Wow! For the first time in quite a few years, I was genuinely looking forward to the MLB playoffs. I follow 2 teams. Cubs and Angels. Both teams had an exceptional year and I really thought that either one, if not both, could make a World Series run. Boy was I wrong! Both my teams got swept. The Cubs got outscored 16-6; The Angels 19-4. Combined, my favorite teams went 0-6 and got outscored 35-10. That was completely not fun. I had Angels tickets to Game 3 (today), Game 4 tomorrow, and ALCS Game 1. How completely disappointing and anti-climactic. I'm sick. I'm so done with baseball. OK, maybe until next year. The point of this article isn't to whine, it's to make valid point.
My point? Back in 2004, the Boston Red Sox ended an 86 year curse and won the World Series. As a Chicago Cubs fan, I was elated to see the "other" cursed team in baseball finally break through. The way they did it, priceless. Honestly, a movie could not have scripted it any better. It was one of the few rare moments in sports when reality was better than art. Since the World Series win, the Sox have enjoyed the largest jump in bandwagon fans in sports history. When they won the Series, it was "cute." Good story, the underdog came through. Three years later, their payroll nearly matches the Yankees and the number of Sox fans has increased exponentially. Hot chicks are now Sox fans b/c it's trendy. Between the trendy Sox fans and the Angels fans from OC, I've never seen as many good looking women at a sporting event. While this is never a bad thing in some ways, in others it ruins it.
I went to Game 3 today knowing that Sox fans travel well, and even though we're on the complete opposite side of the country, there would still be a fair share of Sox fans. When I arrived, I was amazed to see the number of Sox fans representing. A regular season Cubs-Cards game, I could maybe understand the strange proportion. But for a playoff game 3000 miles away from Boston against a non-rival??? The game had a great playoff atmosphere. No score until the 4th inning when Papi and Manny went back-to-back. From that point on, the situation continued to disintegrate. "Let's go Red Sox" was loud, clear, and more annoying as the day progressed. Beer poured more heavily and fights started to randomly break out in the stands. By the time the Sox put the game away in the 8th, my impression of the Sox had done a 180. The Red Sox are no longer cute; they are a monster.
Cocky, arrogant, downright rude...and oh yeah "trendy." I'm done with the Sox. While it's impressive what they've accomplished, in my opinion, you can now group them in with the NY Yankees. Both teams have a big payroll and will be a perennial force to be reckoned with, but it's kind of hard to root for either one anymore. Maybe the Sox are still just a bit more likable, but that will change over time. For those that haven't experienced Red Sox Nation trampeling your city, beware, they are a monster. In precisely one day, I went from sympathetic towards them to sheer hatred. Indeed, they were a completely better team than the Angels this year, but they've lost my respect. Unfortunately they have reached a critical point of no return.
With that said, I long for the day when people can say the same thing about the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs, like the Red Sox, have a certain national appeal that is hard to match. In fact, the parallels between both franchises is remarkable: both cursed, both going generations between championships, both with memorable collapses, both have big rivals that they always seem to come up short against, both with historic ballparks, both with nation-wide appeal, and both with (IMO) the best and most loyal fans in the game. The difference: The Red Sox broke their curse. One day, Cubs fans will be among the most hated in the game. I can't wait. The Cubbies came a long way this year. There is a lot to build upon. In the terrible NL Central, they should be solid favorites to repeat as division champs. Although I think I've said this before....
WAIT UNTIL NEXT YEAR!
Rich Kim
Senior Cubs Apologist
PS: Go Rockies!
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NOTE TO SENIOR CUBS APOLOGIST:
The Cubs fans are already hated. Cubs fans already have the arrogance. We cannot figure out why, but the do. They already have the swagger. They are downright rude, and I have news for you--it IS "cute" to be a Cubs fan-no question about it. It is 100% trendy to be a Cubs fan. For a blonde to wear the 'Lovable Losers'C cap, is as trendy as a Sox cap. They drink heavily, start fights and chant 'Let's Go Cubbies' at EVERY opposing stadium. They spent $300M this season and are about to be sold for $1B.
I am sure this will get brushed off like every other criticism involved with your team or fans, so I could care less. But, look in the mirror. Cubs fans are the same, whether you want to admit or not. It's true. Think about it. And try to have an open mind. It doesn't make you any less of a fan.
-Davo
Only Cards fans really "hate" Cub fans. I agree that Cub fans are exactly like the Sox...with one huge difference...the Cubs haven't won it all yet. It's pretty hard to hate people that you feel sympathetic for (unless you are a Cards fan). Once the Cubs end the curse, everything changes. Like I said, I can't wait until people say the same thing about Cub fans. Well-traveled, loyal, arrogant, obnoxious, drunks...whatever. Indeed it's trendy now, but just wait until the Cubbies win it all! It will surpass the Sox bandwagon.
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