Nothing Aside

Chicago Wins One!

Chicago White Sox
2005 World Series Champions!

Congratulations to the South Siders for their first World Series title since 1917.  Chicago has had quite a drought.  What a great cap to an incredible season.

White Sox Up 2-0

The White Sox are now up 2-0 in the World Series.  I never thought I'd write that, but it's true.  Things are looking good for the South Siders.  Now they head to Houston and could wrap things up by Wednesday if all goes well.  The series hasn't been without a bit of controversy (though not as much as the ALCS) but Game 2 had its moments.  Since I'm a Cubs fan, I'll defer to my friend Mike, a Sox fan, on a good analysis of the game and where the series stands now:

For the next couple of days while the teams travel to Houston, all the fans and pundits will be talking about the Jermaine Dye HBP in the seventh inning. Yes, the pitch didn't actually hit him. Who knows what would have happened with another 3-2 pitch to Dye? (By the way, Bagwell or Biggio would have been much more successful at getting hit by that pitch. They do it like it's their job--wait, intentionally getting hit by pitches is their job.) Hell, part of baseball is using subtle means to sell your case to the umpire, be it a catcher "framing" pitches, a runner calling for time after a close play at a base, a fielder holding up the ball after a close tag, or a batter hinting at a step toward first after a close pitch on a three-ball count. Should Dye have turned around and said, "No, Mr. Umpire, I didn't actually get hit. I think I'll decline the free trip to first that you just awarded me"? No, just the same way the Astros first basement didn't need to tell the umpire, "No, Iguchi was safe getting back on that pickoff attempt. In fact, Petitte balked like crazy--Iguchi should be awarded second base."

Now they're off to Houston, where hopefully my Sox can finish off the 'Stros in that ridiculous ballpark with a superfluous man-made hill, a silly flagpole, a Little League-distance left-field home run wall, an electric current-filled outfield fence, and an alligator-laden moat behind the warning track.

What Rivalry?

It's articles like this that make me all the more excited that Reason #2 on my Reasons Cubs Fans Should Cheer For The White Sox This Post-Season will become a reality.   The article, entitled "Sox Can Finish What Cubs Merely Started," is the exact reason why the White Sox are ignored by the greater half of Chicago.  White Sox fans can insist that there is a massive rivalry between the Cubs and the White Sox, but it simply isn't true.  Most Cubs fans I know couldn't care less what happens with the White Sox.  They will be better just about every year, but will still be #2 in Chicago.  For Sox fans, this simple fact has defined their cult following of blue-collar South Siders.  It's frustration and exasperation that they will never be as popular as the Cubs that drives Sox fans crazy and makes them insist that their hatred of the Cubs is because of a "rivalry".  It's no rivalry.  It's jealousy plain and simple.  Here's how Mike Bauman, the author of this piece sees things from his perch on the South side:

The animosity between White Sox fans and Cubs fans is real and has been real since shortly after Mrs. O'Leary's cow started The Fire. It is something like the Hatfields and the McCoys, but with less gunfire. The ill will has not been eased by the need to remain eternally patient, that is shared by both fan bases.

Now, it is deeply ironic that, after so much World Series waiting on both sides of the Windy City, both teams, within a mere two years, have had a 3-1 lead in a League Championship Series. This is why the whole thing would be even sweeter than usual for Sox fans, because of what happened to that 3-1 Cubs lead.

Hatfields and McCoys!  Ha!  There simply isn't that kind of animosity from Cubs fans because they could care less about the White Sox.  After all, Wrigley will still sell out every regular season game, and U.S. Cellular Field will be lucky to sell out when the Yankees show up.  It's apathy from the Cubs fans, and jealousy from White Sox fans.  A rivalry there is not. 

But let's look at this article anyway: Bauman is already bragging that the White Sox have accomplished more than the Cubs.  And he's doing it at the same 3-1 point in a League Championship Series that the Cubs were in in 2003.  If he can't even wait until the White Sox surpass the accomplishments of the Cubs, I'm looking forward to the exasperation on his and every other White Sox fan's face when they win the World Series and no one comes to their parade through the streets of Chicago. 

So carry on White Sox fans.  Be vengeful about your success.  Go ahead, win a World Series.  I'll be cheering for you.  Just don't expect to see me (or anyone else) at the band shell in Grant Park for your victory party.

Three Reasons Cubs Fans Should Cheer For The White Sox This Post-Season

What a game.

