Thursday 2 October 2008
The Chicago L world series?
I understand the broad streets of Chicago are awash with Bud Lite and expectation as the city gets stuck into some Baseball play-off action. For the first time in 102 years both the southside White Sox and the northside Cubs made the postseason. Last time they both made the play-offs, in 1906, there were only 45 states!
Chicago as I've often said is absolutely sports crazy and fans there can only dream of a Cubs v White Sox 'world series.' Twice in recent history there has been what they call a 'subway world series.' In 2000 the Yankees and Mets met in New York, and in 1989 the Oakland A's and San Francisco Giants contested a Bay area climax. But no disrespect to those sides, a Chicago North v South finale would be far, far bigger, I mean Mets and Yankees fans even like each other and the only excitement in the Bay Area 'world series' of '89 was an earthquake that disrupted the series for 10 days.
The Cubs and White Sox 'L' world series would be fervent bonkers. End off, and I would want to be there. Listen to this quote from Sox manager Ozzie Guillen upon being asked about the prospects of it happening:
"One thing about White Sox fans, they show up and watch the game (a dig at those who are perceived to go to Wrigley for fun, not games). The Cubs haven't won in 100 years, and they're the f****** best. F*** it, we're good. F*** everybody."
But hold on, both sides have to get there. Cubs are favoured but they lost their first game of the National League Divisional Series last night to the LA Dodgers. Plus they have the famous hoodoo where just about every black cat and witch comes out in Chicago and puts the 100-year curse on them. The Sox, who got a wild card, play Tampa Bay tonight. Having the Tampa Bay Rays in the play-off's is like Charlton qualifying for the Champions League.
The other best-of-five Divisional Series play-off games are: Boston Red Sox v Los Angeles Angels (who had the regular season's best record) and the Milwaukee Brewers v Philadelphia Phillies. The Brewers are so close to Chicago the people that live there think they're Chicagoans, it's almost like having a third windy city team in the play-offs! Ooh, my mates from Milwaukee will love that!! ¶ 18:00
I understand the broad streets of Chicago are awash with Bud Lite and expectation as the city gets stuck into some Baseball play-off action. For the first time in 102 years both the southside White Sox and the northside Cubs made the postseason. Last time they both made the play-offs, in 1906, there were only 45 states!Chicago as I've often said is absolutely sports crazy and fans there can only dream of a Cubs v White Sox 'world series.' Twice in recent history there has been what they call a 'subway world series.' In 2000 the Yankees and Mets met in New York, and in 1989 the Oakland A's and San Francisco Giants contested a Bay area climax. But no disrespect to those sides, a Chicago North v South finale would be far, far bigger, I mean Mets and Yankees fans even like each other and the only excitement in the Bay Area 'world series' of '89 was an earthquake that disrupted the series for 10 days.
The Cubs and White Sox 'L' world series would be fervent bonkers. End off, and I would want to be there. Listen to this quote from Sox manager Ozzie Guillen upon being asked about the prospects of it happening:
"One thing about White Sox fans, they show up and watch the game (a dig at those who are perceived to go to Wrigley for fun, not games). The Cubs haven't won in 100 years, and they're the f****** best. F*** it, we're good. F*** everybody."
But hold on, both sides have to get there. Cubs are favoured but they lost their first game of the National League Divisional Series last night to the LA Dodgers. Plus they have the famous hoodoo where just about every black cat and witch comes out in Chicago and puts the 100-year curse on them. The Sox, who got a wild card, play Tampa Bay tonight. Having the Tampa Bay Rays in the play-off's is like Charlton qualifying for the Champions League.
The other best-of-five Divisional Series play-off games are: Boston Red Sox v Los Angeles Angels (who had the regular season's best record) and the Milwaukee Brewers v Philadelphia Phillies. The Brewers are so close to Chicago the people that live there think they're Chicagoans, it's almost like having a third windy city team in the play-offs! Ooh, my mates from Milwaukee will love that!! ¶ 18:00
