I want to know how you’ve stuck up for your team!
We’ve all been there, gotten in a “healthy debate” with a fan from another team, or even with someone who has NO idea what they are talking about. I’ve had my share of arguments and debates with White Sox fans, Dodger fans (oh goodness that wasn’t fun), even Red Sox fans (hey they should be on our side!). I even got a White Sox fan kicked out of Sluggers across from Wrigleyfield after a game. He was wearing a Sox jersey and the Cubs weren’t even playing them..DUMB.
Tell me your best story or argument with another MLB fan; I want to know what team you represent, who they were a fan of and anything that escalated from the argument (if anything).
I bet there will be a number of you who have fights with the same fans over and over. I’m thinking NY Yankees? Who will be the winner…write me back and tell me!
mlblogsgocubbiesjess
I’m a Cubs fan living in Cardinals territory. I get into it with Cards fans all the time. Usually, it’s goodhearted but every now and then things can get heated. I’ve been around Red Sox and Yankees fans. I’ve never had any problems with them. It’s always Cards fans trying to stir up trouble.
Ron
http://strictlycubsbaseball.mlblogs.com/
As a Cardinals fan who’s dating a White Sox fan, we’re about as anti-Cubs as you can get. While I do respect the loyalty of Cubs fans, I gotta say the sense of entitlement espoused by some (not all) Cubs fans is a joke. The Busch Stadium crowd is almost 50/50 when the Cubs come to town, and it can get dicey. Hey…it’s a rivalry. Cheering for your team is required. I’d question your love of the game if you didn’t do that. But waving signs that say “It’s Gonna Happen” and bragging about first place in May is just stupid. It’s like Cubs fans forget what can happen to crush their dreams–until it happens again…and again…and again.
I’m not trying to attack here…just responding to the thought of Cards fans “trying to stir up trouble.” You can only talk the talk without walking the walk for so long. But I digress…I’ve had to go up against Red Sox fans recently, especially after they took it to the Cardinals in 2004 and took another title in 2007. But reminding them that their two championships in 4 years is also two championships in 90 years sometimes does the trick. And when they hit 10 championships in 80 years they can give me a call.
Chris
http://bird-brained.mlblogs.com
Oh my goodness, I have to defend my Padres all the time. Probably the worst arguments I’ve had are with my orthodontist. He’s a solid Dodgers fan, and it drives me nuts. But whenever someone’s talking about how bad the Padres are, and how bad they’re going to stink or whatever, I gotta get in there and defend them. But, you know, I love arguing with other fans
http://kaybee.mlblogs.com
I’m a die hard Giants fan. I have been in tons of arguments with Dodgers fans. “Beat LA” lol
~King of Cali
http://kingofcali.mlblogs.com/
Love the responses! Ron/Chris, I have to say, I’ve really never had any problems with Cards fans, in fact when they come to Wrigleyfield it’s usually a fun-filled time, although I hear that the actual teams don’t get along very well. As for waving signs around that say “it’s gonna happen” in May, well I guess only until you’ve walked in our shoes could you understand what it’s like to not win after over 100 years and be called the lovable losers and have other fans constantly remind you of your curses and laugh as you get creamed 3 games to 0 in the pennant races or have a fan make a joke out of the playoffs. We are constantly constantly reminded that we haven’t won by everyone or have many say, “you’ll never win.” You would think that people might want us to win so maybe it will get us to shut up or not wave those “it’s gonna happen” signs at least for a few seasons after we’ve won it all.
Kaybee – Honestly most Dodgers fans (not all) don’t even FOLLOW their team until 3/4 of the way into the season when they have a shot to win the division. It’s such crap. Next time a Dodgers fan gives you some lip, ask him/her to name at least 5 players on their team. If they can’t do that they aren’t a true fan and shouldn’t even be allowed to talk about baseball.
King of Cali – See above to Kaybee. Boo on the Dodgers and their nearly $50 million 3 yr contract with Manny. What-EVER.
It happens from time to time… I mostly butt heads with Cardinals fans, but I absolutely love talking baseball with Cards fans, because most of them are pretty knowledgeable about the game. I appreciate any fan who realizes that baseball exists outside of their own little bubble (I’m looking at you, Red Sox fans). I tend to be respectful to other teams’ fans, and I guess I’ve had good luck.
The most heated I’ve ever been at personally was actually at a Padres game, which was crazy because usually Padres fans are “nonchalant” at best. But the Padres’ homestand against the Red Sox in June of 2007 was so much fun. The stadium was about 50/50, and it was Mirabelli’s return to San Diego after completely dissing the town.
