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* Sun-Times…
The White Sox make their latest visit up north to Wrigley Field to face the Cubs this week, but their former longtime announcer appears happy he’s not joining them.
Hawk Harrelson, when asked by local television reporters whether he’d miss covering games at one of baseball’s legendary stadiums, told reporters he’s got no plans to step back in the Friendly Confines again anytime soon because “that place sucks” for visiting teams.
“You couldn’t give me a $5,000, $10,000 bill to put another foot in that place,” Harrelson, who covered White Sox games for 33 years until his retirement in 2017, said Monday. “I’m telling you what, that place sucks, for the visiting team.” […]
“Now for the fans, it’s great,” Harrelson said of Wrigley. “The venue is great. You can walk from Wrigley all the way downtown if you want, you can walk from downtown to Wrigley. So the venue is beautiful, and once you get on the field it’s great. […]
So when is Harrelson going back? “Never again.”
I haven’t been to Wrigley Field in almost 20 years. I refuse to step foot in that place. I won’t even go to a rooftop event. Sports makes you weird, I guess.
* Video…
Hawk Harrelson is ready for #Cubs & #WhiteSox rivalry to reach new heights
But don’t expect to see him at Wrigley anytime soon
“That place sucks” pic.twitter.com/tzFKWxIslc
— Rick Tarsitano (@RickTarsitano) June 17, 2019
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 1:49 pm
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I hate the Cubs.
Abolish interleague play and the DH.
Comment by Lucas Giolito >>> Jeff Pico Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 1:52 pm
===You can walk from Wrigley all the way downtown if you want, you can walk from downtown to Wrigley.===
Wow, Hawk still has that ole country poetry going on. It’s always better when he stays quiet, like when he was the Sox broadcaster and viewers wondered why his microphone wasn’t working.
Here’s a tip for Hawk: you can walk to Comiskey too. As a great man once said, “everywhere is within walking distance, if you have the time.”
I don’t miss Hawk one bit. See this interview fills my quota of Hawkisms for 2019.
Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 1:54 pm
===I don’t miss Hawk one bit===
Nobody cares what a Cub fan thinks of Hawk.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 1:55 pm
The Hawk wont go to Wrigley, Rickets must be doing something right.
Comment by ajc Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 1:57 pm
My retired Legislator license plate:
HE GONE
I’m with Rich - I’m a chopper, two hopper away from ever caring what a Cub fan thinks of Hawk.
Comment by Chad Hays Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 1:59 pm
Wrigley is the eighth wonder of the world.
Comment by Blue Dog Dem Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 1:59 pm
“You couldn’t give me a $5,000, $10,000 bill to put another foot in that place,” Harrelson..
The feeling is mutual. So everybody’s happy.
Play ball.
Comment by The Bashful Raconteur Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 1:59 pm
Nobody is as smart as Hawk thinks he is. A bag of wind on his best day.
Sox should take both games if they are just patient and let Joe out manage himself.
Comment by SSL Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 2:03 pm
Who?
Comment by Michelle Flaherty Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 2:04 pm
Hawk Harrelson is a buffoon. If you’re agreeing with him, you’re doing something wrong.
Comment by Reality Check Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 2:07 pm
Actually the walk from downtown to Sox Park is a lot safer now than it used to be. Same distance too (Addison is 3600 north, 35th Street is 3500 South).
Comment by Fax Machine Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 2:07 pm
I’ll be there Wednesday night to cheer on Lucas Giolito or as some spell it, G-elite-o. Unfortunately the weather looks iffy for Wrigley that afternoon/evening.
Comment by Responsa Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 2:08 pm
Coming from the worst announcer in sports history, that’s rich.
The visiting team just got a brand new, state of the art clubhouse, so I would assume it’s much better for the visiting team.
And Rich, you missed a couple of good Dead and Co. shows at Wrigley last weekend.
