those bells an whistles. Dragging a kid away from the jungle gym is only a problem if there is a jungle gym at the ballpark... and if the parents are ignoring the kid while in the stands.Johannahttp://lovemyteam.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064547517730087223.post-56558665094427350032011-04-26T21:58:12.606-05:002011-04-26T21:58:12.606-05:00It gives The Common Man no pause, given that he kn...It gives The Common Man no pause, given that he knows his son, knows his age and what he loves. Knows how to talk to him and knows how to raise him. The Common Man is as sure about the growth and development of his boy as he is that the sun is going to come up tomorrow and that apples fall down, not up.<br /><br />Taking some time away from sitting still is not going to hurt him, when he can go and run and play with other kids. Why would any father begrudge his son that in the name of some misguided attempt to fight against "vermin" who would dare try to sell our culture products like they have for the last 100 years?<br /><br />Here's what does give The Common Man pause, that someone like you might try and deliberately suck the fun out of the game for TCM and his boy. That's sad. But mostly for you.<br /><br />Anyway, The Common Man wasn't making an argument, per se, and certainly was not claiming the newer stadiums are superior to the old. But that he finds them suited to introducing his four-year old to the game. You're welcome to take your four-year old wherever you'd like.<br /><br />And, for the record, The Common Man became a baseball fan in the Metrodome, which is about as far away from a fun ballpark as you can get. So he has a baseline to work with. And TCM didn't really take to the game until he was 9 or so. It's nice to find a way to introduce The Boy to it even earlier. <br /><br />Even if that doesn't meet with your approval. You anonymous, joyless, arrogant ass. Get bent.The Common Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09994070642805307798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064547517730087223.post-78965025252721972452011-04-26T21:43:57.026-05:002011-04-26T21:43:57.026-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.The Common Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09994070642805307798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064547517730087223.post-73475244387444288122011-04-26T21:22:02.612-05:002011-04-26T21:22:02.612-05:00Does it give you any pause that those of us who gr...Does it give you any pause that those of us who grew up in the pre-mallpark era learned to love the game for its own sake not because it was played in some kind of combination playground and shopping center? <br /><br />The flaw in your argument is the premise that there's something intrinsic in kids that will requires the kind of short-attention span, over-stimulation type of experience to keep them interested. I think that's false. What you're describing seems to me to be the product of a current cultural fad promoted by marketers and other vermin who will stop at nothing to try to get you to buy stuff you don't need.<br /><br />I like many of the amenities of the newer parks like Safeco but could do without 99% of the loud music, distracting scoreboard nonsense (read: commercials) and PA announcers who say anything other than who's up and who's coming into the game to pitch.<br /><br />If kids can be glued to electronic gadgets for hours on end playing some repetitive computer game there's no reason they should be bored by a baseball game if the sport appeals to them at all.<br /><br />Finally, please tell your kid to stop kicking the back of my #$%!ing chair!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064547517730087223.post-77535412702748996912011-04-26T20:37:00.456-05:002011-04-26T20:37:00.456-05:00I have ruminated on these same ideas as well. I g...I have ruminated on these same ideas as well. I go to several games per year at Safeco Field which is a great place to watch a baseball game, but constantly tries to keep non-baseball fans entertained.<br />I actually have admitted to people that I miss the Kingdome a little bit. It was an absolute pit to see a game at and offered no extra entertainment (apart from hydro races on the video board).<br />It probably is a bit elitist of me to feel this way, but I would much rather watch game in a terrible stadium with fans who know what's happening in the game than in a beautiful park with a bunch of people who view it as a place to hang out.<br />I have been tremendously blessed to have 3 awesome kids, the oldest of which at 4 years old is more obsessed with sports than me. Thus, my view is quite biased due to attending several games with him where he watches all the way to the 9th inning (after which he falls asleep in the car, cuz whoa is it late!).