Even though it was late June, it had a playoff atmosphere, and I was thoroughly impressed by the Padres fans, who matched the Sox fans volume-for-volume. They booed Mirabelli, which surprised me because as I said, they don’t tend to have much of an idea about the game. I saw a few shoving matches, and the atmosphere was very intense. What fun!
http://houston.mlblogs.com
I agree with you on Red Sox fans..when they played the Cubs in ’05 before they won the WS finally it was electric and we all got along. Then after they won it’s like they completely forgot about the pain and suffering and all of the support other team fans gave them. I really hope if…and when the Cubs win it all that they won’t forget..wait what am I thinking of course we won’t forget. The biggest culprits I’ve run into are Brewers, White Sox, Dodgers and Yankees…Red Sox is making a fast break into the lead though for cocky, unruly, unappreciative fans.
I am a Royals fan through and through, therefore, I am constantly defending myself and the team against everyone. We have been down for a while now, and made a few moves that probably werent the smartest. Hopefully with all the young talent we can start to turn a new leaf. Royals in 2009!!!!!
popcornblizzard.mlblogs.com
Royals..I never rip on them, probably, in all honesty because I haven’t seen them do much. Usually you rip on a team who is doing well that beat your team and you do it to make you feel better, or I must admit I do. We’re all human. Yes you guys deserve a banner season..after the Cubs that is
So many arguments with Mets and Yankees fans. It’s insane. Just when you think you’ve beat them, another one of them come along and help the other one. It’s pretty easy defending the Braves though, except for the fact we only won 1 WS ring in 14 years.
http://darion.mlblogs.com/
I’d rather argue with a Mets fan over a Yankees fan. Yankees think they are the only team that matters in the entire country, blah blah blah. And besides, Mets had Piazza for a long time and I know met him several times at his agent’s home here in LA and he’s very humble, and he is an amazing player, or was…now retired. I’ve never ripped on the Braves and always enjoy when the Cubs play them…the fans are awesome.
Jess – That’s exactly what I mean. I think the sign-waving and trash talk leads to the ridicule from other fans. You may not make believers out of White Sox fans or any other NL Central teams’ fans, but I’d be willing to be that more people outside of the North Side would root for the Cubs to overcome their 101 years if the fans were a little more lovable, too…they don’t have to be nice, just don’t be ignorant instead.
By the way, I’ll be attending six Cards-Cubs games at Busch this year, and if I’m real lucky one at Wrigley. Go Cards!
Chris
http://bird-brained.mlblogs.com
I do hope you catch a game at Wrigley, you know I’ve never been to Busch and always wanted to go, but now that I live in LA it’s so tough. You are right, I am sure it’s hard to love us because we’re always whining. A lot of that sign waving and complaining is really towards the players; because only they are the ones responsible for the playoff demise that occurs every year it seems..or the last 2 at least. After last year I vowed to calm down and just try to enjoy the game of baseball and not get caught up in it or think “it’s gonna happen,” because I may have finally learned to just chill out. You guys have had your turn though…give it to someone else..come ON!
My cousin and his best friend have it out every year- White Sox vs. Cubs…whoever has the worse record for the year…has to walk from one park to the other park and then back. :p
That is hilarious! No way do they really walk from one park to the other? I hope in the summertime..that’s NUTS. The Chicago marathon goes through Wrigleyville in the beginning of the race and runs through the southside park around mile 20…they are not close. I love that..YOU WIN! I’ve never heard of that before. White Sox won already, they need to calm down anyways.
I once stood up for Marlins fans when Cub fans took over (then-called) Pro Player Stadium in Miami during the ill-fated 2003 NLCS. I was working and was sitting out in the left-field seats during about the seventh inning, and some Cub fans were really in the face of this one woman with Marlins gear on. It was amazing to see someone outnumbered by some opposing fans but that was life in the 2003 playoffs — including that scene in Atlanta during the DS. Anyway, that’s my story, I kind of got in and separated and stood up for the Fish against your Cubbies in that case, sorry I had to.
Other than that, I’m pretty useless here because I work for all 30 clubs and I stand up for everyone, my job is to promote the game of baseball worldwide.
Mark/MLB.com
http://mlblogs.mlblogs.com
http://www.twitter.com/mlblogs
Cubs/Cards, Yankees/RedSox, Giants/Dodgers….it’s rivalries like these (and others) that make the game great. While I am a diehard Cubs fan and can’t stand the Cards I will admit that they are loyal and St. Louis is a good baseball city. I will be at Busch next month to watch the Cubs and Cards clash again. Go Cubs!
