Why Cubs fans are hated

[The Voice of Reason]

I get a lot of satisfaction in knowing that not only does the Cubs winning make me happy, it makes a lot of people bitter - be they cheeseheads, slimebag Sox fans or "The Best Fans in Baseball" i.e., hillbilly Red Bird fans.

 

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/joe_posnanski/08/27/playoffs.cubs/index.html?eref=T1

 

Seriously, how could you not love the Chicago Cubs?

 

Well, as it turns out, there are a lot of ways. You could grow up on the Southside of Chicago, where Cubs fans are viewed as a whole tribe of spoiled Ferris Buellers. You could be a St. Louis Cardinals fan raised to believe the Cubs are only cute and cuddly to the people who see them from afar. You could be from the greater Milwaukee area, only two hours north of Chicago, where maybe you have had the whole lovable Cubs thing rammed down your throat all your life to the point of bursting

.

 

The shocking thing isn't that these people don't love the Cubs -- it is that their hatred can border on pathological. I have in completely random ways met three people -- THREE -- who still feel frightening hostility toward Ryne Sandberg. I mean, seriously, Ryne Sandberg. The guy retired more than 10 years ago and, from afar, he never seemed like an especially disagreeable or threatening player. But one friend from St. Louis told me she doesn't believe in the devil, "except, of course, Ryne Sandberg."

 

The team at the heart of this thing probably will be the Chicago Cubs. They have won nine regular-season series in a row for the first time since 1907, which you probably noticed is one year before 1908. They've got the ferocious manager Lou Piniella, they've got the National League's highest scoring offense, they've got the National League's best ERA. They've got their former closer Ryan Dempster pitching like an ace, and they've got their former ace Kerry Wood dominating as a closer. They've got a moody Carlos Zambrano pitching great as usual, and they've got the wildly underrated Aramis Ramirez putting up his usual terrific numbers, and they've got the unhittable Rich Harden striking out sides and racing against the arm injury that every good and counting-to-doomsday Cubs fan knows is coming.

 

This looks to be their postseason, for good or bad, for joy or for curses. If they win, after exactly 100 years of comedy and errors, there will be a celebration, not only in Chicago but, you have to figure, on both coasts and throughout the South and in all those places where the Lovable Cubbies have penetrated people's hearts.

 

But that's not everywhere. I asked one friend, a lifelong Cardinals fan, a lifelong Cubs hater, a sensitive soul who admits bawling like a baby during Brian's Song, if maybe he could feel glad if the Cubs finally win. After all, it has been a 100 years. He looked at me as if I had asked him if he felt any sympathy at all for Attila the Hun. "I hope they lose for another 100 years," he said. "At least by then, I'll be dead."

[kujay]

So he writes an article about how people hate the Cubs, and his examples are: Cardinal fans, Sox fans and Brewer fans.

 

STOP THE PRESSES!

 

I like Posnanski, but that's pretty stupid.

 

People everywhere hate the Yankees and Red Sox, not just in Baltimore and Toronto. I tend to think that if the Cubs make the series, most fans not affiliated with the other team will be rooting for them.

[SouthSideRyan]

I didn't read the article, but the Cubs are hated in way more places than those 3. I've read accounts of just about every road team calling our fans obnoxious. Teams get pissed because they're going to a game in their own home park and their surrounded by the away team's fans. At minimum, Atlanta, Florida, Colorado, and Arizona fans do not like us.

[Jehrico]

I didn't read the article, but the Cubs are hated in way more places than those 3. I've read accounts of just about every road team calling our fans obnoxious. Teams get pissed because they're going to a game in their own home park and their surrounded by the away team's fans. At minimum, Atlanta, Florida, Colorado, and Arizona fans do not like us.

Never been to Florida or Arizona's park, but Atlanta and Colorado fans hate every other teams fans in their park. Atlanta has maybe the worst fans in baseball.

 

With all of the talk about tourists who don't care about baseball filling wrigley field, doesn't that seem to contradict the fact that we have amazing numbers of actual fans going to watch the game at every other park in the league?

