In the suburbs and the city of Chicago, the question, “Are you a Cubs or Sox fan?” can determine whether or not you’ll be friends with someone in some cases.
Baseball is a big deal, and choosing a side and hating the other is an even bigger deal in the suburbs and the city.
I’ve been a diehard White Sox fan for as long as I could remember. I’ve seen photos of my brother and I in Cubs apparel back when we were too young to dress ourselves and my mom attempted to (but failed) to make my brother and I like the Cubs, but I choose to block those photos from my memory. Shortly after those photos were taken, my mom gave up on trying to make us into Cubs fans, and converted into a Sox fan just like the rest of us. (We can’t blame her, she grew up on the North Side.)
Although there is a rivalry between the Sox and Cubs, it keeps things interesting. One would say it divides the city. It does, but at the same time, it unites everyone. We always have something to talk (or bicker) about: baseball.
Almost my entire life, I’ve been told that the Sox are better than the Cubs, no matter what. I’ve also been told that I should hate the Cubs. That’s just what happens: you pick a side and hate the other.
Recently the Cubs have been doing great and their fans believe there is a World Series Championship in their future. Good for them. It certainly doesn’t mean I’m going to root for them.
When the Sox went to the World Series, I didn’t see every Cubs fan I know drop everything and root for the Sox, so why should they expect the same from us Sox fans? If I do choose to root for them, I’ll be called a bandwaggoner. If I root for them to lose, I’ll still receive hate. I can’t win.
So this playoff season, I’m not rooting for the Cubs, but I won’t openly root against them. I’m loyal to my Sox. I always have been, and I always will be. If the Cubs do continue on to win the World Series, I’ll be happy for my friends who are fans, but deep down, I’ll be upset it wasn’t the Sox bringing home that trophy 11 years later.
It doesn't matter to me if they win or lose, since I really only care about how the White Sox are doing. If the Cubs don’t win, I won’t openly berate them and their fans, regardless of how much I hate them. Yeah, I’ll probably tease Cubs fans, because that’s just what we do, but at the end of the day, we’ll still share our bond over the love of Chicago baseball.
So for you Cubs fans, keep rooting for your team, and us Sox fans will keep on rooting for our team. This rivalry will never die.
