About the use of the organ at Wrigley Field for Chicago Cubs games

Really interesting article from the Chicago Tribune about the use (and non-use) of the organ at Wrigley Field for Cubs games.  Excerpted here, bold parts are my emphasis:

They were the last team to install lights, and one of the last to install rotating advertising boards behind home plate. The installation of the car sign in left field caused a stir last summer, and talk about bringing a Jumbotron to Wrigley has been debated for years.

The Cubs made one small change to tradition in 2010 to make their players happy, while aggravating a segment of their fan base. With no fanfare last June, they suddenly replaced Gary Pressy's organ music with snippets of taped music for hitters' intro songs.

Asked by a fan at the Cubs Convention why they were spoiling the "Wrigley Field experience," Chairman Tom Ricketts recalled a conversation with an unnamed player who wanted the taped music to help the team out of its early-season slump.

"We weren't getting the clutch hits, we weren't scoring runs," Ricketts told the fans. "And a player came up and made that request. "I was like, 'Geez, we have traditions.' "

Ricketts and the marketing department debated it, and ultimately decided to make the change.

"I said 'Look, I know that it won't be popular with everybody, but if it shows the players that we're going to give them some support and try to shake things up and help things a little bit, then I'll give it a shot,' " he told fans.

Marlon Byrd confirmed he was the player Ricketts cited and that he was trying to boost the team's morale.

"We were the only team not coming out to music," Byrd said. "I thought it'd be a good twist, with it being 'Year One' with the Ricketts. I understand you have to keep tradition, have to keep the organ. But change it up just a little bit."

Byrd's intro song was "Work" by Gang Starr, which included the lyrics: "I've been laying, waiting for your next mistake/I put in work, and watch my status escalate." He said he enjoyed seeing fans "bobbing their heads in the stands" when they heard his song, even if the sound system is so antiquated it barely could be heard.

The reaction was split between the traditionalists and progressives. Ricketts admitted to fans they received "a lot of feedback from fans who preferred" organ music to taped songs, and said they're considering whether or not to return to the old-school ways.

Infielder Jeff Baker, who came out to various Beastie Boys songs, said he hopes the Rickettses keep the status quo.

"It creates a personality and an identity for each player, showing what you bring, and making your own stamp," Baker said. "I'm all for it. I know the majority of the players like it. I know it's a tough line for (the Rickettses) because they're trying to balance the traditions of Wrigley with what the players like and want.

"It's a tough call, but I hope they don't can it. It's not like you're replacing the organ music completely. You're just adding to it. I don't think it has ruined the fundamental history of Wrigley."

Catcher Koyie Hill, who preferred striding to home plate to Led Zeppelin, said a new sound system would make the recorded music more palatable.

"If they're going to (play) music on that speaker system they have now, I don't know what the point is." Hill said. "But if guys in the room like it and that's their thing, I'm all for it. When you're up at the plate, or on the mound, it's your turn. So take your turn. If you want music, you get music. I'm a big traditional guy, but I'm also not ignorant to the modern stuff. I like a good mix."

If the Ricketts family decides to go back to organ music, Byrd said the team can live with it. It's not a big deal, but one of those little "Chicago things" Chicagoans like to debate.

"I'm not part of the marketing department. So I'm not sure what kind of feedback they got," Byrd said. "If the fans didn't like it, we don't need to have it. They do need a new sound system. We need a lot of things. But I think the Ricketts are going to take care of that, and if we did have one, it'd be pretty cool.

"I know, just looking in the stands, that a lot of people enjoyed it. It's all just fun, trying to keep it loose. It's too serious sometimes in Chicago. We need to have fun."

The top ten songs played at U.S. sporting events last season

Saw this on Yahoo! Sports -- a list of the top ten songs heard at U.S. major league sports events in the 09-10 season, as reported by BMI. I'd suspect MLB baseball is over-represented in this sample of songs, since they play the most games per season.  (And NFL football would be the least represented.)

I'm surprised at #10: Machinehead.  It's a good sports song, but there are so many other hard rock songs of the same genre.  Also surprised that some arena staples like Sweet Caroline, or anything by AC/DC, or Crazy Train didn't make the list.

And the folks at Yahoo! were wondering why Car Wash made the list.  That's easy: because of the clapping part at the start.

Video tribute to Chris Kelly (Feb 18, 2011)

On Tuesday, February 15 the Sens trade Chris Kelly to the Boston Bruins.
On Friday, February 18 the Boston Bruins came to Ottawa for a game and Chris Kelly makes his debut.

Here's the tribute video (via Sens TV) we played during the first period. Great reaction from the fans - they cheered throughout and gave Chris a standing ovation. Great job by our video team to turn this around & great idea for the song - "Where Am I Going" by Matt Mays.

Promotions gone wrong, etc.

• Hockey charity bans teddy-bear toss due to bedbug fears
  
• Cincinnati Bearcat Arrested During Game For Throwing Snowballs
  
• The Bucks don't want soldiers to propose on their video board (that headlines a bit sensationalized, make sure you read the article for context
• Halftime mascot lapdance

From the crime blotter: Murder suspect nabbed after video scoreboard appearance

This is old news but I felt it was important to document here for posterity. The New York Daily News reports:

If only all murder suspects were as stupid as Earle Barranco - a Brooklyn fugitive who waltzed past a JumboTron camera at an NBA game in the same gaudy bling he wore when he allegedly pulled the trigger.

As if that weren't bold enough, the dopey 24-year-old showed up at the same arena days later, where cops promptly nabbed him and replaced his bling with shiny steel handcuffs.

Barranco is being held in Charlotte, N.C., but will soon be on his way back to New York to face charges in the Oct. 23 slaying of Corey Scott, 28, at Chelsea's Good Stuff Diner...

The NYPD put out a nationwide arrest warrant and even notified authorities in the Bahamas, where the suspect's father lives.

Their big break came when Barranco showed up to a Charlotte Bobcats game Oct. 29 and made the mistake of walking into the view of the JumboTron lens as it zoomed in on a couple.

"He was walking behind them, but someone who knows him spotted him," a police source said. "After the game, that person learned he was wanted and then reported seeing him."

Charlotte authorities reviewed the tape and confirmed that Barranco had been there - with his telltale pendant.

When he showed up to another Bobcats game at the Time Warner Cable Arena on Saturday night, North Carolina cops and FBI agents swooped down and arrested him.

Read more

Promotions round up #753

• Florida Panthers host Hanukkah Celebration Night
  Billed as the biggest Hannukah party in South Florida, it was presented by The Original Booklyn Water Bagel Co. and featured events like the lighting of a giant menorah, Jewish music, kosher food, and yes -- a Panthers yarmulke.
• Thrashers fans get married during a game

Puck Daddy ranks the NHL's goal celebrations

Excellent research and reporting from Puck Daddy on the in-arena goal celebrations for each of the 30 NHL teams.

In the East, Carolina was ranked the best: "Starts with a deep, drowning goal horn playing over Blur's "Song 2," and then things get freaky. There goes Ric Flair, saying 'that's a Ca-ro-lina Hurricanes' goal! Woo! Wooooo!' There's a 'Yabba Dabba Doo!' and a Homer Simpson 'd'oh!' and a Dice Clay 'oh!' And is that Chewbacca we hear?"

In the West, Columbus gets the nod: "The cannon isn't for everyone. And by 'everyone' we mean there are those out there who don't appreciate an AC/DC classic like "For Those About To Rock (We Salute You)" being enhanced by heavy artillery. We call these fellow citizens 'lame-ohs.'"