The Great Chicago Rivalry: Cubs/White Sox and What It Means to Us

"Ernest, you're from Chicago. You know what it's like. Those three days in June and July just seem to have a special feel to them. The air smells different, the people act different, and your day becomes centered around that final score. The only problem is trying to explain this sort of inner-city rivalry to anyone else, because they just don't get it. On those six days in Chicago, we play for the bragging rights for the rest of the year."

This is the fourth time I've tried to write this column. It's been hard because every time I start, I end up forgetting something huge and have to start from scratch.

I sent a group of my oldest friends and acquaintances messages about trying to tell the Cubs/White Sox story. Originally, it was just supposed to be a friendly look at the Cubs/Sox series, a look at the upcoming pitching matchups, and some playful ribbing at the Cubs' expense, all in good fun.

What I got back from them let me know that I can't tell this story alone. So, I won't.

"To me, the Cubs versus White Sox is a battle of good and evil. It's a battle of culture, a battle of lifestyle. It's a battle of politics, a battle of social class, and a battle of environment."

"This is not just two teams in close proximity. We're not in the same leagues and these six games are pretty meaningless in terms of the season. Cubs and Cards and Sox and Twinkies should be far more serious rivalries, but this is an all out civil war. It is quite literally what happens when you take a city full of stereotypical Chicago Bears fans, split them down the middle, and pit them against each other. The Sox/Cubs Series shuts down the city, literally in the case of Mayor Daley closing City Hall to go to the three at the Cell, and has some of the most passionate sports fans in the country at the throat of their neighbor (the same person who he would fight to the death with against a Red Wings or Packers fan)."

Where it comes from:

Loyalty is a funny thing. For a lot of people I came up with and their folks, they haven't seen much of it recently. Some of them have been let go from jobs they were loyal to for years. Maybe it's more than that. I wanted to know what makes them fans of their respective sides.

Up first? A Northsider:

"Cubs fans love their team, the lovable losers, no matter what and it is just a bonus if the Cubs are any good. Part of this is because Cubs fans were brought up with no expectations of the Cubs ever being any good. So, Cubs fans simply enjoyed the summer, because God knows Chicago is miserable in the winter—enjoyed having a few beers outside, listening to the cubs on the radio and bs'ing with friends. Because of this, there is a misconception that Cubs fans "just party instead of watch the game."

A good point. Southside?

"Yeah its definitely about my dad, uncles, and grandfather having the best seats in the house at an affordable price and sharing the games with my friends and family. Some of the best time of my life were spent in Old and New Comiskey. Its that tingle you get all over when you would see big Frank or Konerko just lay into a ball, knowing that it's now on the Dan Ryan."

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