October 9th, 2008
BaseBall Ends in Chicago
I have lived in Chicago for 13 years. In baseball I am Yankee fan, but I have adopted the Chicago White Sox as my 2nd choice. The dynamics of baseball in Chicago is interesting. Most Sox fans hate the Cubs and same in reverse. Earlier this summer, I had my Sox baseball hat on, near my office in far North Western Chicago, near OHare airport. You would have thought I had on the hat of a team from a different city. My New York Yankee hat does not upset as many people.
This city had suffered through 2 teams with no world series victories for nearly a century until the Sox won in 2005. This year was the 100th anniversary of the Cubs last world champion in 1908. Dusty Baker became one of the most successful managers the Cubs ever had since 1906. He came within 5 outs of going to the world series when a fan’s interference with a foul ball may have caused the Cubs to fall apart and lose.
Dusty being black was overly criticized and run out of town on a rail. This man was NL Manager of the Year 3 times but was torn down as if he knew nothing. This loser franchisee had their scape goat.
The losers hired Lou Piniella, a former New York Yankee. The mangement spent heavily in the free agent market and gave Piniella the tools Dusty only wished he had.
The reason people hate the Cubs is because of their fans. They are uninformed and want everybody to know they are Cubbie fans. If they are near a TV and the Cubs get a hit, they yell and scream like the world series had been won.
The Sox, over achieved this year, no one expected them to be in the playoff’s. So I tip my hat to their gallant effort and their 1 playoff win.
The Cubs, the best team and record in baseball, with 8 all stars, got swept for the second year in a row. Pinella’s record after 2 years in the playoff’s is 0 wins and 6 losses. Swept again, nobody seems mad at Piniella but his playoff record is pitiful.
Bring Dusty back!!!
October 9th, 2008 at 4:59 pm
Great thinking. I’ve lived in Chicago my whole life (over 40 years) and I couldn’t have surmised the dynamics of our crazy city fans any better than what you’ve done here. In fact, I would be surprised had the city and it’s fair-weather fans had behaved any differently than what you’ve witnessed between Dusty Baker and Lou Pinella. My only sadness is that the Sox didn’t go any further just to put another nail in the coffers of the Cubs diehard fans. I like both teams and respect both teams, but I’m totally partial to the Sox. I’m a South sider and proud of it. I’ve seen how the fans are and I’ve seen how this city is. We all are growing and developing fresh new temperaments. I do feel bad that the Cubs couldn’t brake the hex, but the way the city has maintained allegiance to Pinella’s sorry record and was bent on assassinating Dusty is par for the course! I find it offensive, but it’s been typical for as long as I’ve lived here. Nothing new. Just like the general politics of our nation — same old same old. I can’t wait for the “REAL” fresh beginning. I believe it truly is just around the corner.
October 9th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
Hi JD-
I am a Sox fan living in Phoenix now but I lived in Chicago area for ~ 20 years. It seems to me that a lot (but not all!) Cub fans have a hard time realistically understanding how good or bad their team is from year to year. Many of them are desperate to break the curse. I know I’m making a generalization but I want to make a point.
I’ve also seen this behavior in people seeking a new position. They aren’t real about how well they match up to the opportunity. I have done this myself.
You agree, based on your experiences?
Enjoy your blog a lot.
October 10th, 2008 at 4:37 pm
Ms Holiday8, thank you for your comment and insight to Chicago baseball. There are some people who enjoy both teams and i see you are one. i went to both Sox games on Sunday and Monday. There was a lot of excitment. It is wondeful to see so many folk at the Sox park!
October 10th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
Royce, you are lucky because you get to go to spring training. your point about the job market and those seeking new jobs is so true it is great to have confidence and know your value but the unknown is the value of your competition for a job. in a slow market there are a lot of competiton for good jobs. Thank you for your visit and comment
November 8th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
Just a side note your post which I found very interesting. The Cubs have a large following outside the city of Chicago. Hard to explain since it has been 100 years as you said. People just love the Cubbies.
I’m a baseball fan in general but partial to the Milwaukee Brewers having been born and raised there. Baseball overall has some very interesting, historic facts. The Chicago teams hold many of them.
November 8th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
Thanks Mike for dropping by, The Brewers are the team Henry Aaron hit his last homerun for!