CHICAGO -- During a recent game at Wrigley Field, John Weber was using a pencil and scorecard to expertly track the game between his hometown Cubs and the Pittsburgh Pirates. Nike Roshe Run Originales Baratas . The 86-year-old retired transit worker figures he is an increasingly rare kind of baseball fan. "Look around, do you see many people keeping score?" he asked. No indeed. Between batters and between pitches, most fans in the stands at Wrigley -- and everywhere else in the majors -- take their eyes off the game to peck away at smartphones, phablets, tablets and iPads. Few bother to figure out the baseball hieroglyphics that Weber and other purists lovingly scrawl on their cards. The Cubs are hoping to add a massive video scoreboard to Wrigley as early as next year in what would be the biggest renovation at Wrigley since lights were installed more than a quarter century ago. The plan has stirred plenty of opposition, with many wondering if modern electronics will rob some of the mystique that surrounds the venerable ballpark, which hosted its first game on April 23, 1914 -- 100 years ago Wednesday. The scene in the stands illustrates how Wrigley is already a modern park and in fact got there faster than some of the newer, shinier stadiums around the country. The Cubs were the first to install a moving walkway back in the 1950s (it was removed a few years later) and in 2012 were one of the first teams in the majors to offer Wi-Fi. "The Cubs were ahead of their time and, frankly, ahead of the league," said Bob Bowman, CEO of MLB Advanced Media, the leagues interactive branch. The lack of a video scoreboard is a glaring reminder that the Cubs have some catching up to do. That is even more obvious this year thanks to a new instant replay system that allows teams to challenge umpires calls. "With this replay for our fans, 75 million of them at the games, get to see what everyone sees at home," Bowman said. Except at Wrigley, where fans have to wait until they get home or watch the television monitors while theyre in line to buy a hot dog or beer. "How ridiculous is that?" asked Marc Ganis, a sports consultant with SportsCorp Ltd. in Chicago, who once advised the Cubs prior owner, the Tribune Co. "The only time you see it is when youre not in your seat." The lack of a video board is only the most visible example of some of the differences between Wrigley and other parks. Rather than ordering food and drink on a handheld device and having it delivered right to their seats, fans at Wrigley get things the old-fashioned way: By yelling at vendors roaming the aisles or making a trip to the concession stands. The Cubs cant do it any other way because Wrigley Field is so small that food must be prepared offsite. A proposed $300 million renovation project includes construction of commissary, though team spokesman Julian Green said a final decision hasnt been made. The Cubs are also examining whether to join the roughly 20 teams that have customized Major League Baseballs At the Ballpark app to give fans access to information about ballparks as they enter, from seat location to specials on merchandise. One thing the Cubs say they wont be doing any time soon is allowing fans to upgrade their seats via their handheld devices. "There are a lot of great innovations happening at new ball parks but Wrigley has magic (and) we need to be careful that we dont implement technology that takes away from the experience of Wrigley, the experience of what it has been like for sons going to games with their fathers, and their fathers fathers," said Andrew McIntyre, the Cubs senior director of information technology. Many fans do worry that the Cubs embrace of technology could change the atmosphere at the friendly confines for the worse. They want to see the park as they imagine past generations saw it. "Any modernization, you risk losing what made it special," said Todd Jezierski, a 32-year-old Oregon resident. He said when a friend heard he was coming to Wrigley, he excitedly told him he just had to visit the restrooms and see the ancient urinal troughs. Charlie Tausche, a 75-year-old retired attorney, has less of a problem with a massive video board than with the technology-toting young people who will flock the Wrigley in greater numbers once school lets out. "They stand up in front of you in the middle of the game and take their selfies," he complained. The oldest stadium in the majors, Bostons Fenway Park, is awash in video boards and still remains one of the jewels of baseball at 102 years old. And -- this is a big one for long-suffering Cubs fans -- it has fielded three World Series winners in the last decade. Robert Garcia, a 38-year-old Chicago teacher who came to a recent game decked out in a Cubs hat, jacket and clutching a scorecard and pencil he just bought, said the essence of Wrigley will remain with new technology. "When you come in and look down you still see the ivy, you