Strike these things from old ball game

The newest trend by the White Sox and Cubs of auctioning off luxury suites and bullpen seats, which drives up the costs of other seats, is bad enough. But the Cubs exploring the idea of taxing each ticket for the overhaul of Wrigley Field and the White Sox auctioning off tables in the Bullpen Sports Bar for the convenience of having a place to set down $7 beers and $5 hot dogs is going overboard.

What's next? Fees for trips to the bathroom to cover the water, electric hand blower, and toilet paper costs? Recycling tax on all beer cups and hot dog wrappers? A charge for doing the wave for the "wear-and-tear" on the seats? A live music tax for singing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" during the seventh- inning stretch?

Walter Brzeski

Chicago