Natalie Adorno is an 11-year-old Chicago Cubs fan who is too young to have already given up on her cursed franchise. Instead, Natalie is well-known among season ticket holders, ushers and other stadium employees for her enthusiasm and rallying cries at Wrigley Field.
“I get the crowd going,” Natalie told NBC 5 in Chicago. “When everyone is just standing there bored — well, not bored because they’re watching the game, but like not talking or cheering, then I’m there and they scream.”
Carlos Adorno, Natalie’s father, is a season ticket holder. Shortly after the 2013 season ended, Carlos said a fan tweeted at Natalie telling her she needs to stop making so much noise during games. Twitter user @coach511 began the tweets on Oct. 9, but has since deleted them. Natalie shared a screen shot of some of the tweets earlier this week.
This is how it started nothing to do with the path, he is lieing @Cubs please forward to sombody who cares. pic.twitter.com/g6TV5JHB6D
— SuperFanNatalie (@SuperFanNatalie) November 21, 2013
“He doesn’t like me cheering, and it made me feel bad because I felt like I did something wrong,” Natalie said.
Carlos took Natalie to more than 70 games last year and said her enthusiasm injected energy into Section 527. She has even gotten to know some of the players and Cubs owner Tom Ricketts knows her by name. However, the Cubs have tried to propose a solution to the perceived “problem” Natalie’s cheering has created.
According to Carlos, the Twitter user’s main beef with Natalie was that she gets out of her seat during the 7th and 8th innings to step into the aisle and urge Cubs fans to rally behind the team. The Cubs have encouraged Natalie to keep cheering, but they have asked that she keep the walkway clear for safety reasons.
“After learning of an issue between Season Ticket Holders in nearby seating areas, our team spoke with both parties to help reach a resolution,” the team said in a statement. “Our fans enjoy baseball at Wrigley Field and it’s important we provide an environment where all of our guests can enjoy their experience at the game.”
Carlos, upset with the team for seemingly siding with a grumpy fan, said he is considering not renewing his season tickets. Natalie called the Cubs her family and does not blame the team for proposing a resolution.
We don’t know exactly what Natalie does at the game, but it sounds pretty ridiculous that someone would go to such lengths to stop a young girl from enjoying herself and being enthusiastic. Then again, we can understand why fans of a team that has not won a World Series in over 100 years would be a bit cranky.
H/T Big League Stew