Ron
http://strictlycubsbaseball.mlblogs.com/
Don’t you feel there are new rivalries brewing? Ever since the White Sox won the WS, the Red Sox won and the Cards, they’ve accrued more rivals. It’s either jealousy from other fans or a little cockiness from those teams, perhaps a little of both. I’m jealous, I can’t make it to Busch stadium..at least not for a bit, but have fun, GO CUBS and represent well, knowing you are a Cubs fan I have no doubt you will!
http://gocubbiesjess.mlblogs.com
I don’t think I’d ever met more than two or three Brewers fans until this year, and now it seems like they’re everywhere. For a team that hadn’t been in the playoffs since their pennant in ’82, they sure got cocky fast.
http://houston.mlblogs.com
Completely agree. They are extremely cocky..where did that come from? Most of my relatives are Brewers fans (they wonder what happened to me), and they constantly give me crap; it’s endless. I think they are just jealous that when the Cubs play the Brewers at Miller Park there are more Cubs fans there. And, I guess in all reality…what else do they have? The Packers aren’t going anywhere…
Hey guys, I love reading the blog!
Check out this blog site. You can send in your Cubs questions and comments without even making an account or anything, and they will appear on a Live Cubs Chat tomorrow night a 6:00! Here’s the link:
http://cubsblog-cubbiefan07.blogspot.com/
As a die-hard lover of the Brewers, I’ve had my fair share of run-ins with Cubs fans. Last July was the absolute worst with the 4 game sweep by Chicago. I really hate the double standards that most fans I encountered held. It’s all well and good for Cubs fans to say anything and everything they can to bash the Brewers, but mention anything negative about the Cubs, and those fans, especially the ones that venture out to Miller Park, are likely to bite your head off. (Case in point: http://archives.chicagotribune.com/2008/aug/01/local/chi-cubs-fan-charges-webaug02) I’m all about friendly rivalry, and towards the end of last season, I actually met some really great Cubs fans, but some of them take the rivalry too far. I am looking forward to the Brewers-Cubs games I have lined up this year though, including Opening Day at Miller Park! (Check out my photo countdown!)
http://mccarpie.mlblogs.com
Ok I just replied to another Brewers fan and I will admit this; over the last few years the rivalry has been brewing between the fans. Not sure if it’s the closeness in location, the fact that Cubs fans will drive to Milwaukee and heckle (some do) at games over an entire series, or that the Brewers have been doing better and although yes, we did sweep a series, hello we got killed in the playoffs. Um..embarrassing. Cubs fans, unfortunately when times get tough and our team lets us down, take it out on every other fan that isn’t a Cubs fan; it’s a bad thing to do but the sorrow we’ve suffered for years is excruciating..to get so close, and to see it all trashed away..so while that’s not an excuse, it’s an explanation. And I love games at Miller Park – love the hot dog race, never get sick of it! Enjoy…33 days until Cubs home opener and I’ll be there. At least you will be warm with a closed ceiling!
Let’s just say any White Sox fan. I went to a game when I was 9 or 10, sat in the bleachers with a bunch of other kids, I think we were there for cub scouts or something and all these Sox fans did was yell obscenities and dumped beer all about. I happened to be in a fantasy baseball league with some White Sox fans and let’s just say after 17 years, I don’t think much has changed. Cubs fans on the other hand I actually had a nice time with them. I went to the last two games vs the Cubs last year and even though the Cubs lost, there was still a good vibe from the fans. A lot of congratulations from Cubs fans which was cool to hear. I think you Cub fans might have a soft spot for us Brewer fans.
Oh and I would agree. Don’t you remember when that fan ran onto the field with a knife going after the playear a few season ago at a night game? I never set foot inside US Cellular Field, unless held by gunpoint, and I guess that wouldn’t be unheard of from a Sox fan. Ok that was mean, but hey I’ve lived the Cubs/Sox rivalry for ten years. Over it. I think we have had a softspot for you Brewers, but you’ve gotten a little cocky; rightfully so I guess. You seem to want it just as badly (if that’s possible) as the Cubs fans. I love going to games at Miller Park..it’s a great experience!
