For those of you who don’t know, the Chicago Cubs-White Sox rivalry is one that runs deep. Chicagoans learn at a young age that you pick a team and stick with them. I’ve been a White Sox fan since third grade, which means that I have always rooted against the Cubs (my friends from other cities just can’t fathom this, but that’s how it goes in Chicago). However, when after 108 years of saying, "There's always next year," it became evident that it might finally be "next year" for the Cubs, Sox fans were faced with the ultimate question. Do you root against the enemy or for your city? I found that my feelings on this topic can be pretty well explained using the 5 stages of grief.
Stage 1: Denial
Cubs fans started off this season just like any other by reassuring each other that, “Hey, this could be our year.” Meanwhile, on the South Side, us Sox fans sat there laughing and saying, “Yeah, right. You’ve been saying that for 108 years.” We couldn’t actually fathom a successful Cubs season, much less one that landed them the title of "World Series Champs."
Stage 2: Anger
However, as the season progressed, it started to look like the Cubs fans might actually be right this year. As the Cubs won game after game, and as we (unfortunately) lost more games than we won, our hatred for the Cubs deepened. If friends who aren't from Chicago mistakenly asked you, "Oh, are you excited about the Cubs?" you would likely reply with a growl or a glare (and that was when you were in a good mood).
Stage 3: Bargaining
This is the point where you became anxious and desperate. You had accepted that the Sox weren't going to make it, but you sure as heck weren't going to accept that the Cubs were. You resorted to pure faith: “Please, God, please, if the Cubs lose this game I promise I’ll never punch a Cubs fan again.”
Stage 4: Depression
Denial, anger and bargaining had all failed and there was no hope. The Sox were out, and the Cubs were in. You started questioning what the point of baseball even was. You avoided turning on the TV when the Cubs were playing and you cried a little bit when you saw Cubs fans celebrating a win.
Stage 5: Acceptance
With each win, the city got more and more hyped. 'W' flags were flying everywhere, the city was lit up with blue and red and the lions outside of the Art Institute got their very own Cubs helmets. As much as it pained us, it got harder and harder to boo our rivals. I know I can't speak for every Sox fan, but at this point, many of us realized: how could we be angry about something that made our city and the people around us so happy? In the ninth inning of game 7 when it was tied 7-7, we found ourselves holding our breath and biting our nails, praying that the Cubbies would pull through because they deserved it.
Call me a traitor or tell me I'm just jumping on the bandwagon—but because I love Chicago, I can't help but say: Go Cubs (at least for this year).
