I would rather suffer with the Cubs

by Cubbie-Tim on Aug 25, 2009 4:19 PM CDT

Than be without baseball. I understand wearing your years of being a fan as a badge of honor. I am proud to say I am a lifelong Cubs fan As long as I can remember I have loved the Cubs and baseball as a whole. I tell people Chicago Cubs baseball is my religion, since I did more praying at Wrigley than I did in Church (which is true, since we were not a religious family, and did not attend church on a reguilar basis). I have endured the last six playoff losses that the Cubs have been kind enough to allow me to witness with hope, only to end in defeat.

Do I consider this suffering, hell no. I believe I am fortunate to have the Cubs, year in and year out. I believe I am blessed that I have a team with tradition, history, and a large fanbase. I am greatful that anywhere I go, I can find a Cubs fan, to strike up a conversation about the Cubs, and baseball itself. These are riches that few fan bases can truly understand.

Suffering, in my opinion

* Would be living in Montreal as an Expo fan, and watching the team be moved to D.C.

* When baseball went on strike and I was not able to go to Wrigley and watch them.

* Watching the cost of a ticket at Wrigley continue to skyrocket, pricing out many of the average fan, who (God love ‘em) still stay true to their Cubbie Blue ways

No matter how few years a fan has been following the Cubs, they have heard all the stories, they have heard all the negatives, and the reasons not to, yet choose to do so. For that reason, I will never look at a newer fan and belittle them for having less “time in the trenches” so to speak. Why, because this person is my brother/sister in my extended family.

Newer fans have more outlets to learn about the history than some of the elder fans who lived it. That makes a big difference in the understanding process, and the feelings of the past. Ron Santo is a perfect example.

Fans both young and old always want to hear the words “Hall of Fame Inductee, Ron Santo” because of these resources to bridge the generations as much as anything. Younger fans have listened to Santo on the radio, but have also seen old footage, read books, watched DVD’s (this is before Dad, Mom, Grandpa, etc has told a story about seeing Santo make an amazing play).

40 years ago, you could not pop in a DVD or log onto Wikipedia and learn about the 1910 Cubs, so the gap between the fans was different. This is not to take anything away from a fan of 40 or 80 years ago, but to explain that I believe present fans understand more than they are credited for often.

I may not agree always, I may butt heads a time or three, but that is part of being in a family. I would rather disagree and butt heads while talking about the Cubs, then “happily” talk about the stock market (for example).

GeoMak, Han, BLou, Clutche, and anyone else who has had a disagreement with me before, I may not always like your opinion or comments, but I respect you as members of my Cubbie Family. The same goes to everyone else on BCB, and those who are future BCBers whose acquaintance I have yet to make.

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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hear hear!

me too. i love it all. i want to win, but i love the cubs and baseball regardless.

by John T. Unger on Aug 25, 2009 4:29 PM CDT reply actions

No offense but John I think that is the kindest thing I've heard you say

by Madison Cub Fan on Aug 25, 2009 4:34 PM CDT up reply actions

Suffering For 1 Pittsburgh Team

The Penguins are champions. The Steelers are champions. The Pirates are uh, well, not even close to being champions. They are in the midst of their 17th straight losing season. The Cubs haven’t ever done that. The Pirates haven’t even contended for a division title since 1997. Even then, they contended with a losing record in a weak NL Central. Maybe, the prospects the Pirates have gotten the last couple of years will pan out, and they’ll make the World Series next year just like the Rays did last year, or maybe not. I’d hate to suffer with the Pirates.

"The big possums walk late." - Harry Caray

by memphiscub on Aug 25, 2009 4:33 PM CDT reply actions

I would have to agree

I am heading to Wrigley this Friday, the planning has been (and is continueing) a pain in the butt.

I won’t trade it for my second opportunity to go Wrigley for almost anything.

by Madison Cub Fan on Aug 25, 2009 4:38 PM CDT reply actions

Aye Tim

Bleed blue through thick and thin. It’s good to have a community around you that you can rely on when you feel down. To go to the most beautiful ballpark in American Sports and pray at the altar of Cubdom. We are truly a blessed by Cubs players like Ryan Theriot, Reed Johnson, Mark Grace, Gregg Maddux, Fergie Jenkins, Derrek Lee (to a lesser extent).

It’s this glorious tradition dating back to the begining of baseball that brews such a commorodary. No matter how many times a fan dumps beer on a player, yells at a kid for taking away his foul ball, or gets hammered to the point of absurdity, it’s good to know that the cubbie faithful will always back their players no matter what. They will show up and cheer on their team through thick and thin.

We all want to win, but we would prefer to win in our own Cubby way. Something dramatic to heal our broken hearts. The question is when will the Cubs mend our broken hearts?

Monopoly, twenty-one, checkers, and chess...

by Buzz on the Moon on Aug 25, 2009 4:43 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs

Amen, Brother.

by Southside Steve on Aug 25, 2009 5:08 PM CDT reply actions

I think we've all had our fill of "stick a fork in 'em" rants.

Any thinking Cubs fan who’s been paying attention should know where this team stands. Let’s just kick back and enjoy the rest of the season – no matter how short or long it may last.

I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.

by daver on Aug 25, 2009 5:23 PM CDT reply actions

i hope it didnt come off as a "we are done" rant

that was not what i was trying to say

baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out

by Cubbie-Tim on Aug 25, 2009 5:33 PM CDT up reply actions

No, it didn't come off that way at all - I was agreeing with you.

As rough as we’ve had it, things could be a lot worse. I’ve already let go (for the most part) emotionally and intend to simply enjoy the next five or six weeks of Cubs baseball as just that – five or six weeks of baseball.

I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.

by daver on Aug 25, 2009 6:26 PM CDT up reply actions

Ditto. My avatar says it all

I ain’t going nowhere. Forget the White Sux. Could care less if they’re from Chicago.

I’m a Cubs fan who will bleed Cubbie blue til these old bones finally rest in their grave. Let all those who can’t stand the heat stay out of the kitchen. It’s September again, and 40 years after my first taste of the blue kool aid, I want more. These are the days of opportunity and I’m rooting for the boys in blue to rise to the occasion.

GO CUBS!

Blue mountains high .. Blue valleys low
I don't know which way we will go ..
One summer dream .. one summer dream ..

coda

ELO, 1975

by cubnational on Aug 25, 2009 7:01 PM CDT reply actions

+1 Cub National....

Take a look at my signature line.

I still have the tee shirt with that line on it from the ’89 Cubs.

IF IT TAKES FOREVER!!

by Cubfansince1957 on Aug 25, 2009 11:42 PM CDT up reply actions

Terrific post

I couldn’t agree more with everything you said. As angry as I get at this team, I’ll always come back, they’ll always be my main sports passion.

I also admire you’re including all of us (even the so-called “controversial” BCBers) as part of the family. We might express our passion in different ways, we might tick each other off with our opinions and approaches, but the focus is the same; our crazy, silly, maddening, frustrating, wonderful love for a certain north side baseball team.

by bluekoolaide on Aug 25, 2009 9:46 PM CDT reply actions

Absolutely well stated!

Nice piece of writing, indeed. It conveys the true heart of a true fan….and it can apply to any fan of any team. No matter what team you root for you have to root during the good and bad,
kind of like a marriage….“for better or for worse….till death do us part”
Thanks for the post. I rec’d it.

p.s.
you said “………… The same goes to everyone else on BCB, and those who are future BCBers whose acquaintance I have yet to make.”
Does that include me too?

Baseball first, teams second, players third, agents last.

by Dave Pendleton on Aug 26, 2009 12:16 PM CDT reply actions