July 10, 2008
Fans gather to watch Tiger demolition
Now that the demolition of Tiger Stadium has begun in earnest - yesterday crews opened a large hole in the left-field grandstand - the Detroit News is finally acknowledging that many people aren't too thrilled that this is happening:
Around 2:30 p.m., brothers Roman and Dave Razo, who grew up just a few blocks away, arrived in an SUV emblazoned with Tiger logos. The brothers, both in their early 50s, brought along an old wooden ladder so they could see above the fence surrounding the demolition site, a "Save Tiger Stadium" bumper sticker and a framed picture of the last game played there.
"I don't know what to say, I swear to God, I just don't know what to say," said Dave Razo, who was wearing a jersey with the name Aurelio Rodriguez on the back, commemorating the Tigers' popular third-baseman in the 1970s.
The News article is accompanied by a slideshow of photos of the demolition work, including one showing a hole clear through to the inside of the ballpark.
The Detroit Free Press, meanwhile, reports that the center-field flagpole and the two foul poles will be "taken down and stored until it can determined how they'll be reused." The rest of the stadium will be sold for scrap to pay for demolition costs.
I'd comment on my own feelings, but David Gratt already said it better, four years ago.
Mike Betzold also said it well back in 1999; does anyone know of a link to his "Willie Horton's Tears" piece from back then? (I have searched the internet for this, but to no avail.)
Missing Tiger Stadium still,
Christine Fry
Boston
