I hadn’t expected much from my morning paper today re: National Cheeseburger Day (9/18) but was a little disappointed to find the promised story about suburban restaurants and their come-ons for the day were missing.

NCB is nothing more than a marketing stratagem-some businesses take better advantage of the day than others. I don’t associate burgers with baseball stadiums, but I have fond memories of stopping at Murphy’s (Bleachers) for a thick, juicy grilled burger before a weekend afternoon game with Dad. Before it became a popular fixture in the drinking landscape of Cubs culture, we’d drop by for a quick burger. If I was going with a friend from high school, we’d eschew quality for quantity and consume as many encased meat products in the ballpark (Smokey Links).

It seems like half of the carnivores are passionate about their burgers with the other half treating burgers like redheaded stepchildren. The better restaurants that don’t rely on loss leaders to drive business probably won’t stoop to offer any kind of cheeseburger come-on. However, some with a sense of humor will use the day to feature a new burger, drive sales of struggling burgers or tie the burger into something else on the menu.

I’m pretty sure the article I was looking for was going to go beyond the national fast-food chains and their apps. I’m pretty sure that nobody is using tangible coupons anymore. Everything has gone digital. My three favorite fast-food burger chains are out of state and thus rare treats. I do have several more upscale favorites in and around Chicago and while locals may not give the burger that much thought, I know tourists rely on burgers of all ilk.

Local diners may not wish to waste a “night-out” meal on the lowly hamburger (something easily concocted at home), but tourists will buy into any backstory or gimmick. Were it not for a legendary SNL skit, half of the visitors to Chicago would never have seen lower Michigan Avenue. Long after Ed Debevic’s lost its luster, hundreds of people continue to flock to the original Billy Goat Tavern in search of a cheezborger with Coke, no Pepsi. Upon returning to the hotel, few would admit that the burger was among the best they ever had and if the server didn’t deliver, they’d be more disappointed.

For the last decade or so, one of the local burger mainstays, has offered BOGO cheeseburgers for the week, but I haven’t received any news in my inbox. I think the Miami Marlins may have missed out on an opportunity. Jake Burger has been a great acquisition and one would think they might take advantage and offer some sort of deal for tomorrow night’s game with the Mets, but they aren’t. They do have a burger and beer deal on Fridays though, but it’s not tied into Jake.

It’s unfortunate that most of the minor leagues have completed their regular seasons already because they would take advantage of this protein promotion. The burgers that I’ve enjoyed the most at ballparks have been at minor league parks.