[Mizzou]

Other teams fans shouldn't hate us because we fill up their ballpark and cheer loudly. That's terrible logic.

[kujay]

I didn't read the article, but the Cubs are hated in way more places than those 3. I've read accounts of just about every road team calling our fans obnoxious. Teams get pissed because they're going to a game in their own home park and their surrounded by the away team's fans. At minimum, Atlanta, Florida, Colorado, and Arizona fans do not like us.

 

That doesn't seem like a very good reason to hate a team. I'd imagine they are just jealous that they can't fill their own park, let alone have a crazy national following.

[jersey cubs fan]

I didn't read the article, but the Cubs are hated in way more places than those 3. I've read accounts of just about every road team calling our fans obnoxious. Teams get pissed because they're going to a game in their own home park and their surrounded by the away team's fans. At minimum, Atlanta, Florida, Colorado, and Arizona fans do not like us.

 

I've been to Colorado a lot, and I don't think that's true. That place is loaded with ex-Chicagoans and Cubs fans, and by and large Rockies and Cubs fans get along very well. Cubs fans are not hated in NY. They are sort of grudgingly respected for dealing with the crap they deal with, and I've heard several teams NYers say they'd like to see the Cubs win. Boston is similar. Atlanta and Florida don't count, since they don't have any fans.

[kujay]

I didn't read the article, but the Cubs are hated in way more places than those 3. I've read accounts of just about every road team calling our fans obnoxious. Teams get pissed because they're going to a game in their own home park and their surrounded by the away team's fans. At minimum, Atlanta, Florida, Colorado, and Arizona fans do not like us.

 

I've been to Colorado a lot, and I don't think that's true. That place is loaded with ex-Chicagoans and Cubs fans, and by and large Rockies and Cubs fans get along very well. Cubs fans are not hated in NY. They are sort of grudgingly respected for dealing with the crap they deal with, and I've heard several teams NYers say they'd like to see the Cubs win. Boston is similar. Atlanta and Florida don't count, since they don't have any fans.

 

The game I went to at Shea, the Mets fans were way too busy hating the Mets to pay attention to the Cubs.

[jersey cubs fan]

I didn't read the article, but the Cubs are hated in way more places than those 3. I've read accounts of just about every road team calling our fans obnoxious. Teams get pissed because they're going to a game in their own home park and their surrounded by the away team's fans. At minimum, Atlanta, Florida, Colorado, and Arizona fans do not like us.

 

I've been to Colorado a lot, and I don't think that's true. That place is loaded with ex-Chicagoans and Cubs fans, and by and large Rockies and Cubs fans get along very well. Cubs fans are not hated in NY. They are sort of grudgingly respected for dealing with the crap they deal with, and I've heard several teams NYers say they'd like to see the Cubs win. Boston is similar. Atlanta and Florida don't count, since they don't have any fans.

 

The game I went to at Shea, the Mets fans were way too busy hating the Mets to pay attention to the Cubs.

 

They hate the Yankees first, Mets second, and themselves third. Everybody else falls near the bottom.

[SouthSideRyan]

I didn't read the article, but the Cubs are hated in way more places than those 3. I've read accounts of just about every road team calling our fans obnoxious. Teams get pissed because they're going to a game in their own home park and their surrounded by the away team's fans. At minimum, Atlanta, Florida, Colorado, and Arizona fans do not like us.

 

That doesn't seem like a very good reason to hate a team. I'd imagine they are just jealous that they can't fill their own park, let alone have a crazy national following.

 

All it takes is one opposing fan in your own ballpark rubbing in a tough loss to turn your opinion against an entire fanbase. It's not rational, but most things in sports aren't.

[Moises a loo]

I know a lot of Reds fans who would be secretly offended that their Cub hatred doesn't even register on the immediate radar.

[louisvillecub]

I don't sense alot of red/cubs animosity....I regularly go to Cubs games up in Cincy and it has always seemed like a good natured rivalry. Reds fans and Cubs fan co-exist pretty nicely and respectfully there. Of course, that could be 'cause the Reds are so bad, there's not much of a rivalry!

[daske17]

I don't sense alot of red/cubs animosity....I regularly go to Cubs games up in Cincy and it has always seemed like a good natured rivalry. Reds fans and Cubs fan co-exist pretty nicely and respectfully there. Of course, that could be 'cause the Reds are so bad, there's not much of a rivalry!

 

Tell that to Marty Brenamann

[GoCubsGo1679625768]

The shocking thing isn't that these people don't love the Cubs -- it is that their hatred can border on pathological. I have in completely random ways met three people -- THREE -- who still feel frightening hostility toward Ryne Sandberg. I mean, seriously, Ryne Sandberg. The guy retired more than 10 years ago and, from afar, he never seemed like an especially disagreeable or threatening player. But one friend from St. Louis told me she doesn't believe in the devil, "except, of course, Ryne Sandberg."

 

Can't blame them..Sandberg is scum..a real loser off the field too.

[woodchip2153]

The shocking thing isn't that these people don't love the Cubs -- it is that their hatred can border on pathological. I have in completely random ways met three people -- THREE -- who still feel frightening hostility toward Ryne Sandberg. I mean, seriously, Ryne Sandberg. The guy retired more than 10 years ago and, from afar, he never seemed like an especially disagreeable or threatening player. But one friend from St. Louis told me she doesn't believe in the devil, "except, of course, Ryne Sandberg."

 

Can't blame them..Sandberg is scum..a real loser off the field too.

 

IT'S NICE TO BE IMPORTANT, BUT IMPORTANT TO BE NICE!!!!!!!!

[The Voice of Reason]

The shocking thing isn't that these people don't love the Cubs -- it is that their hatred can border on pathological. I have in completely random ways met three people -- THREE -- who still feel frightening hostility toward Ryne Sandberg. I mean, seriously, Ryne Sandberg. The guy retired more than 10 years ago and, from afar, he never seemed like an especially disagreeable or threatening player. But one friend from St. Louis told me she doesn't believe in the devil, "except, of course, Ryne Sandberg."

 

Can't blame them..Sandberg is scum..a real loser off the field too.

 

Maybe they are just comparing Ryno to past and present Cardinal heroes and all around great and cheerful guys like Enos KKK Slaughter, Steve Carlton, Bob Gibson, Garry Templeton, Mark McGwire and Albert Pujols.

[kujay]

The shocking thing isn't that these people don't love the Cubs -- it is that their hatred can border on pathological. I have in completely random ways met three people -- THREE -- who still feel frightening hostility toward Ryne Sandberg. I mean, seriously, Ryne Sandberg. The guy retired more than 10 years ago and, from afar, he never seemed like an especially disagreeable or threatening player. But one friend from St. Louis told me she doesn't believe in the devil, "except, of course, Ryne Sandberg."

 

Can't blame them..Sandberg is scum..a real loser off the field too.

 

Maybe they are just comparing Ryno to past and present Cardinal heroes and all around great and cheerful guys like Enos KKK Slaughter, Steve Carlton, Bob Gibson, Garry Templeton, Mark McGwire and Albert Pujols.

 

No doubt many Cards fans love Slaughter more for his views on, uh, racial equality.

[The Voice of Reason]

The shocking thing isn't that these people don't love the Cubs -- it is that their hatred can border on pathological. I have in completely random ways met three people -- THREE -- who still feel frightening hostility toward Ryne Sandberg. I mean, seriously, Ryne Sandberg. The guy retired more than 10 years ago and, from afar, he never seemed like an especially disagreeable or threatening player. But one friend from St. Louis told me she doesn't believe in the devil, "except, of course, Ryne Sandberg."

 

Can't blame them..Sandberg is scum..a real loser off the field too.

 

Maybe they are just comparing Ryno to past and present Cardinal heroes and all around great and cheerful guys like Enos KKK Slaughter, Steve Carlton, Bob Gibson, Garry Templeton, Mark McGwire and Albert Pujols.

 

No doubt many Cards fans love Slaughter more for his views on, uh, racial equality.

 

Is it true his statue in front of Busch II has a hood on it?

