Chicago White Sox: the First Team in the Second City

The Chicago Cubs have been called "the Lovable Losers" since...well, does it really matter? It's so fitting because they are an organization known for losing.

The White Sox? Well, they're just...there. They're an afterthought in one of the greatest sport cities in the country. Would you like a history lesson?

Da Bears are one of the greatest football franchises ever. They are home to one of the best teams ever ('85-'86), which could be the best defense ever. They've had some of the best running backs (Sayers and Payton), and are known for their ferocious middle linebackers (Butkus, Singletary, Urlacher).

The Bulls were the best basketball team of the '90s. Led by the greatest player of all-time, one of the best coaches, and probably the coolest introduction I've ever seen. They completed two championship trifectas, and let Jordan leave the game on an absolute high...until he attempted a comeback with the Washington Wizards and made people wonder, "Why?"

And then...the Cubs? Why in the world are they so popular? Is it because they can't win a championship in a city where if you don't win, you failed? I mean, the last time this team won a world championship was when dinosaurs ruled the Earth. 1908.

Yes, that is not a misprint. 1908 was the last time the Cubs sniffed the aura of a championship. Since then, they have blamed their lack of productivity on a goat, a black hat, and a goofy-looking-man with headphones and a green turtleneck.

Let's think about how much better the Cubs have been.

In the last 20 seasons, from 1987-2007, excluding 1994, the Cubs have finished over .500 just seven times, have won three division titles, one wild card berth, and—of course—zero titles.

The White Sox, in that same span, have finished at or above .500 12 times, with two other finishes at 80 wins, three division titles, and, yes, one world championship. Also, let's not forget about the fact that the White Sox play in the better league, with better hitters and better pitching.

It's hard to argue with facts, folks. But, I will counter an argument that is ALWAYS made by Cub fans which they feel trumps everything else: fan base and attendance.

Over that same 20-year span, the Cubs' average attendance was over 30,000 for 12 years, with an all-time high average of 40,154 in 2007. The Southsiders have only had an average of 30,000 just six times, their highest average being 36,511 in 2006. Okay, we'll notch one up for the Scrubs.

But how can you even put into perspective the fact that two expansion teams have already won a World Series title? What about the Florida Marlins, who averaged only 16,000 fans per home game in 2003 when they won their second championship in their 11-year history. The Arizona Diamondbacks won their first championship just four years into the league. Mind-boggling, isn't it? No, it's just baseball.

So you see Cub fans, being loyal and having more people turn out to your games doesn't make you a better team than us, and it never will. So why don't go back to your goats and Steve Bartmans, and continue to be the biggest tease in baseball, nay, in all of sports?

Even if you go to this season, the White Sox are a much better team; wanna know why? They're going to get better...scary, isn't it? The offense for the White Sox has been picking up, and I think they are a better hitting team than the Cubs because they face better pitching.

The White Sox rotation is also deeper and more talented than the Cubs. Same with the bullpen. Marmol and Wood get a lot of flash, but Linebrink and Jenks are even better, plus we have four more arms in the bullpen that can get the job done, and depth matters later on in the season.

There is a lot of hype for both these teams, and the manager who can keep his players in line is Ozzie Guillen. I could care less if you love him or hate him; he's a terrific manager who has incredible baseball knowledge and knows how to maximize his players' potential, and that's exactly what a manager is supposed to do. He gets a bad rap because he speaks his mind and isn't going to feed bullshit to reporters. Plus, he hates Jay Mariotti, so he's awesome in my book.

So, come June 20, the battle of Chicago will take place, and the White Sox will prove their superiority by winning at least five games from this series, making them the best team in Chicago. That's what they are, and people need to start realizing that. Around the country, the league, and the city of Chicago, where the White Sox reign supreme.