September 28, 2008

Viva Shea!

Today's Mets vs. Marlins game may be the last game played in New York's Shea Stadium.  I say "may" because it is my hope that they'll be playing the Milwaukee Brewers in sudden death as they're both tied for the National League wildcard. This is exciting on many levels, mostly because I've cheered the Brewers on through the season: fell in love with Ryan Braun, CC Sabathia and Prince Fielder; consoled Wok Man through the ups and downs of his tough love for the team (bit my tongue to the brash clash of his bright yellow and blue vintage MB hat with anything he may be wearing) and learned to hate the Chicago Cubs, the top dogs of the I-94 rivalry. 

But my heart is with the New York Mets. 
And inside the bright blue of Shea Stadium... soon the be dismantled making way for Citi Field. Shea Stadium was named to honor William Shea, who brought the New York Mets into the National League. This new stadium is named to honor Citibank, the largest bank in the United States. For what, having the greatest holdings?  This grand scale corporate sponsorship leaves a bad taste in my mouth.  It isn't enough I have to hear the Gatorade Player of the Week or the Gillette Play of the 5th Inning? Below is a sampling of Major League Baseball Stadiums that are (or to be) named for corporations:

Oakland A's Cisco Field
Minnesota Twin's Target Field
Seattle Mariner's Safeco Field
Chicago White Sox's U.S. Cellular Field
Cleveland Indian's Progressive Field
Detroit Tigers' Comerica Park 
Tampa Bay Rays' Tropicana Field
Philadelphia Phillies' Citizens Bank Park
St. Louis Cardinals' Busch Stadium
Milwaukee Brewers' Miller Park
Houston Astros' Minute Maid Park
San Francisco Giants' AT&T Park
Arizona Diamond Backs' Chase Field
Colorado Rockies' Coors Field
San Diego Padres' Petco Park

Some of them sound like jokes. U.S. Cellular Field?  C'mon.

4 comments:

roadlittledawn said...

What?! It didn't clash THAT badly...

...did it? Hah.

Sometimes showing your support for the hometown team means self-sacrifice; in this case, my sense of fashion.

roadlittledawn said...

Oh, and...

GO BREWERS!

evestirs said...

Come-on METS!!

I just found a show on called "Shea Goodbye", but its NOT AVAILABLE in my area. Boooo!

Well if you have DIRECT TV its on 639.

Vegyogini said...

I'm an Angels fan and have been quite happy since the stadium was renamed Angel Stadium. :) It's rather sad when stadiums are named after huge corporations. Every once in a while, it bites them in the tush (like when the Enron debacle occurred and the Houston ballpark was renamed Minute Maid). Anyway, that is my long version of saying that I agree with you!