Edited August 27, 2008 by The Voice of Reason

[loukycub]

I don't sense alot of red/cubs animosity....I regularly go to Cubs games up in Cincy and it has always seemed like a good natured rivalry. Reds fans and Cubs fan co-exist pretty nicely and respectfully there. Of course, that could be 'cause the Reds are so bad, there's not much of a rivalry!

 

reds have fans? you live here. i find more st. louis and cubs fans more than i find reds fans in this town at least. i think we only have the smattering of reds fans because of the bats.

 

as soon as i get my off days confirmed, i'm looking forward to seeing wrigley ohio next week (and evening my record at cubs games. tampa, ew).

 

speaking of tampa...

I didn't read the article, but the Cubs are hated in way more places than those 3. I've read accounts of just about every road team calling our fans obnoxious. Teams get pissed because they're going to a game in their own home park and their surrounded by the away team's fans. At minimum, Atlanta, Florida, Colorado, and Arizona fans do not like us.

 

i think the reverse is true. i hate tampa not because we got swept there, but because of their front running obnoxious bandwagon fans. the three games down there were packed. the recent series they had against the los angeles angels of anaheim near san bernadino in the state of california in the united states of north america on planet earth in the solar system of the milky way galaxy in the local group, in tampa, where the two best teams (record wise ) of the american league were doing battle, the place was half full on tv. that insults me as a baseball fan.

[Clem Fandango]

I liked the Red Sox before they won the World Series. I rooted like hell for them when they made it there.

 

Now I want to blow up Fenway. Winning and becoming the best definitely changes another team's fans perspective on certain teams. I'm sure a lot of the non-Cubs fans who root for the Cubs, will grow to hate the Cubs if they win the World Series, and continue to do well afterwards

[UMFan83]

I liked the Red Sox before they won the World Series. I rooted like hell for them when they made it there.

 

Now I want to blow up Fenway. Winning and becoming the best definitely changes another team's fans perspective on certain teams. I'm sure a lot of the non-Cubs fans who root for the Cubs, will grow to hate the Cubs if they win the World Series, and continue to do well afterwards

 

I think the reason why a lot of fans hate us is because the fans of ours that are obnoxious act like Red Sox fans, despite not having the championships to go along with it.

[Old Style]

Astros fans have a huge hatred for the Cubs and Cub fans.

[kujay]

Astros fans have a huge hatred for the Cubs and Cub fans.

 

What did we ever do to them?

 

I'm still chalking this up to jealousy over the popularity of the team despite it's dismal success on the field.

 

And perhaps to the (mostly) myth of the "social event"-Cub fan.

[anabiono]

I don't sense alot of red/cubs animosity....I regularly go to Cubs games up in Cincy and it has always seemed like a good natured rivalry. Reds fans and Cubs fan co-exist pretty nicely and respectfully there. Of course, that could be 'cause the Reds are so bad, there's not much of a rivalry!

 

reds have fans? you live here. i find more st. louis and cubs fans more than i find reds fans in this town at least. i think we only have the smattering of reds fans because of the bats.

 

as soon as i get my off days confirmed, i'm looking forward to seeing wrigley ohio next week (and evening my record at cubs games. tampa, ew).

 

speaking of tampa...

I didn't read the article, but the Cubs are hated in way more places than those 3. I've read accounts of just about every road team calling our fans obnoxious. Teams get pissed because they're going to a game in their own home park and their surrounded by the away team's fans. At minimum, Atlanta, Florida, Colorado, and Arizona fans do not like us.

 

brother...you speaka the trutha

 

RAYS HATERS UNITE!

 

:amen:

 

i think the reverse is true. i hate tampa not because we got swept there, but because of their front running obnoxious bandwagon fans. the three games down there were packed. the recent series they had against the los angeles angels of anaheim near san bernadino in the state of california in the united states of north america on planet earth in the solar system of the milky way galaxy in the local group, in tampa, where the two best teams (record wise ) of the american league were doing battle, the place was half full on tv. that insults me as a baseball fan.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

They hate us because we are an opposing team, no more no less. The rest is just rationalization.