I just watched Game 2 of the ALCS between the Angels and the White Sox.  An exciting ending, but certainly one of the most blown calls in recent playoff history.  While replays of the disputed "out" are inconclusive, it seems that the umps simply didn't have control of the game and didn't make decisions when decisions were needed.  As a result they let A. J. Pierzynski dictate the outcome of a "dropped third strike" and with it, the ballgame.  I'll direct you over to my friend Mike, who is actually a White Sox fan, to give you the details and a few predictions. 

But let me explain why I'm even bothering with this White Sox game, series and post-season in general.  There are three reasons why, as a Cubs fan, I am going to grudgingly cheer for the White Sox this year:

1. The Boston Red Sox won their first World Series after a short 86 year dry spell last year.  They had the third longest championship drought in the major league, dating back to 1918.  The second longest championship gap belongs to the White Sox, who haven't won a title since 1917.  And of course, the longest period of championship impotence belongs to my Cubs, losers since 1908.  Now, if the White Sox were to break their "curse" after the Red Sox broke their "curse" last year, surely next year would be the year that the Cubs would break The Curse.  The two data point trend line would suggest as much. 
2. The White Sox franchise is based around institutionalized resentment of everything and anything Cubs.  When you go to a White Sox game it's hard to find a vendor outside the park who sells any pro-Sox gear.  Instead every vendor tries to hawk you a shirt with slogans like "Wrigley Field: World's Largest Gay Bar" or "Cubs Suck."  The White Sox fan base is so focused on resenting the popularity of the Cubs that they forget to give their team its own identity.  Perhaps that's why "The Cell" never sells out except when there is a Cubs-White Sox series or when the Yankees come to town.  My point though, is this: just imagine the apopolectic outrage that will result when, after the White Sox win their first title in 88 years, their rivals to the north are still the most popular ticket in town and the upper deck of "The Cell" remains sparsely inhabited on most nights.  For years the White Sox identity has been rooted in hating the Cubs for getting all of Chicago's attention while losing, while the Sox come close to the playoffs nearly every year and can't muster a decent fan base.  So as a Cubs fan, I'm rooting for a White Sox title just so I can see the gasps of "What do we gotta do around here to get some attention?!?" from White Sox fans.
3. Perhaps this is the most plausible reason to cheer on the White Sox even if you're a Cubs fan: the World Series could very well be a White Sox/Cardinals finale.  What a nightmare for Cubs fans.  When it comes down to it though, a Cardinals title would be just about the worst thing that could happen.  We'd have to hear about it every time the National League Central division was mentioned.  "The defending champion St. Louis Cardinals..." just has an awful ring to it if you're a true Cubs fan.  Plus, in combination with items #1 and #2, the lesser of two evils has to be the White Sox.

So... uh, I guess, um... go White Sox?

A Night At Wrigley

I went to an amazing Cubs game tonight.  It was my first night game at Wrigley Field and I was happy just to get in.  A friend and I knew the game was pretty much sold out, but we went up to Addison and Clark anyway.  About 2 hours before the game was to begin, we managed to get Standing Room Only tickets.  That's all we were hoping for because it was our ticket inside.  After getting kicked out of the first seats we tried, we stood until the 3rd inning when we managed to find some empty seats in a prime location: third base line, even with the pitcher's mound, just under the overhang (so when it rained we stayed dry).

$12 for seats in the $50 section.  Can't beat that.  And the game was great too.  The Cubs were down 2-1 for most of the game.  They tied it up in the 8th after loading the bases.  Then, they stopped the Giants in the top of the 9th.  In the bottom of the 9th, they managed to get runners on the corners with just one out.  The whole crowd could feel it.  Then, Burnitz hit a middle-range fly to left-center.  Ronny Cedeno tagged up at 3rd and beat the throw to home by a hair.  The crowd erupted. 

There's nothing like a night game at Wrigley - and there's nothing quite like a Cubs win in the bottom of the 9th on a play at the plate.

Something To Cheer About

When it comes right down to it, we all want the same basic freedoms.  American, Iranian, French, Korean and Bolivian.  Sometimes I get wrapped up in the bubble of politics and forget that most people just don't care about a lot of the stuff I spend a lot of time reading about.  And that's fine.  In fact it's probably much healthier.  Witness Iran:

TEHRAN, June 8 - People across this city took to the streets in joy on Wednesday after the Iranian soccer team qualified for the World Cup finals by beating Bahrain, 1-0.

