Comments on The Worst Sports Blog Ever: I back Barack Obama

John-Not sure how to respond to your comments.The ...

2008-04-18T12:31:00.000-04:00

John-

Not sure how to respond to your comments.

The premise itself is a bit tongue in cheek as there are more important issues for which one should base their presidential decision (free trade, foreign policy, etc); but I also think there's an ounce of truth to it.

But that's the problem with stereotypes ... which is where this post plays. There are exceptions to every stereotype. In fact, I fit the stereotypical Cub fan demographic much better than I do the White Sox fan demographic.

So I hear what you're saying ... there are exceptions and my point is not spot-on in every case.

For this post, I struggled with the premise myself ... I know the point I want to make, but I struggled to make it without using the broad stereotypes that exist. For what it's worth.

But I do think, to a certain degree, that attitudes are different when comparing Cubs fans and White Sox fans. I know you're a Cubs fan and I'm a White Sox fan ... I don't think either of us would want to trade places (and I came from a Yankees household). I think that's that part of my post that is not tongue and cheek. I think there's something there about the two teams, in terms of attitude or other intangible and unmeasurable stuff, that makes you and I identify with the Cubs and White Sox. I assume that Obama used a similar process when selecting which team he wants to support ... and given that, I feel I can support him because I have a better idea of where he is coming from.

To be clear, I do think it says something positive...

2008-04-16T15:35:00.000-04:00

To be clear, I do think it says something positive about Obama that he didn't waffle Hillary-style about who his favorite team is. I don't think the content of his answer says anything about his character, but his honesty is refreshing and shows that he is a real sports fan.

Well, my grandparents were lifelong Cub fans. My ...

2008-04-16T14:05:00.000-04:00

Well, my grandparents were lifelong Cub fans. My grandfather dropped out of school in 9th grade and spent his career as a factory worker and a sheriff's deputy. My grandmother and her brother owned a tavern that looked much like the place where Hillary Clinton took that shot of whiskey. I think the popularity of Wrigleyville among yuppies in the last 20 years has exaggerated the difference. Certainly, the north side has long been on average more affluent, but that part of the city has always had working class neighborhoods (and Obama's Hyde Park has always been affluent).

As for the diversity, that's certainly true. The White Sox, given the location of much of Chicago's black populations, probably do have a higher percentage of black fans. On the other hand, notorious racist and southside Sox fan Dick Daley certainly placed the expressways strategically in order to keep the Negroes away from his precious Bridgeport and precious ballpark. George Wallace was very popular in the white neighborhoods on the south side of Chicago.

The "loveable loser" thing is a straw man. No serious Cub fan considers losing loveable.

I know or at least hope this is tongue in cheek. If not, you are trying too hard.