Welcome to the friendly confines of Wrigley Field

By Andrew Marcus

Sportswriter for Montgomery Media

Follow on Twitter @amarcus515

The North Side of Chicago has nothing without Wrigley Field. Waveland, Addison, Clark and Sheffield are designed to celebrate winning baseball. Unfortunately the Chicago Cubs have not been able to do that for 103 years and 2011 is not going to snap that streak.

The bars and night clubs that are a Sammy Sosa home run away from home plate more often than not full of frustrated, lovable losers. I’m sure Taco Bell and McDonalds did not exist even 50 years ago on Waveland, but they are now there too to help Cubbie supporters to turn to emotional eating.

All that negativity shuffles through the streets, but once you walk through the gates of Wrigley it’s impossible to not see bright side – a chance for Cubs wins.

Every day is a day to raise the “W” flag, sing the Cubs song and take one step closer to giving Wrigley and Chicago faithful what they do deserve. Even on the hottest day of the summer they fill up the bleachers beyond the infamous ivy wall, sing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” in unison with whomever is doing their best Harry Caray impression.

There is not too much banter about today’s stiffs that take the field 82 games a year, but the stories of Hack Wilson, Ernie Banks, Fergie Jenkins, Andre Dawson, Ryne Sandberg live on - also, the “what-ifs” of Kerry Wood, Mark Prior and more.

I came decked out in Philadelphia Phillies gear, commemorating the 2008 championship, you see the bitterness and jealousy behind their eyes and through their smiles. The friendly confines of Wrigley Field keeps the stadium full and the true Cubs fan want that, even if it’s attracting more tourists than locals these days.

Wrigley Field and probably Boston’s Fenway Park are the only two stadiums that can get away with not having a big HD scoreboard blocking the beautiful Chicago Skyline, but the team has been so bad lately that changes are going to be made in the near future in hopes to rejuvenate the organization.

I’m glad I made the 11 hour drive from Philadelphia prior to owner Tom Ricketts going 21^st century on one of the most historic playing grounds in America. Chicago and Wrigley Field truly is something any baseball fan needs to see.

It brings a small, tight knit community feel to a big time booming city and there is no place in the World like it.

So enjoy the upscale scene downtown, make sure to avoid driving anywhere, hop on the Red Line to the Addison stop and take a slice of the ivy-lined walls home with you.