I would say it’s the closeness in the location and the closeness in the standings as of recent. I just can’t belieive how many Cubs fans make it to Milwaukee on a consistent basis. I don’t think Brewer fans make that big of an effort to get down to Wrigley…must be the parking or the stadium, who knows. The day might come when Cub fans out number Brewer fans at Miller Park.
http://nwest33.mlblogs.com/
I think the day has come when Cubs fans outnumber Brewers fans. I think Cubs fans may have nothing better to do then try to outnumber any park where their Cubs are playing; it’s the only thing we can win at…because our team just can’t seem to pull themselves together come playoff time. In all seriousness, I think we believe, in some weird-crazy psycho fan-obsessed way that the more games we show our support at; the more it will help them win. At this point a die-hard fan will pretty much do anything if he/she thinks it will help the Cubs win a WS. It’s clear they can’t do it on their own..hello ’08…’07…’03…I could go on, but I won’t. http://gocubbiesjess.mlblogs.com
Let me first say, and I’m sure we can all agree, that there are a-hole fans wherever you go…even your favorite team’s stadium. Some people can’t handle their liquor, and some people just don’t know any better. And even though I’ve never lived in or near Chicago, I’m well aware of the Cubs-White Sox rivalry and the fact that it was around way before Interleague Play. But even you Cubs fans have to admit that the Sox get a bit of a raw deal from the Chicago media. Before the White Sox won in 2005 you could count on one hand the number of their games that got broadcast on WGN, but no matter how bad the Cubs were they’re on TV every day. Remember Ozzie’s rant about it last year? So I can understand the chip on the shoulder there. Not that it excuses inappropriate behavior, though. I do have to say that I wore a Cardinals hat and the jersey you see in my blog pic to a White Sox-Blue Jays game at the Cell a couple of years back, and I got “Sweet Jersey!” and high-fives from no less than 10 complete strangers that day. And I was sitting in the bleachers.
Chris
http://bird-brained.mlblogs.com
I understand your points on the media not covering the Sox, but let’s be realistic. WGN is known as Cubs television, regardless of what anyone says. And, btw ever notice that ESPN Radio in Chicago ONLY covers White Sox games? I know because I used to work there, and they still do that to this day. And, btw – the media might be covering the Cubs more because 1. the brand is bigger 2. the city makes a lot more money off of Cubs fans 3. The Mayor HATES the Cubs, he’s vocalized that in the media many many times, and it sucks he can’t just support all of Chicago, because even he knows that if and when the Cubs win it all it would be huge revenue for that city. Sox don’t make Chicago anything…that stadium is too loud and annoying.
Cool, I’m the 30th comment – go Jess. While working the NLDS quickie (sorry) at Wrigley last October, one of my lasting memories is of huge throngs of Cub fans gathered around TV monitors on the concourse watching the finish of Brewers vs. Phillies. I have strong St. Louis ties and am feeling like Cubs-Brewers has become bigger (sorry, Chris/bird-brained lol). – Mark http://mlblogs.mlblogs.com
Ok in all honesty, you are right. I was totally hoping the Brewers would get killed last year against the Phillies, not because I don’t support my NLC Division, but because I knew if the Brewers advanced I’d never hear the end of it and I was a very ticked off, bitter, raw, broken-hearted fan at that point being so fresh off the Dodgers sweep to the Cubs. The Cubs and Brewers do have a fairly fierce rivalry brewing, not sure what brought it on, maybe the Brewers doing better season by season and threatening the Cubs reign on that division (let’s face it that division is owned by the Cubs fans, sorry Cards but it is). The Cards may have won the WS, but the Cubs have more fans scattered everywhere (that are obsessed at that) than any team in that division. I’ll probably make it to Miller Park..I enjoy the hot dog races. I always cheer for the brat! GO CUBS
Jess http://gocubbiesjess.mlblogs.com
No need to apologize, Mark, but the fact that the Brewers are competitive for the first time in decades and the Cubs have won the division the past two seasons probably has a lot to do with that. The Cards & Astros have been building a rivalry for a while, too, but I can guarantee you there’s not a Cardinals fan in St. Louis that would trade a Cubs game for an Astros game unless the winner was clinching the division. A true rivalry transcends its individual teams’ win/loss records. Now imagine a Cardinals/Cubs NLCS. Interstate 55 would be nothing but a trail of fire and tattered memorabilia after that series.
Chris
http://bird-brained.mlblogs.com
I second that CCR, however I do think that worlds would collide and bridges would be set on fire if the White Sox and Cubs ever played against each other for the WS. I’d like to see the Cubs and the Red Sox with a Cubs win (obviously) so the Red Sox fans would get their noses out of the air from their cockiness they’ve aired most recently. Shame on them for forgetting all of the support other fans have given them. Can we say “Yankees fans copy-cats?” Looks like I’ll be attending the Cards/Cubs series at Wrigley over the White Sox/Cubs this year.
Everyone I know that isn’t a baseball fan tells me the Pirates suck. I am so tired of hearing it. I tell them when the Pirates are winners, stay off the bandwagon. I also bash the Penguins since most of the Pirates detractors are obsessed with hockey.
-Erik
http://countingbaseballs.mlblogs.com/