Gym Cracks By Jim August 15, 2002 CUBS WIN, WALLET DRAINED Coors Field visit was great, just hit the ATM before you go By Jim (Babe) Berryman MissingNebraska.com Western Nebraska I had an enjoyable experience this past Sunday. I watched the Cubs play the Rockies. The Cubs' Sammy Sosa had an awesome two days. His two-day performance (Saturday and Sunday) included four home runs and 14 runs-batted-in. The 14 "ribbies" for two games is a major league record. The Cubs failed to score Friday night, then drilled the Rockies' pitching staff for 27 runs during the Saturday and Sunday games. I heard on a sports talk radio show Sosa is considering free agency after the 2003 season. It may be a salary ploy, but I expect him to move to a world series contender after next year. We had good seats. Is there ever a bad seat at a good ball game? There were some kids in our area of the stadium. I thought what would the cost be for this family of four to attend this game. Let's start with the $21 ticket. That's $84.00 for tickets. With a $7.00 parking lot fee, dad has spent $91.00 when the group entered the stadium. The beer (Coors of course) cost $5.75. A small Coke cost $3.00. Popcorn was priced at $3.00. Pretzels ranged up to $4.00. Hot dogs were $4.00. Let's say the two kids consume a small coke and a hot dog. The cost for the game is now $105.00. Mom and dad each have one beer and a box of popcorn. Dad has now paid $122.50 to attend this game. I peeked in the souvenir shop. The only items under $10.00 were a couple trinkets. Maybe dad could limit each kid to a $10.00 item, although such a limit is doubtful when T-shirts were selling for much more. Dad is now searching his billfold's secret compartment for his "mad money." Maybe dad escaped with only a $20.00 expenditure in the souvenir shop, but he still "shelled out" $144.50 to watch the Cubs beat the Rockies. I feel this family enjoyed this game, but how many games can they afford to see with the cost they incurred on Sunday? Feedback Previous Gym Cracks: 08-08-02: To Coors For Cubs Gym Cracks 07-25-02: Major League Madness Gym Cracks 07-18-02: Nebraskans In The Majors Gym Cracks 07-11-02: Kile Death Sheds Light Gym Cracks 07-04-02: Couch Potato Parking Gym Cracks 06-23-02: Top 10 Nebraska High School Nicknames Gym Cracks 06-06-02: Better In The 50s Gym Cracks 05-30-02: Dangerfield of Nebraska Gym Cracks 05-16-02: Baseball Sneak Aways Gym Cracks