Drivers poured onto the streets honking their horns and shouting, "Iran! Iran!" In Africa Street, thousands of people danced to loud music played over sound systems in cars as the police watched in silence. Women took off their mandatory head scarves and danced with men who apparently were strangers. In another area, Ressalat, shopkeepers closed their stores and distributed flowers.

Women also scored a victory when about 200 of them forced their way into the stadium to watch the game. Women have been barred from viewing stadium events since Iran's 1979 Islamic revolution. The women were allowed to enter after they chanted for hours, "My right is also a human right." One woman's leg was broken when security guards tried to shut the gate to keep them out.

The celebrations remained apolitical even though Iranians will go to the polls in less than three weeks to elect a new president. Some people in cars that carried flags with pictures of Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, the powerful politician and presidential candidate, said they did so only because they wanted to wave Iran's flag at other cars and the flags were given to them free.

"Is this better now?" asked Amir Hossein, 21, as he made a hole in the middle of his flag to cut out Mr. Rafsanjani's portrait. "I don't care about any of the candidates. I am just happy that we made it to the World Cup."

One young man, who introduced himself as Asghar, 19, and held a poster of Mr. Rafsanjani over his chest, was approached by a middle-aged women who grabbed the poster and tore it up. "You are not a real man if you vote for any of them," she shouted, as a crowd applauded in joy. "Don't ruin our happiness tonight with this."

They couldn't care less about which theocrat will be running their country.  Perhaps they have given up hope that things really matter (after the Khatami bailout a few years back, it's easy to see why), but I think it is much simpler than that. It's the World Cup. That's definately something worth dancing in the streets about.

Cubs Curse Strikes Again

If you needed any more proof that the Cubs are cursed, yesterday's game against the Rockies provided the defining evidence of doom.  In the 5th inning, Cubs' uber-ace Mark Prior was nailed by a line drive - off his pitching elbow (see video).  It doesn't get much worse than that.  If this were any other team the line drive would have hit the pitcher in the thigh or shin, or even his non-pitching arm.  Not with the Cubs.  With the Cubs' luck, a line drive nails their #1 pitcher in the most sensitive of spots.  It's just unbelievable. 

It looks like Prior will be out for a few months.  Not that we didn't already know where the Cubs' season was headed, but this should put the final nail in the coffin.

Bulls, Cubs and Bears, Oh My

What is going on with Chicago sports these days?  A number of things.  Most notably:

• The Bulls are not only in the playoffs, they managed to nab the fourth seed, earning them home court advantage in the opening round against the Wizards.  I know the Eastern Conference is weak and all, but the Bulls are the fourth seed?  It's simply unbelievable.  However, the Bulls will be without two of their starters: Eddie Curry and Luol Deng.  Ouch.  But, that means that Ben Gordon, who should have been starting all along, may get a shot to play one from the opening tip.  On a side note, I am older than four of the team's players.  What is that all about?

• Nomar is done for 2-3 months.  And they say the curse doesn't exist.  We dump Sosa, we let Alou go and we bank on Nomar, Derrek Lee and Corey Patterson.  Great.  There is something unlucky about Nomar.  As soon as the Red Sox dump him, they win the Series for the first time in 87 years.  I say we dump Nomar and win ourselves a championship. 

• How are the Bears not drafting a quarterback?  I understand the whole Rex Grossman-is-our-future thing, but frankly, did anyone else see what happened last season?  It was a disaster at quarterback.  What have the Bears done about that inadequacy behind Grossman since then?  Nothing.  Chad Hutchinson, or whoever the Bears have behind Grossman these days, has shown he can't win.  Why not draft Aaron Rodgers or Alex Smith if they're available at #4?  All this talk about nabbing Texas Running Back Cedric Benson seems unnecessary if the guy handing off to him is incompetent.  The Bears are a running team, but the run doesn't work without a quarterback who can threaten the pass.

So, good luck to the Bulls who are younger than me.  "Thank you" to the Cubs for at least not building us fans up for something great just to be crushed in the NLCS.  At least they have the curtesy to collapse from Day One.  And to the Bears: don't be stupid.  Draft a quarterback.  Please.

