It's a Cubs World

There's not much action for a Hawaii Chicago sports fan in the middle of January. No Cubs. No Bears. Just a little Bull(s). Though the furor surrounding my 1st Annual J-Borhood Super Bowl Prediction Issue is growing by the second, that historic event is still four days away, so I figured I needed a little chatter to fill the void. I was struggling to find a topic worth expounding upon today, and then BAM! Like a swallow returning to Capistrano, the Chicago Tribune went ahead and did my work for me with today's topic: Why Chicago is, and will forever be, a Cubs town.

Can you imagine winning a World Series championship? Thousands of people cheering, celebrating your glorious success, going wild over your accomplishments, naming their kids after you, and worshiping your name. Can you imagine, 5 months later, NOT being the most popular team in town? Welcome to the World of the Chicago White Sox.

Before I get to far, let me get my congratulations out of the way. The White Sox had an unbelieveable season, played great baseball at the right time of year, and put on exclimation point on their season with their sweep of the Astros in the World Series. Only one problem. No one cares. This pre-season, as always, the Cubs generate more buzz, more fanaticism, more unadulterated support then the White Sox ever did during their glorious run to the title. Their loyal die-hard fan base rekindles the belief that this will be the year! They put aside the frustrations of the previous 98 years and begin their 6 month long love affair with the loveable losers. These fanatics help the Cubs sell more season tickets, make far more in merchandise, and captivate the undivided attention of not only the city, but a giant portion of the country as well. They watch games in the sun, in the second oldest ballpark in the country, the historical baseball shrine called Wrigley Field with its signature ivy, nestled in the heart of downtown between Clark, Addison, Waveland, and Sheffield. Sox fans have an ugly little bandbox homerun park named after a mobile telephone where fans are known to rush the field and attack players and coaches. Wrigley sells out every game; As one sportswriter put it, you could turn the seats aroud and fans would still fill the stadium. The Sox weren't selling out games during their pennant run!

So enjoy your World Series, your brief moment of glory, because this fleeting Icarin orgasm of success is about to end. Pitchers and Catchers report in two weeks and coincidentally so does your status as second class citizens.

PLAY BALL!