Why I Hate The Chicago Cubs, And You Should Too

[Bashopolis]

It's not just Craig Counsell. It's a lifestyle choice.

Image courtesy of © Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

This is visceral. This is cultural. It may be inherited or, in some strange way, related to a biological compass similar to what loons use to migrate thousands of miles back home every summer. If you are a member of a community north of Kenosha, you hate the Cubs. If you are in Wisconsin and don’t hate the Cubs, then you are likely a sad Illinois transplant clogging up our roads, our lakes, our restaurants, and our lives—but we still appreciate all the money you spend here. 

The feelings around the Cubs aren’t as much hate as a righteous sense of ethical superiority. The Cubs represent the worst of sports—a very bad franchise with too much money to be as cheap as they are, no soul, and no sense of fair play. Their fans are often tone-deaf, obnoxious blowhards who never shut up. But we still appreciate the rivalry—it is a lot of fun. 

For so many years, the Cubs have been a sad story. Some years, they had good teams but found innovative ways to fail. Those exasperatingly dedicated lifelong Cubs fans had hope and optimism, and at times, they had a team with talent but somehow always lost. Some years, the best thing about being a Brewers fan was watching the Cubs fans lose their minds when their hopes and dreams were shattered. Those were some good times. 

Then the Cubs won. And things fell out of balance with the Universe. There were times more Cubs fans were at Brewers home games than Brewers fans. Drunken, loud, obnoxious Cubs fans claim Old Style is a real beer. Things had to change, and they did.

The Brewers began competing for division titles. It was no longer enough to cheer for the Cubs' scintillating failures. It was time to beat the rivals head-to-head. 

And the Brewers began doing that in 2017.  Early in the year, the Cubs called a phantom rain day rather than face the Brewers on the field of play. This is the equivalent of a hockey player turtling rather than standing up for himself. The entire city of Chicago should feel shame. In late September, the Brewers and a large contingent of their fans went into that urine-scented roofless warehouse the Cubs call a stadium and snatched the division championship on the last day of the season. 

Since 2018, the Brewers have gone 54 -39 against our friendly Illinois buddies (FIBs) from the flat lands down south. It barely seems like a rivalry. During this period, there were some bean ball acquisitions and other shenanigans to keep some inkling of a rivalry in place. The Cubs proved to be a bunch of whiners, not winners. The Brewers have recently owned the Cubs, much like how Illinois drivers get to own their speeding tickets when they venture into the north woods of Wisconsin. 

The Cubs, desperate to rekindle this rivalry, did the unspeakable. Unable to build a team or manage the team they had, the Cubs were desperate. They lured away our favorite son. The Cubs' hiring of Craig Counsell is a dastardly, underhanded trick by a desperate franchise, but it shouldn’t surprise any of us.  

The Cubs and the Cubs fans believe they can buy everything from the lakefront property in Door County to the Brewers manager. But in the end, they will again be left with an emptiness in the pit of their soul because each October, they have to return to their traffic, high taxes, tolls, and failing infrastructure that is Chicagoland. And then they realize that no matter what they may buy, they are still below Milwaukee, Wisconsin and that isn’t going to change.

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[Brock Beauchamp]

Just in under the buzzer. I've had this article sitting in my inbox for weeks now!

[Jim French Stepstool]

Funny thing is, the one time in the last 75 years they reached their precious World Series it was done via re-stocking the farm, being patient & letting those kids ripen, then reaping the benefits-----just like a small or mid-market team. 

It would be nice if they returned to their earlier "Look at us, we're just like the Yankees!!!!" strategy. THAT was fun.

[TURBO]

Damn, was hoping Trueblood wrote this article.

🤣

[CheezWizHed]

26 minutes ago, TURBO said:

Damn, was hoping Trueblood wrote this article.

🤣

Beat me to it. 😉

[brewers4eric]

Eastern Iowa is a hotbed of Cubs fandom.  I've followed the Brewers since 1978 but my Dad jumped on the local Cubs bandwagon in 1984.  If I couldn't root for the Brewers in the playoffs, I could root against the Cubs.  Watching the Cubs collapse that year gave me great satisfaction.  The Brant Brown game is another favorite.