Why I Like BCB (The Positive thread)

by HerrProf on Mar 12, 2007 9:01 AM CDT Comment 21 comments

I have been thinking about why I like this this site so much. Part of it is probably nostalgia, cause I miss chicago and like to hear snippets from the the town now and then.

I also love baseball, and sometimes miss the littles things you can only get from beat reporting and reading local papers. This site provides plenty of juicy gossip and inside dirt, and there are plenty of stats hungry, but friendly and non arrogant numbers crunchers who are willing to break it down because they care.

When I lived in Chicago, I took a a lot of heat because I liked baseball in general, and the cubs in particular. Yea the stands can be ful of lots of yuppies and other people I have little in common with, but we have the most important thing in common, a love for baseball and a love for the cubs.

In going to games across the country, I have always made friends and had conversations with people that aside from baseball have little or nothing in common with. I see bcb as a microcosm of that. How well would you get along with your seat mates in the ball park if you had to see that every day?

My grandma is almost ninety, and I called her all winter after every trade to talk about the teams chances. To talk to someone who has been seeing games since the 20s to still be this excited about a team, is a pretty cool feeling.

With that in mind, I'd like to hear some other people talk about why they like the cubs, and this site in general.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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I think it's particularly cool..

... that you have a 90-year-old grandmother who is not only with it, but with whom you can discuss the Cubs all the time.

Baseball connects generations in that way. That's one reason Wrigley Field is what it is -- you know that you are witnessing baseball in the same place that your father or grandfather or mother or grandmother or all of the above saw players going back three generations play.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Mar 12, 2007 9:08 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

My grandman

is almost 90 and she is the reason I like the Cubs.

I grew up outside Rockford, but now live in California. Just the the author of this diary, I too call and email with her about our beloved Cubbies. So many great memories of sitting around in her kitchen and dining room listening to games on 720 since we could not get them on TV out there.

D-LEE!

by airweino on Mar 12, 2007 11:01 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Forgot to add that

I love this site, Al does a good job of running things. Some people have way too much time on their hands to take things said here too seriously and argue over the things they choose to argue over. I hope that if I ever get to that place, I cut my internet off all together. What a blessing and curse it has become, huh?

D-LEE!

by airweino on Mar 12, 2007 11:03 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hey!

Look kids, more rehashing! Will the snipes ever stop? Stay tuned....

"Because I saw this movie called 'Liar Liar' and the message was 'don't lie.' --Cal

by nextyearcub on Mar 12, 2007 11:18 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

THE POSITIVE THREAD

Knock it off, ok? <HUGZ>

Any Argument, sufficiently argued in an intelligent manner, is correct.

by HerrProf on Mar 12, 2007 11:26 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hugs back to ya

But leaving well enough alone means just that. And that's not directed to you HerrProf, we're hugging right now.

"Because I saw this movie called 'Liar Liar' and the message was 'don't lie.' --Cal

by nextyearcub on Mar 12, 2007 11:36 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Less Filling....more fun!!

Al does a great job at making everyone feel welcome and their comments.

There are well researched to casual, to funny comments on a regular basis, and while I don't get the chance to write that much, I read as much as I can every day.

I think it is a good place to get away from that "tourist" or "yuppie" label.

I think people here really care about the Cubs, and a lot of thought goes into what can make them better, and to help members of the BCB community get the info they are looking for.

Long Live BCB!!!!

See you all on the 23rd in right field!!!

Good Guys Wear Blue

by Cubskingdom on Mar 12, 2007 10:39 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Praise Be Baseball Loving Grandmas in their 90's

Mine was a rabid baseball fan and heard or saw every game on radio or television. Sadly, she passed a few years ago and missed seeing her long suffering team win the series by 40 days. I found myself rooting for the pesky Red Sox because of her.

On a lighter note, what does your grandmother think of the Under Armour ads? Is she planning on purchasing a form fitting, sweat wicking T-Shirt because it will be advertised on the barn door in left-center?

by N Oakley on Mar 12, 2007 10:40 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

hopefully

her eye sight doesn't let her catch that one :/. I would try to get a grandma bea cubs recap, but she is very active and only watches select day games.

She likes to go out to clubs and sing and dance, and likes to hang out with people younger than 65, cause they are the only ones who can keep up!

Any Argument, sufficiently argued in an intelligent manner, is correct.

by HerrProf on Mar 12, 2007 10:44 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

HerrProf

have you read the link below on the right side "Why We Are Here"?

It's a great read seeing how all of us have come to love the Cubs.

by socalbob on Mar 12, 2007 11:41 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

re: HerrProf

I was gonna say...this diary reminds me a lot of "Why Are We Here?", which I've been meaning to add my two cents to for, like, months now. I just went there, though, and the comment feature seems to be disabled again. Al, can you turn it back on?

I didn't have the ball, bitch!

by dat cubfan daver on Mar 12, 2007 11:46 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

In brief...

BCB is my favorite Cubs blog because I feel it's the most dynamic, informative and rewarding. I find Al's writing style very easy and enjoyable to read and I tend to agree with his perspective on most things, which, obviously, feeds my desire to come back.

But beyond Al's great commentary, what makes BCB great is, in short, the diary feature. It gives us all, while not quite an equal voice with the primary blogger, at least the opportunity to really stretch out our authorial voices beyond simple comments.

And therein lies the problem.

Because BCB participants have more power, they tend to start feeling more proprietary about this blog and, in turn, get very frustrated when they can't exercise that propriety to the extent they'd like to.

To be honest, I think a lot of what's happening here is just the natural evolution of any long-standing blog. People come, they post, they post more, they build relationships and, whether real or imagined, they start to feel invested in the blog.

But if they start feeling that this investment isn't paying sufficient dividends, they get pissed off and leave. And I honestly think there's really not much Al can do about this.

All I know is that I intend to continue visiting BCB regularly and commenting to the best of my meager ability. (And, who knows, maybe I'll even get around to posting my first diary someday.)

I didn't have the ball, bitch!

by dat cubfan daver on Mar 12, 2007 11:45 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Sigh....

"But if they start feeling that this investment isn't paying sufficient dividends, they get pissed off and leave."

It's just...oh, whatever. Some just won't listen. For HerrProf and our hugs, I'll be kind and stop here.

"Because I saw this movie called 'Liar Liar' and the message was 'don't lie.' --Cal

by nextyearcub on Mar 12, 2007 1:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I will be your 90 year old grandmother

still loving the Cubs. Until WGN was added to our cable in about 1970, living in NE Tenn, I was a Braves fan watching TBS. Growing up, my Dad was a devout Red's fan since I was raised in SE KY. But from the first time I saw the Cubs, I was hooked. My kids make fun of this 56 year old NaNa wearing her Cubs t-shirts and caps, they say they are gonna bury me in it, lol. My Sammy jersey is still in my closet. I came home from work one day and hubby had ordered it from the Cub's catalog for me, I was in heaven. I found Al through google and I was hooked on BCB from the beginning too. I admire him for taking the time to give us a place to share and read about the team I love. I love the gang here who are knowledgeable about our team and I think we are gonna have a great year. Thanks, Al and all who make this old sports mama a happy camper. This is our year, I believe and always will. I have my Wrigley Field t-shirt on as I am typing this, lol.

My 11 year old grandaughter told me the Cubbies wouldn't win a WS in my lifetime, ya reckon? I still believe.

by TnLadyCubbie on Mar 12, 2007 11:53 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Top 10

Reasons I Like BCB:

Never used to say I "bleed Cubbie blue", but now I do
Top 100 Cubs Players
Fans selling tickets for FAIR prices
No one here likes A.J.
Distracts me from work
In-depth Cubs discussion before and after EVERY GAME
Spring training & regular season guidelines for getting around HoHoKam/Wrigley
User-based ownership & participation
Being able to vote on haircuts
The #1 blog of Your 2007 World Champions!!

Dan

Evey Hammond: Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici. V: By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.

by dtpollitt on Mar 12, 2007 12:30 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

re: Top 10

<Paul Shaffer sings> BCB!!! That crazy lil blog. About the Cubs and other baseball stuff. We love that crazy wacky BCB blog...<signals the band to a booming finish>

I didn't have the ball, bitch!

by dat cubfan daver on Mar 12, 2007 12:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

#7 (A.J.)

couldn't agree more:)

Here's to a new year!!

by santo for prez on Mar 13, 2007 3:28 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

10 great reasons

I agree with all

"Hello again, everybody. Harry Caray from Wrigley Field on a beautiful day for baseball."

by danimal15 on Mar 13, 2007 3:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

i don't care

why or whether anyone does or doesn't like the blog.

it makes no sense for people who don't like the blog to keep coming back to tell people whether and why they don't like it. those people should find a better use for their time, such as going to blogs they like.

and starting a thread talking about why you like this blog makes the blog worse, imo. there has been way too much drama for a baseball blog, and a lot of it comes from people getting too personally involved, imo.

that's all i have to say about that. talk about baseball, or more people will leave.

DEJESUS!!!

by tomas21 on Mar 12, 2007 3:17 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs