I remember growing up to the sounds of Jack Brickhouse and Harry Caray coming from the tv. My grandpa and dad watched the games and every so often actually took me to a game. I grew up in the south suburbs of Chicago and was surrounded by Sox fans. I didn't know anything about a northside/southside rivalry all I knew was that watching baseball was something my dad enjoyed doing. I found comfort in the games.
I married a Sox fan and during baseball season we learned to tolerate one another's team. In 2005 when the Sox won the World Series I was happy for Sox fans everywhere. While I wasn't as excited as I am now, I was incredibly happy for them. I mean they won the greatest prize after a season of great play, how could you not be happy, right?
Three years ago, on the night before going back to school, my friend and her husband took me to a Cubs game. It was the first time in at least ten years that I had gone to Wrigley. That visit to Wrigley re-ignited a passion in me. Over the past two years I have attended about 5-6 games a season. I have attended games in the field and on the rooftops. I fell in love with the ballpark energy and the energy of Wrigleyville. There is nothing better than going to that historic ballpark and walking around where so many have been to watch the Cubs play over the years.
Over the years I have spent much time defending myself regarding the team that I love. I have been faithful to this team through thick and thin, for better or worse, and there has been a lot of worse. People have asked me how can I like a team that always loses? I have been taunted with phrases such as: "when was the last time you were in the World Series" and "there's always next year." I have been able to ignore such things because for me it wasn't about winning; it was about the history not only in the Cubs but also in my family. It didn't really bother me that others didn't understand how I could support a team that choked before the All-Star break every year.
Fast forward to 2016, we are in a very different place this year, we are going to play in the first World Series in 71 years. I cannot explain how this feels. I feel like a kid before Christmas. My tummy has butterflies and I am so excited I can barely contain myself. I can finally understand how my friends who are Cardinal and Sox fans have felt.
Unfortunately, there are many people who cannot be happy for me or for my Cubbies. They still point out that it has been 108 years since the Cubs won a World Series. They say that we don't deserve to be here. They say that they are going to cheer for the Indians. This to me is ridiculous. How can they have such distain for a team that has worked so hard to get to where there are? Where is their love for the game?
To all the nay sayers I would like to say, I do hope that my Cubbies win the World Series. I hope they win it for countless reasons, but mostly because the young men in that Cubs uniform have worked hard to get to where they are. I would also like to offer this experience to them as a lesson in kindness. It is okay not to like something that someone else likes, however it is not okay to be rude. #choosekind #fortheloveofthegame The LA Dodgers tweeted words of kindness after losing to the Cubs and that to me is amazing and such a great show of sportsmanship. It is my extreme hope that going forward others can think about their words and ask themselves how they would like to be treated in a similar situation. If for no other reason than for the love of the game.
Here are some pictures from this 2016 baseball season:
I married a Sox fan and during baseball season we learned to tolerate one another's team. In 2005 when the Sox won the World Series I was happy for Sox fans everywhere. While I wasn't as excited as I am now, I was incredibly happy for them. I mean they won the greatest prize after a season of great play, how could you not be happy, right?
Three years ago, on the night before going back to school, my friend and her husband took me to a Cubs game. It was the first time in at least ten years that I had gone to Wrigley. That visit to Wrigley re-ignited a passion in me. Over the past two years I have attended about 5-6 games a season. I have attended games in the field and on the rooftops. I fell in love with the ballpark energy and the energy of Wrigleyville. There is nothing better than going to that historic ballpark and walking around where so many have been to watch the Cubs play over the years.
Over the years I have spent much time defending myself regarding the team that I love. I have been faithful to this team through thick and thin, for better or worse, and there has been a lot of worse. People have asked me how can I like a team that always loses? I have been taunted with phrases such as: "when was the last time you were in the World Series" and "there's always next year." I have been able to ignore such things because for me it wasn't about winning; it was about the history not only in the Cubs but also in my family. It didn't really bother me that others didn't understand how I could support a team that choked before the All-Star break every year.
Fast forward to 2016, we are in a very different place this year, we are going to play in the first World Series in 71 years. I cannot explain how this feels. I feel like a kid before Christmas. My tummy has butterflies and I am so excited I can barely contain myself. I can finally understand how my friends who are Cardinal and Sox fans have felt.
Unfortunately, there are many people who cannot be happy for me or for my Cubbies. They still point out that it has been 108 years since the Cubs won a World Series. They say that we don't deserve to be here. They say that they are going to cheer for the Indians. This to me is ridiculous. How can they have such distain for a team that has worked so hard to get to where there are? Where is their love for the game?
To all the nay sayers I would like to say, I do hope that my Cubbies win the World Series. I hope they win it for countless reasons, but mostly because the young men in that Cubs uniform have worked hard to get to where they are. I would also like to offer this experience to them as a lesson in kindness. It is okay not to like something that someone else likes, however it is not okay to be rude. #choosekind #fortheloveofthegame The LA Dodgers tweeted words of kindness after losing to the Cubs and that to me is amazing and such a great show of sportsmanship. It is my extreme hope that going forward others can think about their words and ask themselves how they would like to be treated in a similar situation. If for no other reason than for the love of the game.
Here are some pictures from this 2016 baseball season: