My Name is AlaskaFan and I'm a Cubs Fan

by AlaskaFan on Oct 11, 2009 2:35 PM CDT

My name is AlaskaFan, and I am a Cubs fan. There, I've admitted it, which I am told is the first step to defeating an addiction. It all started in school in the early 1970's, when one of my business law professors, former attorney to Tigers' great Denny McClain, used to take us to the bleachers in Wrigley Field to "study antitrust law." Seated behind a chili dog and two or three Falstaffs, I watched unbelievably bad Cubs teams lose game after game. I watched Rick Monday commit three errors in one play. I watched three consecutive Cubs strike out with the bases loaded. But despite the breath-taking awfulness of their play, the seeds of my addiction were sown. Before too long, I was a WGN junkie, a slave to the baseball columns in the newspaper. The internet, of course, has made it far worse. You can feed your addiction with sites like this, where you can hang with other junkies, feeding each other the glimmers of hope that this year, this year, this year might be different. 1984 broke my heart twice, first when the late, great uber Cubs fan Steve Goodman died just weeks before the Cubbies won a championship for the first time since 1945. And then again when that great team lost the NLCS in five games and didn't make the Series. Again in 1989 and 1998. And then in 2003 they absolutely crushed my heart by choking after the infamous fan interference on a foul ball. They lost. To the Fish. And that was the last time they got close. Since then they're winless in post-season play in 2007 and 2008. Nine post-season losses in a row. It's probably another record in futility, but it's far too depressing to check. I know all the jokes. Any team can have a bad couple of centuries. "The doormat of the National League." But I can't stop myself. I still watch. I still care. It's an addiction. I know it's bad for me - the crushing agony when they lose can't be healthy - but I am helpless in the face of my hope. Some day, some how, they will win, they will win it all, and my spirits will soar, like a juiced Sammy Sosa home run, completely out of Wrigley Field, bouncing and rolling along Waveland Avenue. But not this year. My name is AlaskaFan, and I am a Cubs fan.

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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Welcome!

I had a similar trajectory as a Cub fan during the same time period. Mine began as a toddler watching the Cubs from my dad’s lap, not realizing as a 5-year old just how painful 1969 was. By 1977, 1979, 1984, etc., I understood all too well, but by then, the Cubs were in my blood. By 2003, my daughter was old enough to feel the same pain, and my sons by 2007 and 2008. My wife understands, but is seemingly immune. I’m not sure whether to envy her or pity her.

"Any old kind of run wins it!"--Jack Brickhouse

by MannyTrilloFlipsTo1B on Oct 11, 2009 3:20 PM CDT reply actions

Very nice

AlaskaFan—a reference to geographic location perhaps? I spent 3 1/2 absolutely wonderful years in that state thanks to the government’s generosity—I was stationed at Eielson AFB outside of Fairbanks. I know full well the difficulties of being a Cubs fan so far removed from the rest of the country. I can only say welcome. What a great post, an eloquent reminder to the rest of us as to why we are here and a great mirror into our own Cubs loving souls. There is no shame in this addiction. Being a Cubs fan is character building—teaching patience, perseverence, and grit. You learn to be able to take ridicule and jokes knowing that one day you will be the one that can look at others and laugh when they said it would never happen. Being a Cubs fan isn’t being a sports fan, its a way of life and our loyalty, although it may not seem like it now and again, is well earned. We play in the cathedral of major league baseball, in one of the crown jewel cities of America and win or lose we love our team. Welcom again.

"There is no tomorrow for you, and that makes you very dangerous people."--Jimmy McGinty (Gene Hackman) The Replacements

Time is an illusion--lunch time doubly so.

by snowyman28 on Oct 11, 2009 3:59 PM CDT reply actions

Do you know Sarah Palin?

"The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money." --Ernie Banks

by dtpollitt on Oct 11, 2009 4:07 PM CDT reply actions

No, but he can see her from his front porch...

"Pain don't hurt you none" - Sparky Anderson (1987)

Obviously Sparky was never a Cubs fan...

by Zeke on Oct 11, 2009 5:13 PM CDT up reply actions

You joke

But I’ve met her on several occasions. Not as hot in real life.

I won’t say anything other than that, keeping politics aside.

"Hey! If the moon were made of ribs, wouldja eat it? I know I would!"

by cubs0505 on Oct 11, 2009 7:28 PM CDT up reply actions

Did she at least wink at you ?

"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim

by Doggie Stalker on Oct 11, 2009 10:45 PM CDT up reply actions

No winks

The last time I saw her she was wearing a Jackie Kennedy pink power suit, though.

We shook hands, and she moved on to meet with more important people.

One other note. If you can find 5 people in Alaska with an accent like hers, I’ll eat 89 Blackjack Tacos.

"Hey! If the moon were made of ribs, wouldja eat it? I know I would!"

by cubs0505 on Oct 11, 2009 11:55 PM CDT up reply actions

From what I understand

all of those accents are in the Valley or at the Great Alaskan Bush Company.

by montanacubby on Oct 13, 2009 10:24 AM CDT up reply actions

See

I bet you could, if you looked far and wide, find 5 accents like hers. Probably people from Mat-Su who want to emulate Sarah Palin at all costs.

I just really want to try me some Blackjack Tacos!

"Hey! If the moon were made of ribs, wouldja eat it? I know I would!"

by cubs0505 on Oct 13, 2009 5:37 PM CDT up reply actions

Welcome, and ... Denny McClain?

Welcome… and in the small world department:

…one of my business law professors, former attorney to Tigers’ great Denny McClain…

I hope the attorney/professor was more of a standup guy than McClain turned out to be. He ruined a lot of peoples lives. What Lou Boudreau’s daughter EVER saw in him is beyond me. And she kept coming back for more, time and time again…sad.

"Pain don't hurt you none" - Sparky Anderson (1987)

Obviously Sparky was never a Cubs fan...

by Zeke on Oct 11, 2009 5:17 PM CDT reply actions

A baseball pet peeve of mine.

It’s not “Denny McClain.” It’s Denny McLain.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Oct 11, 2009 5:27 PM CDT up reply actions

A rose by any other name...

"Pain don't hurt you none" - Sparky Anderson (1987)

Obviously Sparky was never a Cubs fan...

by Zeke on Oct 12, 2009 7:19 AM CDT up reply actions

I was always more of a Mickey Lolich fan myself... ;)

"Pain don't hurt you none" - Sparky Anderson (1987)

Obviously Sparky was never a Cubs fan...

by Zeke on Oct 12, 2009 7:21 AM CDT up reply actions

And...

…. spelling Sandberg “Sandburg”, or calling the Cubs’ former closer Kerry “Woods”.

There are more. And I know YOU haven’t done those.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Oct 12, 2009 7:21 AM CDT up reply actions

I can imagine. I didn't catch the typo (I think) because I frequent a bicycle shop named McClain's, and in the back of my mind: "sure, that's how it's spelled.."

…and THERE was my problem: not really thinking about it…

"Pain don't hurt you none" - Sparky Anderson (1987)

Obviously Sparky was never a Cubs fan...

by Zeke on Oct 12, 2009 8:22 AM CDT up reply actions

you forgot Greg Maddox

by LT on Oct 12, 2009 3:53 PM CDT up reply actions

Or Derrick Lee.

"Was you ever punched in the face five hundred times a night? It stings after a while." ~Rocky Balboa

by Goodie1969 on Oct 12, 2009 5:17 PM CDT up reply actions

How about

I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT

Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson

by Shanghai Badger on Oct 12, 2009 11:11 AM CDT up reply actions

The only McClain that matters:

JOHN McCLANE!

"The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money." --Ernie Banks

by dtpollitt on Oct 12, 2009 6:45 PM CDT up reply actions

HEY

I’m from Alaska too, Juneau to be specific. Where are you at? Nice to know I’m not the only one struggling up here.

"Hey! If the moon were made of ribs, wouldja eat it? I know I would!"

by cubs0505 on Oct 11, 2009 7:27 PM CDT reply actions

I have lived in Fairbanks

for the last 26 years. I am really saddened by the decline in the number of Cubs broadcasts available up here these days.

My sig is a Sammy Sosa quote from an old MLB commercial, I think. Either that, or it was selling some sort of cola drink.

"I lof to hit de home ron!"

by Tekboy on Oct 11, 2009 11:37 PM CDT reply actions

Sad, ain't it?

WGN was the only TV station with constant baseball games when I was growing up. I started off not sure which team to root for, but soon got fed up with hearing Hawk’s insipid comments. That, and Harry was too great to ignore.

It’s sad that today WGN is getting dropped by a lot of cable providers in Alaska. Thankfully, though, not in Juneau…

"Hey! If the moon were made of ribs, wouldja eat it? I know I would!"

by cubs0505 on Oct 11, 2009 11:58 PM CDT up reply actions

"What's the name of that company, Pat?"

“Juno, Ron”
“Oh, so you want to make a game of it…”

Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."

by ballhawk on Oct 12, 2009 8:34 AM CDT up reply actions

I thought there was only

one cable company in Alaska. Maybe its just having been in the interior, but I thought GCI had pretty much a monopoly on the cable service up there. Did they drop WGN? Wow, what a horrible decision.

"There is no tomorrow for you, and that makes you very dangerous people."--Jimmy McGinty (Gene Hackman) The Replacements

Time is an illusion--lunch time doubly so.

by snowyman28 on Oct 12, 2009 4:34 PM CDT up reply actions

GCI

Really does have close to a monopoly. What I’ve heard from friends in more rural areas is that WGN is starting to be in whatever “extended” package GCI offers. I wouldn’t know, honestly, since my work often forces me to miss games so much. That’s why BCB is basically my Cubbie news source!

"Hey! If the moon were made of ribs, wouldja eat it? I know I would!"

by cubs0505 on Oct 13, 2009 12:06 AM CDT up reply actions

I hear you, Tekboy.

One of the few frustrations I’ve had since moving up is how difficult it is to watch the Cubs anymore. It’s a rough adjustment. And welcome, Alaskafan! Our numbers are growing!

by Emelie on Oct 13, 2009 6:29 AM CDT up reply actions

Welcome - Living in Europe, I know what it's like being far, far away from the North Side.

Well, I never heard it before, but it sounds uncommon nonsense.
- The Mock Turtle, Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll -

by eths on Oct 12, 2009 7:21 AM CDT reply actions

Welcome

Hope to hear more from you!

Inspector #23 certifies that the above post is sarcasm free, most certainly not what she said, and chock full of intangibles, although regressing to the intangible mean, as you'd expect.

by DGU on Oct 12, 2009 8:39 AM CDT reply actions

Feedback

Thanks to everyone for your kind words. I’m in Fairbanks. The law school prof was Paul Slater. McLain wasn’t a very nice person, I suppose, but lawyers represent ‘em, we don’t love ’em.

I know everyone says it’s supposed to be great for my character and all that to love the Cubs, but I’m not much fun to be around when they collapse. Again. And Again.

The other team I follow is the Alaska Goldpanners – a college summer team. Which was where I saw Rick Monday for the very first time.

AlaskaFan

"Year after year after year after year . . . . . after year after year after year . . ." - Steve Goodman, "Dying Cub Fan's Last Request"

by AlaskaFan on Oct 12, 2009 3:07 PM CDT reply actions

The Golpanners

Now that’s a team I hadn’t thought of in a while. I love the Midnight Sun game…side note—the Midnight Sun game is something every true baseball fan should try to see at least once in his or her life. One of the few gripes I have about my time up there was that I only made it to one. It was enough for me to already have plans to make it back up there specifically for that reason. Hope to hear more from you.

"There is no tomorrow for you, and that makes you very dangerous people."--Jimmy McGinty (Gene Hackman) The Replacements

Time is an illusion--lunch time doubly so.

by snowyman28 on Oct 12, 2009 4:32 PM CDT up reply actions