by Katrina Woelke
I haven’t paid much attention to sports over the years until recently. I’m a Notre Dame fan because I’m Irish, and I like the Cubs because my grandpa was a big fan. My boyfriend is a huge sports fan, which has led me to learn more about baseball and football. I enjoy learning more about baseball as my boyfriend talks about upcoming games. Recently, I took a trip to Rate Field with my boyfriend to see the White Sox in their 2nd to last regular season game.
We sat near first base and had a good view of the action. It was awesome to see Munetaka Murakami in action, given how much his reputation precedes him. During one inning, the White Sox had the bases loaded and were on the verge of tying the game. I got on my feet and held my breath in anticipation. Nothing came of it, but I wonder how loud the stadium would have been if someone would’ve hit a home run. I didn’t have a clue what was going on when I went to see the Kane County Cougars, but I can see why people love the White Sox. The energy is unmatched.
The atmosphere of the game made the experience stand out for me. The chants, the music, and the fans really make it feel like a concert for the team. I got a Southside sweatshirt as a gift when passing through the gates, and it was cool to see everyone sporting their team merch and I was glad to get some for free.
I really enjoyed the food there. I heard about the hype of the campfire milkshake, and it lived up to expectations. It was delicious! It had a toasted marshmallow, graham cracker crumbs, and a piece of chocolate on top of a mountain of whipped cream. I had to get it before dinner like a little kid, of course. Hot dogs are a necessary part of baseball, so of course I had to get them. I also shared a funnel cake to top off all of the yummy food.
While they didn’t win against the Colorado Rockies (which is unfortunate given their terrible record), I still had an amazing time, and it feels like somewhere I need to visit again. Hopefully that’ll happen sometime in the near future if they keep winning. I was a casual Cubs fan, but maybe this experience has converted me.
