From the Chicago Tribune’s Paul J. Sullivan :
The Cubs sent e-mails to neighbors and neighborhood groups last week announcing a community skate on the hockey rink soon to be installed at Wrigley Field for the Winter Classic between the Blackhawks and Detroit on Jan. 1.
The skate will take place from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Jan. 4, just before the temporary rink is to be dismantled. Cubs neighbors will be given a chance to skate in one-hour shifts for $10 apiece, with proceeds benefiting Cubs Care.
So if you plan to skate over the same infield where Aramis Ramirez, Ryan Theriot, Mark DeRosa and Derrek Lee play ” and on the same rink where Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews and Patrick Sharp will skate ” remember it’s BYOS: Bring your own skates.
It’s a pretty cool idea and the sort of thing other franchises could well take a tip from. Who amongst us hasn’t dreamed of taking batting practice at Madison Square Garden, particularly if James Dolan is sitting courtside?
Wintertime tip: When bringing your own goat (BYOG) consider a towed-sled approach instead of two pairs of ice skates. They don’t just butt, they kick too.
Given the strange odors Sox players have noted emanating from Wrigley in the past, I would also suggest not skating on the yellow ice.