STOP The 7th Inning Stretch-NOW!!!

[UBlink]

I wouldn't claim anyone who roots for both. Those people are not true baseball fans.

 

That is absolutely not true. A true baseball fan can watch any teams play, and just because he/she happens to like a 2nd team does not make that person any less of a fan than anyone else. It's very plausible for people in Chicago and NY to root for both teams since they are in separate leagues. Nearly all of my friends in the NYC area root for the Mets when they're not playing the Yankees, and most of my Sox friends root for the Cubs (and a couple even go to Wrigley when the Sox are on the road).

 

I'm not saying you have to root against the other team in your city, but actually following both seems lame to me. The biggest part of being a true baseball fan to me is the loyalty you have for your team regardless of what they do in the standings, and that that loyalty does not change depending on the season the team is having. Having a second team you can switch to if only one of the two is in contention seems like you are cheating yourself because I can't see how you could enjoy it as much.

 

So if you are a fan of baseball as a sport, but not of any particular team, what are you? A football fan?

[srbin84]

That's fine, but I just don't agree with the idea that a Cubs/Sox fan is the same as a person who is one or the other. The Cubs/Sox fan can concievably root for a winning team every year rather than endure whatever hardships come his teams way. That's my opinion. If you want to root for both, go ahead.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I'm not saying you have to root against the other team in your city, but actually following both seems lame to me. The biggest part of being a true baseball fan to me is the loyalty you have for your team regardless of what they do in the standings, and that that loyalty does not change depending on the season the team is having. Having a second team you can switch to if only one of the two is in contention seems like you are cheating yourself because I can't see how you could enjoy it as much.

 

It's not a matter of "switching to". To me, being a true baseball fan is the ability to watch the game for what it is -- the most beautiful sport ever created. If John Cusack, or anyone else from Chicago, wants to cheer for the Sox, more power to him. Because he likes both teams does not exclude him from being a fan of either.

[srbin84]

I agree with you that a true baseball fan, as I put it, is better described by your statement about appreciating and understanding the game, but do you think that a Cubs/Sox fan would appreciate a Cubs W.S. victory as much as a Cubs fan and would you, as a Cubs fan (unless you actually are a fan of both) feel that his/her sense of satisfaction, relief and fufillment would be the same as yours? I'm not being sarcastic, just asking a question.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I agree with you that a true baseball fan, as I put it, is better described by your statement about appreciating and understanding the game, but do you think that a Cubs/Sox fan would appreciate a Cubs W.S. victory as much as a Cubs fan and would you, as a Cubs fan (unless you actually are a fan of both) feel that his/her sense of satisfaction, relief and fufillment would be the same as yours? I'm not being sarcastic, just asking a question.

 

Winning a WS would be a wonderful accomplishment for the franchise, but I'm not one of those that would sell body parts or offspring to see it. I certainly wouldn't "dance in the streets" as Harry always said, and I most certainly wouldn't look down on any of my Sox fan friends if they did. I have a couple of close friends that are life-long Cards fans, and they have both told me that if they Cards aren't there in October, they hope the Cubs are. If we did win it all, all of my friends would probably share a drink or two with me, and I wouldn't think of any of them as posers or any less of a Cards/Sox/Yankees fan. Most of them were extrememly bummed in 2003 along with me, and I certainly didn't view them any differently then.

[snoodmonger]

I'm a firm believer that you shouldn't grow up in Chicago and be a fan of both teams. It's one or the other. It's probably stupid to think that way, but that's how I was raised.

 

However, as a baseball fan, it's fine to watch and appreciate whatever game is on. Personally, I almost always watch Sox (and Cards) games when they're on. I just root against them. Hard.

[srbin84]

I'm a firm believer that you shouldn't grow up in Chicago and be a fan of both teams. It's one or the other. It's probably stupid to think that way, but that's how I was raised.

 

However, as a baseball fan, it's fine to watch and appreciate whatever game is on. Personally, I almost always watch Sox (and Cards) games when they're on. I just root against them. Hard.

 

Yeah, I wasn't saying you can't watch other teams or know what's going with them, read about them, etc. but I agree with you that it is one or the other. I think being an active fan of both would be like having two girlfriends.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I think being an active fan of both would be like having two girlfriends.

 

And how is this bad again? :lol:

[Derwood]

I think the 7th inning stretch should be done by Harry impersonators.

[Soul]

I'm a firm believer that you shouldn't grow up in Chicago and be a fan of both teams. It's one or the other. It's probably stupid to think that way, but that's how I was raised.

 

However, as a baseball fan, it's fine to watch and appreciate whatever game is on. Personally, I almost always watch Sox (and Cards) games when they're on. I just root against them. Hard.

 

Yeah, I wasn't saying you can't watch other teams or know what's going with them, read about them, etc. but I agree with you that it is one or the other. I think being an active fan of both would be like having two girlfriends.

 

For me, it's the Cubs all the way. And when we're playing the Sox, I root against the Sox HARD. However, I can't say I'm carrying around abject hatred for the Sox. When they won it all last year, I wasn't upset with the Sox at all. Good for them.

 

Rather, I was stark raving MAD at the Cubs for being the losingest ballclub ever and not doing enough to change that. I turn my anger and frustration on MY team. I'm very critical of myself in every day life because I believe it drives me to be better. And I carry that over into my sports watching, big time.

[goonys evil twin]

The Cubs/Sox fan can concievably root for a winning team every year rather than endure whatever hardships come his teams way.

 

Or maybe they have to go through twice the pain.

[Soul]

The Cubs/Sox fan can concievably root for a winning team every year rather than endure whatever hardships come his teams way.

 

Or maybe they have to go through twice the pain.

 

Or maybe they just don't feel anything