The Week That Was

While I was in West Virginia last week, I was beyond the reach of current events.  Here's what I came back to:

• Karen Hughes was nominated as Undersecretary of State for Public Diplomacy.  If there was ever an example of cronyism at work, this is it.  Hughes has no experience with diplomacy and is little more than a Texas Republican party hack.  Apparently all you need these days to become an Undersecretary of State is to know the President.  That is sad.  It speaks poorly for how this administration sees the mission of public diplomacy.  Personally I see public diplomacy as one of the most important aspects, if not the most important aspect, of the work of our Foreign Service.  Appointing a Texas crony shows disrespect to the hard work of the thousands of Foreign Service Officers who toil each day to make America's image just a bit better. 
• Paul Wolfowitz, current Deputy Secretary of Defense, was nominated to head the World Bank.  Huh?  What does Wolfowitz know about international finance?  Between 1968 and 1981, Robert McNamara, LBJ's morally-challenged wizkid Secretary of Defense, ran the World Bank - leaving many a Third World country buried under a mountain of debt.  But at least McNamara had training for such a position.  He had previously been the CEO of Ford and came from a math and econ background.  Wolfowitz has no such background.  He is through and through a political scientist.  Someone show me Wolfowitz's qualifications for this job.  Anyone?  There seems to be a trend here in the Bush administration of appointing people to high profile jobs they have no qualifications for. 
• Then there's this right-to-die case.  Is this really happening?  The U.S. Congress is diving into the workings of one particular court case?  This is the biggest waste of Congress' time since... well, ever really.  Congressional Republicans are trying to get a federal court to hear the case, even though the Florida courts are doing just fine without the federal government diving in.  This is hypocrisy at its best.  Suddenly Republicans want the federal government messing with state issues.  I think we can officially consider the small government, pro-Federalism, libertarian branch of the Republican Party dead (no pun intended).
• I totally called N.C. State over UConn.  Awesome.  I didn't, however, call Syracuse losing to Vermont in the first round.  I guess this is why they call it March Madness.
• The Chicago Bulls are poised to make the playoffs for the first time since His Airness retired in 1998 (no, those years on the Wizards do not count).  And they aren't even the last seed either.  They are currently in the 6th spot.  I'm amazed.  I have a question though: why is Ben Gordon not starting?  He's bound to be the Rookie of the Year, yet he's coming off the bench.  The Rookie of the Year should not also be winning Best Sixth Man.  What's the deal Scott Skiles?  He's the Bulls' third leading scorer, their best long range shooter and best man from the charity stripe.  Let's start the Rookie of the Year, k?

OK, now I'm caught up.  Did I miss anything?

A Few Absurd Things

This week saw a few amazing things.  Lebanon is on its way to true independence for the first time since the early 1970's.  And the freedom bug must be contagious because it's catching on elsewhere in the region.  But that wasn't all that happened this week that forced a double-take.

- A private equity firm has offered to buy every team in the NHL for $3.5 billion.  Every single team.  One owner.  I didn't even know that was something that happened in real life.  It's like when The Onion jokes that the Yankees just signed every player in baseball.  Of course, that's not so untrue either.

- Bush mentioned Osama bin Laden for the first time in years.  I thought we had forgotten about him!  No, turns out we're just making sure he's hidden:

Bin Laden has eluded U.S. efforts to hunt him down, and he occasionally surfaces in a video or audiotape to show followers he is still alive. U.S. intelligence agencies believe he is hiding in the border region between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

"We're on a constant hunt for bin Laden. We're keeping the pressure on him, keeping him in hiding," Bush said.

Hmm.  That's good, right?

- The Saudis told Syria to get out of Lebanon.  The Saudis of all people! 

Until last month's assassination of Rafik Hariri, the former Lebanese prime minister, the Saudis served as behind-the-scenes players in the cooling relations between the United States and Syria. They backed efforts by Mr. Hariri to mend relations between the two countries, while helping to maintain Arab support for Syria with the Arab league, said Hazem el-Amine, a columnist with a pan-Arab daily, Al Hayat.

"As long as the Saudis had organized to protect Syria, Syria could survive this," Mr. Amine said. "That's what makes this so important."

Awesome.  The influence of the Saudis is completely unwarranted considering their origins, but this seems to be one instance when it can be of substantial use to the cause of freedom.  How ironic that the most corrupt and autocratic regime in a corrupt and autocratic region is now telling an ally to be do the liberal thing. 

- Speaking of that, oil prices are still above $50 and the world economy hasn't imploded yet.  A miracle, no less.  As world demand catches up with world capacity output in the next few months or year, I'm going to reserve my spot in the government bread line now.  This price level is simply unsustainable.

- Bill Gates was knighted by the Queen of England.  Huh?  You don't even have to be British??  That's so cheap.  That totally demeans the longstanding honor of the award for those true knights like Paul McCartney, Elton John and uh... umm, right.