If Tribune Company honcho Sam Zell finally lures a sponsor to steal Wrigley Field's name, will anyone really call it that?
I can't hear my buddies retelling stories over beers and cheezborgers at the Billy Goat Tavern that refer to the ivy-covered shrine by any other name than -- Wrigley.
"Me and Moe were out in the right-field bleachers at the Prep-H ..." That is never going to come out of any loyal fan's mouth.
I don't care how many Old Styles a Cubs fan chugs, they are not going to call their ballpark "Preparation-H Field" not only as protest but because any name longer than two syllables must be trimmed in English vernacular.
There's really only two solutions to solve this mess:
1. With the growing economy in Russia, Mr. Zell should reach out to Gum Department Store and seek its support. Vladi Putin is fond of American sports teams and could broker this deal. At least its new name would fit with the historic ballpark's legacy. (Although it is pronounced goom.)
Imagine: "Wrigley Field at GUM Park." It feels comfortable, if a sponsorship must be found. And really, who wouldn't want to share a steaming cup of borscht to fight off the cold of a crisp October World Series game?
2. Or give the fans what they vehemently claim they want -- no change in the name. Call it Wrigley Field. Just that, Wrigley Field.
But in all fairness to Mr. Zell, who is trying to recuperate on his investment in Tribune Company, someone must come up with the funding. So let the fans prove their loyalty to tradition by coming up with the millions.
If the name of the ballpark is so important to Cubs fans, pay an extra buck or two a ticket to keep the name just as it is. Ticketmaster has its convenience charge. Cubbie fans can pay a "greed charge" -- to pay off Mr. Zell (or future owners).
Given full ownership of the name, who knows? The Cubbie Nation might decide to freely rename the place: Billy Goat Tavern Field. Or as I'm sure it would be abbreviated, The Goat.
Then once and for all the Cubs could break the curse sooner than 2015.
