My evolution as a fan

originally published 4/29/09...

I used to be a Cubs fan. It took me a long time to admit that to anyone. There was a time when I would have never admitted it. I was young, around 8 years old or so when I was converted to the White Sox and I haven't looked back since. Here's the thing about once being a Cubs fan... I have always loved the game of baseball. I started playing when I was 6 and was instantly hooked. I remember coming home from school, eating lunch at the kitchen table and watching the Cubs everyday. That's how Ryne Sandberg became my favorite player, and still is to this day. My family didn't have cable so it was impossible to watch the White Sox. I missed out on the Winning Ugly team of '83 but could tell you the entire roster for the '84 Cubs. Then my family got cable and my mom starting watching White Sox games with me and starting taking me to Comiskey Park to see them live. It didn't take long for me to become a fan of the Sox and I've been true ever since. As I've gotten older I've noticed myself wanting different things from sports. I used to want the Sox to win and the Cubs to lose, and as long as the Cubs lost I considered it a good day or season. That isn't always the case nowadays. I would rather see the Twins, Royals, Tigers and Indians lose (all teams in the Sox division) and could really care less about the Cubs. Obviously I pay attention to them and try to keep up on what they are doing, but my happiness is not predicated on them losing. I will even want them to win if they are playing any of the teams in the AL Central. I don't know why or how this has happened... I went from being a guy that truely hated the Cubs and wanted to see them lose every single game they play to being someone that doesn't care too much what they do and is more concerned with the teams within the Sox's division. Now, don't get me wrong, I loved every bit of the Cubs recent post season failures from the Marlins series (it still isn't Bartman's fault) to the 6 consecutive loses to D-Backs and Dodgers. I just don't need them lose to enjoy baseball. The same can be said for the Bears... Even though I have ALWAYS hated Green Bay (Majkowski was over the damn line of scrimmage!!!!!) I was never really that concerned with the Vikings and Lions. Now I don't want any of them succeeding. I also don't consider it a successful season if the Bears beat the Packers twice and lose the rest of their games because then they would have lost to the Vikings and Lions twice. I want the Bears to win. Period. I want them to become a football juggernaut and steamroll all of their opponents. I want the Packers and Vikings and Lions to never make the playoffs (I'm not too worried about the Lions but you get my point). Getting back to baseball... I once was asked who I would want to win if the Cubs and Twins played each other in the World Series. I used to answer the Twins, because the last thing I ever wanted to see was the Cubs win a World Series. If asked that question today, I would say the Cubs, because my hatred for the Twins is that great and I do not want another team from the AL Central to succeed, even if that means the Cubs do. I know this isn't anything too profound but I do wonder if I am alone in this... Am I the only one whose views and desires as a sports fan has changed? Is it wrong that, as a Sox fan, my most hated rival isn't the Cubs? What do you think? Has anyone out there gone through this same transition? I'm willing to wager you have...