Comment by So_Ill Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 2:08 pm
===you missed a couple of good Dead and Co. shows at Wrigley===
If Jerry Garcia himself came back from the dead, I still would not go to Wrigley.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 2:11 pm
-Reality Check-
Sports are for fun. Hawk, Harry, Bob Uecker et. al. are in the entertainment business. Most do not get appointed to an Ambassadorship post retirement from the booth. ALL are homers for the franchise they work(ed) for . . . .who cares??
It is a child’s game, enjoy it for what it is . . . . . .and for the record, has anybody EVER suggested the accommodations for the visiting team at Wrigley are anything more than a toilet . . . .ever? Relax.
Comment by Dude Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 2:14 pm
If Wrigley updated the visitors accommodations recently, I stand corrected. It was a toilet for the previous 75 years or so . . . . .fixed it.
Comment by Dude Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 2:16 pm
That Hawk quote reminds me of an old joke about why all of the trees in downstate IL lean slightly to the North.
Comment by Gruntled University Employee Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 2:17 pm
I enjoyed Hawk for many years but eventually the whole schtick kind of ran its course, in my opinion. I never stopped loving his passion for the Sox though and am happy the team found a way to let him retire on his own terms. Even better than that was moving on to Jason Benetti, who has been a fantastic addition to the broadcast team.
Comment by Father Ted Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 2:18 pm
As a commentator, Hawk was equal parts great and grating.
As a fan, he’s belligerent. No one cares what a stadium is like for the opposing players. Fans care what the environment is like for them. And as a die-hard Sox fan, Wrigley is undeniably an amazing venue to take in a ball game.
Comment by Anon312 Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 2:19 pm
I know you Cub fans like that place but I honestly think it is the worse venue in America to watch a baseball game. The fans are fun but the stadium is brutal.
Comment by I Miss Bentohs Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 2:20 pm
===If Jerry Garcia himself came back from the dead, I still would not go to Wrigley.===
Your loss - Friday night was great, and it even smelled like a late 70s concert.
Comment by Ken_in_Aurora Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 2:20 pm
Many years ago I lived near Wrigley. It smells like what it is. 100 years of urine and beer soaked concrete.
I agree with Hawk the place stinks!
Comment by Chunga Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 2:23 pm
why does he still command any attention? honestly..Go Cubs!!!
Comment by Dozer Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 2:29 pm
===It smells like what it is===
I love these threads more than anything. Unadulterated hatred without political partisanship. Put it on the board… Yes!
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 2:30 pm
===why does he still command any attention?===
Because he was one of the greatest broadcasters in the history of baseball.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 2:32 pm
Your Cubs hatred just makes us stronger.
Comment by slow down Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 2:33 pm
===just makes us stronger===
Pretty low bar.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 2:38 pm
The thing about the Cubs is that in Chicago, they are hated and adored but never ignored. As for the Sox, you can go years without noticing they’re still a Chicago team. Too bad Tampa’s no longer an option.
Comment by slow down Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 2:45 pm
====Because he was one of the greatest broadcasters in the history of baseball.====
Oh boy, Mr. Miller. Stick with the Statehouse, you are outside your lane here.
Comment by Try-4-Truth Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 2:45 pm
Hawk isn’t even on this list:
https://www.ranker.com/list/best-baseball-announcers-of-all-time/ranker-baseball
Comment by Try-4-Truth Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 2:47 pm
The Hawk speaking his mind is great, as the Sox rebuild is almost done we need more visceral “homer” bleed white and black stuff. Let the Cubs have Maddon and his mad zen guru Leonardo Da vinci approach, it works for them.
Comment by Donnie Elgin Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 2:50 pm
Lots of righteous indignation from fans who are making already grossly wealthy people more wealthy.
Comment by Anon E Moose Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 2:52 pm
Did you know that Hawk played with Carl Yazstremzski? Also that no denominations larger than $100 have been circulated since 1969? TWTW bro.
Comment by Leon Durham Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 2:52 pm
===Hawk isn’t even on this list:===
Meh. Bite me.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 2:58 pm
Wrigley is the eighth wonder of the world? maybe wonder why people like it. especially now, with the TRicketts family and their hosting of TrumpFest Chicago. give me the fireworks after a homer and walking around the ball mall at the Rate any day over yuppie crowds.