still see the bleachers," he said. Even Darryl Wilson, who has been working the manual scoreboard for 23 years, has no objection to all the new technology, including a new video scoreboard. "I hope they dont think I can keep up with that scoreboard," he said. Nike Roshe Run Baratas Blancas . Weiese left the arena with a splint on his wrist and will undergo further tests to determine whether the tendon is torn. Weise was acquired from the Vancouver Canucks in early February. Nike Free Negras Mujer .C. running back Stefan Logan was named CFL offensive player of the week Tuesday after rushing for a career-high 145 yards and scoring a touchdown in the Lions 33-17 victory over Toronto. CHICAGO -- Carlos Boozer isnt interested in winning over his critics. Hes interested in something else. "To win," he said. The Chicago Bulls figure to do plenty of that, particularly if he keeps playing like this. Boozer scored 17 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, and the Bulls coasted in their home opener, pounding the Memphis Grizzlies 104-64 on Sunday night. Derrick Rose finished with 16 points even though shots werent falling for him in the early going. Ronnie Brewer scored 17 with Richard Hamilton a late scratch because of a groin injury. The game was so lopsided that fans started calling for backup Brian Scalabrine in the third quarter, with the outcome clearly in hand. It was, easily, the most dominant performance of the young season for a team with soaring expectations. With their eyes on a championship, the Bulls took three of four out West, beating Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers in the opener and capping the trip with a victory over the Clippers. This time, they dismantled the Grizzlies. "Its a major step back," Memphis Rudy Gay said. "This is the NBA. The game definitely shouldnt have gotten out of hand like that. Were all professional athletes. We need to come up with a better showing than that." Boozer led the way with 15 points and 11 rebounds as Chicago built a 54-28 halftime lead, scoring down low and hitting mid-range jumpers as if they were breakaway layups. He had 11 points during a 13-3 second-quarter run that bumped Chicagos lead to 48-27. Not a bad home debut for a guy who heard his share of boos there last season, particularly down the stretch. "Im not even worried about it, honestly," said Boozer, who missed the first month a year ago because of a broken right hand after signing with Chicago and was limited by a turf toe injury in the post-season. "I dont know which story you guys are trying to write, but Im going to tell you this -- were just worried about getting better every day." At 4-1, the Bulls are off to their best start since the 1996-97 team won its first 12, and they won this one eassily even though Luol Deng (11 points) had a quiet night and the ball wasnt falling for Rose early on. Nike Roshe Run Outlet España. . He missed his first five shots and was 4 of 10, but he was aggressive from the start and helped set up his teammates. Thats why for coach Tom Thibodeau, Dengs statistics didnt really reflect his performance. "He gives you whatever the team needs," Thibodeau said. "He got us off to a really good start -- defence, pushing the ball up the floor. When you push the ball like that, it gets everyone moving." The only downer for Chicago was Hamilton getting scratched from the lineup and C.J. Watson leaving with a sprained left elbow injury in the fourth quarter after a scramble for a loose ball with Josh Selby near midcourt. He had his arm in a sling afterward and was scheduled for an MRI on Monday. Hamilton, who tweaked his groin against the Clippers, is day to day. Those injuries aside, it was a good night for the Bulls. They outrebounded the Grizzlies 55-40, outshot them 46.4 per cent to 31 per cent and outscored them 33-13 on the break. It was simply a brutal night for Memphis, which got just five points from Gay. Zach Randolph bruised his right knee and scored only two points in 11 minutes. Josh Davis and Sam Young were the only Grizzlies to score in double figures, with 10 points apiece. Jeremy Pargo, who grew up near Rose on Chicagos South Side, hit just 2-of-13 shots and finished with four points filling in for Mike Conley, who missed his second game with a sprained left ankle. "It was embarrassing and humiliating," coach Lionel Hollins said. Notes: Conley participated in the morning shootaround and did some pre-game work. He said the ankle is improving, but he remains day to day. "Im going to try to get some more rest for it and get it stronger with a couple of extra days of rehab before I get back on the court." ... Pargo, who is two years older than Rose, deflected questions about their matchup before the game, saying, "Im excited to play with my teammates and do our best to get a win." Cheap JerseysWholesale Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys China Wholesale Jerseys ' ' '
