Cubs Fan
It hardly seems fair. There were people who lived 100 years and never saw it happen. There were folks who were life-long fans and died days or hours before getting to see it to its completion. And then there was me, a Sox fan, decked out in Cubs hat and shirt gathered with the real fans holding my breath as Bryant threw to first to get the final out of a roller coaster of a game and chase away the Goat’s shadow.
Am I a sellout? A fair weather fan? A supporter? I would say I am the latter. I heard so many Sox fans say that they couldn’t bring themselves to root for the Cubs. I even saw some that were wearing Indians hats during the game. I can’t quite understand it, but some people feel the need to hold on to ideas for dear life.
After seeing all the names written on the wall at Wrigley, I could tell that we were getting somewhere. Names of moms, dads, husbands, wives who didn’t live long enough to see their dream come true. The way a man wiped back tears after writing his young wife’s name on the bricks and explaining that he had lost her to cancer. The thoughts that these departed were “angels in the outfield” who somehow helped the Cubs win. All of it beautiful.
We all have strengths that we should be putting to use to heal the world. These are gifts that nobody else has, nor can use in the same unique way that we can. If used wisely, we could start a revolution of hope and change. Instead, unfortunately, so many people are holding on to ideas that don’t suit them. They are looking over their greatness to grasp a desire that doesn’t suit them – even if it’s at others’ expense. This is akin to the fan who can’t just be happy for their brothers and sisters and root for their team when they are strong.
It’s time to get on the bandwagon and become a fan. Be a fan of yourself and those around you. What are those skills or talents that you have that you may not have used as much as you could have? What is someone near you doing to improve him/herself that is resulting in good for others? Let’s start cheering for the good in people and in ourselves while we focus on the positive!
So, some may call me a sellout. But I’d like to think I’m a just a fan – a fan of Chicago, a fan of humanity.
Apophatica 
November 3, 2016 at 3:46 pm
Amen. Beautifully written. In the words of Eddie Vedder;
And here’s to the men and the legends we’ve known
Teaching us faith and giving us hope
United we stand and united we’ll fall
Down to our knees the day we win it all
Ernie Banks said “Oh, let’s play two”
Or did he mean 200 years
In the same ball park
Our diamond, our jewel
The home of our joy and our tears
Keeping traditions and wishes made new
A place where our grandfathers, fathers they grew
A spiritual feeling if I ever knew
And if you ain’t been I am sorry for you
And when the day comes with that last winning run
And I’m crying and covered in beer
I’ll look to the sky and know I was right
To think someday we’ll go all the way
Yeah
Someday we’ll go all the way
Someday we’ll go all the way
Yeah
Someday we’ll go all the way
Someday we’ll go all the way
Today is someday. The day we use our God given gifts to help a brother or sister, or partner with others and make this world a better place. Peace
Yeah
Someday we’ll go all the way
Someday we’ll go all the way
Yeah
Someday we’ll go all the way
Someday we’ll go all the way
November 3, 2016 at 6:08 pm
May God continue to bless both of you beautiful brothers:
Jon and Brandyn!!
You know I love all of the above:
Brandyn’s inspiring words and Jon’s quoting Eddie Vedder’s soulful and Cubs fan specific ballad.
Re Chicago baseball:
I have always rooted for both Sox and Cubs, though, push to shove, Cubs over Sox (with a Game 7 walk-off dinger in the bottom of the 12th @ Wrigley) was always my dream.
I rooted big time for the Sox in 2005 and had the immense pleausre of attending three games that extraordinary playoff run by the Sox that witnessed its own nail-biting drama, notwithstanding the dominant 11 and 1 record.
I have a permanent reserved place in my baseball heart for Joe Crede and Scotty Pods, for Paul Kornerko and Big Bobby Jenks, for the, ahem, colorful Skipper Ozzie Guillen and that most stalwart of starting pitching staffs: Buerhle, Garland, Contreras and Garcia.
And now, and now, and now, and now …
I have made room alongside for Rizzo and Bryant, Russell and Baez, Fowler and Heyward, Lester and Ross, (another) Contreras and Montero, my personal favorite (and World Series MVP!) Ben Zobrist, and yet another colorful Manager in Cool Cat Joe Maddon.
Re Humanity:
May sports (both the ecstasy and the agony, as my baseball heart goes out to the Cleveland Indians and their classy team) remind us that we are all brothers and sisters, and thereby all each others keepers.
Thank you. JohnELove