Comment by Amalia Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 3:07 pm
The Hawk Wants You…to see Steve Carlton and George Foster play in Sox uniforms before they retire:
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1986-08-11-8602270888-story.html
The other player they were pursuing at the same time but didn’t get? Andre Dawson.
Comment by City Zen Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 3:13 pm
I’ve been lucky in hearing some great colorful baseball announcers. I grew up listening to Jack Buck with the Cardinals. Listened to Harry Carey do the White Sox in college (and the Cubs later) and Hawk covering the Sox. A midwest Mt. Rushmore of baseball announcers to me.
Comment by Levivotedfor Judy Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 3:15 pm
Hang in there Hawk visitors locker room will be completed next year and it will be spectacular
Comment by Lucky Pierre Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 3:25 pm
=== he was one of the greatest broadcasters in the history of baseball===
Kind of early in the day, isn’t it Rich? Or is that from the cough syrup?
He was a good player, a much better player than he was as GM, and a much, much better GM than he was a broadcaster.
He traded Bobby Bonilla for…wait for it…Jose DeLeon. In 1986. Before firing Tony LaRussa. And he was better at GM than he was ever in the booth.
Can o’ corn. Duck snort. Grab some bench. Cliche after cliche after tired, predictable cliche.
Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 3:44 pm
===Or is that from the cough syrup?===
My cough medicine contains no alcohol.
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 4:02 pm
I found Hawk annoying. I found Harry Carey annoying. I turned down the volume on both. I’ve never been to The Stadium Formerly Known as Comiskey. I’ve never been to Wrigley, and as long as Ricketts is involved, I never will. Of course that and a $20 will just about buy you a beer at the ballpark.
Comment by Skeptic Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 4:19 pm
Loved Hawk. Very passionate. Loved his call of DeWayne Wise’s outstanding catch to save Buehrle’s perfect game no-hitter—among many other calls.
Comment by Grandson of Man Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 4:55 pm
=Because he was one of the greatest broadcasters in the history of baseball.=
Agreed. But he also became a bit bitter and angry in his latter years. Things got so bad that he was rumored to have told Roger Bossard to “get off my lawn.”
Comment by Pundent Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 5:03 pm
I grew up in Oak Lawn. I stopped paying attention to the Sox because of Harrelson.
And Picks? Sox Park is exactly as far from downtown as Wrigley.
Comment by Cheryl44 Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 5:30 pm
From Rich: “I haven’t been to Wrigley Field in almost 20 years. I refuse to step foot in that place.”
My father likewise always refused to go to Wrigley himself or let his children do so. A stout Democrat, he claimed that all Cubs fans were Republicans, so that settled that.
Comment by Flapdoodle Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 8:17 pm
I’ve been to a number of MLB ballparks (my wife and I are on a quest to see all 30) and, by comparison to the new facilities, Wrigley Field may still look great on TV but the place is an absolute dump and needs to be blown up.
And I say that as a die-hard Cubs fan.
Comment by thunderspirit Monday, Jun 17, 19 @ 9:46 pm
Wrigley is definitely a dump. They can put lipstick on that pig all day with luxury boxes and clubs and “reviving the neighborhood,” it’s still a dump. When every inch of concrete needs to be covered because it’s at risk of falling and hitting people, you’ve got yourself a dump. The best you can say is it’s a summer beer garden with a baseball field in the middle of it.
Comment by Anon324 Tuesday, Jun 18, 19 @ 9:50 am
I’m a life long Cubs fan, and I love Wrigley, urine smells and all. But I don’t get the hatred. I have no problem when an out of town guest wants to go down to whatever they’re calling that ball park on the South Side. I enjoy the game and the amenities, and I root for the Sox because they are still a Chicago team regardless. I even like to see the Sox do well, as long as they don’t beat the Cubs.
Sorry for the sacrilege.
Comment by Shevek Tuesday, Jun 18, 19 @ 12:11 pm