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The Chicago Cubs are good, very good. Actually, the Chicago Cubs are great, and they might be headed to the World Series. That’s a statement many people in Chicago do not what to see come to fruition. Those people are Chicago White Sox fans.
Contrary to popular belief, White Sox fans do exist, and I’m one of them. In Chicago, the Sox always rode in the backseat and the Cubs rode shotgun. It’s just the way it is and it doesn’t bother most Sox fans. White Sox fans know they play second fiddle, but they don’t care.
Cubs fans like to think that Sox fans have an inferiority complex to their franchise, but that simply isn’t true. White Sox fans understand their place in the city, but they know their franchise isn’t inferior. When the White Sox were poised to make a World Series run in 1994, the Cubs were the worst team in baseball. Year in and year out, the White Sox proved which franchise was superior by winning far more games. They had better talent, they were the better run organization, they were just better.
The year 2005 came and finally the White Sox broke through. The Black Sox Curse was broken and the White Sox were World Series champions. The city of Chicago caught White Sox fever. To this day, any time “Don’t Stop Believin” comes on the radio, memories of 2005 come rushing back — Paul Konerko‘s grand slam, Scott Podsednik‘s home run, and the pitching, oh how there was pitching. But just like that, it was over.
The Cubs got good. Theo Epstein‘s rebuilding project finally started reaping the benefits. It’s not just that the Cubs are having a good year; White Sox fans have had a realization this year — they are no longer the superior franchise. Epstein has the Cubs competing for a World Series, and with the farm system he’s developing, that’s not going to change any time soon. Meanwhile, the White Sox do have some talent on the roster, if a few things go right — a couple players developing, signing the right free agent — the Sox will compete for a playoff spot some years, but it won’t be every year. The franchise doesn’t have the depth and talent to win consistently. It’s like signing a 38-year-old slugger; sure he’s going to run into some home runs for you, but he’s going to hit .217 with 150 strikeouts and that’s not going to cut it.
Sox fans can no longer look at the Cubs as that annoying gnat that just won’t go away. The White Sox are no longer the superior organization. They are the No. 2 baseball team in Chicago both on the field and off it. Sure, Sox fans can cheer against the Cubs, but is it worth it? Epstein is good. Joe Maddon is good. The talent is deep. The Cubs are going to win a championship, maybe not this year, but it will happen. Do Sox fans want to dread October year after year waiting for the inevitable World Series to come to the Northside? Or are they better off having the Cubs win it this year and just get it over with? The Cubs have arrived. The championship is coming, and the Southside faithful need to accept it.
For the first time ever, the inferiority complex exists. The White Sox need to model their franchise after the Cubs. The White Sox should duplicate the Cubs and build up the farm system, hire a dynamic manager and find a brilliant GM. It comes down to one simple thing. White Sox fans should be jealous of the Cubs. I never thought I’d see the day, but that day is here.
Does that mean Sox fans should root for the Cubs? I didn’t say that. And while many Sox fans will indeed cheer against the Cubs, they should still appreciate what has been built on the Northside. How Sox fans want to handle this October is up to the individual. But Cubs fans have had to “Wait til next year” for 106 years, so if this is finally the year, enjoy it. Just do Sox fans one favor: Please don’t rub it in our faces.
Bill Zimmerman is a featured writer for RantSports. Follow him on Twitter or like him on Facebook.