<br />I think I'm wondering whether the entertainment-centric parks are going to raise a whole bunch of kids who like all the stuff that comes with the baseball game, without actually liking baseball. This of course is both not a real "problem" and also may not even be true... I just know I adore baseball and I started loving it inside a concrete dome watching the late 80s early 90s Mariners (a truly terrible era of baseball).Andy - Mariners Fannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064547517730087223.post-50183851963502347242011-04-26T18:57:56.977-05:002011-04-26T18:57:56.977-05:00I do like this article, I think the need to employ...I do like this article, I think the need to employ this tactic is greater today than 20 years ago. I grew up loving to go to Riverfront in the mid 80s starting about 7-8 years old. I can not remember leaving early or even doing anything more than going to the restroom. We were there to watch and talk about the game with my Dad and I loved it. (This was after the 2 hour drive to get there). Today I think these distractions are probably necassary. In the end, if it gets my children to love baseball as much as I do, it will be worth the investment.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064547517730087223.post-35140741599825925612011-04-26T16:38:01.669-05:002011-04-26T16:38:01.669-05:00Unless they've been drugged. Which we've ...Unless they've been drugged. Which we've also tried. But, again, Child Services was really adament we cut that out.The Common Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09994070642805307798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064547517730087223.post-78041986979301750502011-04-26T16:37:17.077-05:002011-04-26T16:37:17.077-05:00Well, The Common Man thought about strapping him i...Well, The Common Man thought about strapping him into a chair and playing him clips of the 1991 World Series while prying his eyelids open, like Alex DeLarge in A Clockwork Orange, but The Uncommon Wife wouldn't let him. We've also tried just leaving him at home with a plate of food and The Avengers on the TV, but have been told by child services that we can't do that anymore. So we're going a different route.<br /><br />I don't know if you have kids, Jessica, or if you hang out with them on a regular basis, but no four-year old can sit through three hours of anything without distraction.The Common Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09994070642805307798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064547517730087223.post-73230466789477452792011-04-26T12:44:31.471-05:002011-04-26T12:44:31.471-05:00I have similar experiences here in Cincy with my n...I have similar experiences here in Cincy with my now 6 year old girl. Last year we took in 1 game at the GAP and she spent half of it playing on the playground equipment (thoughtfully provided by the playground equipment company...). But she got a hot dog and cotton candy, and the GAP does have great monitor saturation, So Dad got to see most of the game. <br /><br />As for old parks, I've never seen a game in any of the museum piece parks, but I might be one of the few people who misses Riverfront Stadium.Blotzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06993967190131485391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064547517730087223.post-34150333472331817262011-04-26T12:36:52.599-05:002011-04-26T12:36:52.599-05:00I took my little man to Wrigley this weekend. We ...I took my little man to Wrigley this weekend. We made it 4.5 innings. He's only 5 months old, so I'm starting him VERY early.Alex Knoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064547517730087223.post-81148319582216840442011-04-26T12:28:58.811-05:002011-04-26T12:28:58.811-05:00I love Wrigley Field and after reading this, love ...I love Wrigley Field and after reading this, love it even more...and hope it stays an "adult playground" for as long as humanly possible. Im not opposed to the "mallpark" but, as an adult...its not of value to me. I live in a town that has a minor league team (wi mi whitecaps) and they are like mini-mallparks. That I find value in, it makes sense to pay $10/ticket and spend half the game doing things OTHER than watching the game. I just dont see the value for "the common man" to pay so much for a major league game - HOPING it will result in their kid having a love for the game when they are older. In fact, I see the opposite happening...they'll grow up and find the game "boring" because "not much is happening" like they remember when they were kids. I hope, though...for your sake...that doesnt happen.Jessica - Wrigley Fannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064547517730087223.post-9499430163263387672011-04-26T11:35:45.127-05:002011-04-26T11:35:45.127-05:00An investment in building a future baseball fan......An investment in building a future baseball fan... I like it! Great article!Pat Adairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05318379275375237105noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5064547517730087223.post-52112886563812008512011-04-26T09:17:40.416-05:002011-04-26T09:17:40.416-05:00I know it's not a sophisticated response, but ...I know it's not a sophisticated response, but I loved this piece. Absolutely perfect in thought and execution.William J. Taskerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02313204947130235560noreply@blogger.com