Tag Archives: Red Sox Nation

Changing the Culture: Welcome to Cubs Country!

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The Cubs lost last night.  In years past, this statement would have been all too common and, frankly, expected.  But something’s different this year.  I feel it, Mike feels it, and several other Cubs fans I’ve chatted with feel it, too.  Last night’s loss, and every loss since about mid-May has felt oddly strange.  The culture of Cubdom is undergoing a drastic change, one I think is beneficial, for the fans and for the organization.  In light of the team’s (albeit brief) playoff appearance last year and the sustained success so far this season, the franchise–players, staff, and fans alike–now expect to win.  This is what the Yankees and their fans have been accustomed to over the years, and what Red Sox fans now expect: victory.  Based on this year and last, the Chicago Cubs are no longer “Lovable Losers,” a moniker I’ve always hated.  I’m writing today to banish that title once for all.  Lovable, yes, but losers no more.  The Cubs’ World Series drought has been well documented this year, being the 100th anniversary of their last championship.  But with the team poised to win their second straight division title, there are now expectations of success placed upon Lou Piniella and crew.  Making it to the playoffs is no longer enough.  In fact, I dare say that merely making it to the World Series is no enough any more.  The city, Cubs fans, and the organization are starved for a champion, and I think the players and staff feel that desperation.  The way I see it, Cubs Country (hey, if the Red Sox can have “Red Sox Nation,” then the Cubs can have their “Country”…dibs on the royalties!) is die-hard, baseball-savvy fanbase that finally has changed from a happy-go-lucky, “oh well we lost again” bunch to a dedicated, “we-want-to-win-it-all” collective who won’t take no for an answer.  It is “gonna happen.”  Don’t believe me?  Check the numbers.  Then check the pulse of The Country.

Welcome to Cubs Country!

September 12 of 12

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I was so tired last night I didn’t get a chance to post my 12 of 12 before I went to bed, as I like to do.  Here it is, a few hours late.

6:19 AM – The alarm had already been going off for 4 minutes.  Ouch.

6:24 AM – The parking garage on the first floor my building.  Oreo’s leading the way to the pet area.

6:55 AM – My clothes are waiting for me after my shower.  And yes, I did set them aside the night before, undershirt and all.

7:29 AM – My breakfast this morning.

7:45 AM – Making sure the playlist is complete for classes today.  Mozart?  check.  Sousa?  Check.  All-American Rejects?  Check.  Busta Rhymes?  Check.

11:45 AM – I head over to the convenience store adjacent to the Dept. of Music to grab some lunch before my office hour.  I decide to give Senor Miguel a try.  That was a mistake.  I should have known better.

12:15 PM – While waiting for a student (who never showed) during my office hour, I unload my bag and discover that I’ve a lot of grading to do this weekend.  A lot.

3:05 PM – Locking up my office, as I complete my first full week of classes (last week was only three days).  (P.S. You know it’s my office: amidst Red Sox Nation, it’s the only one with Cubs logos adorning the window.  Go CUBS!)

3:40 PM – I live only 2.0 miles from school, yet my commute averages about 25 minutes, no thanks to the Rourke Bridge, which I have to cross to get to and from school.  Essentially, three lanes bottleneck into one, then branch out again into three.  Here, I need to make a right, and would be able to if the jerk in front of me, who needs to make a left, would have gotten over to the left lane.  Moron.

4:07 PM – There’s a Dunkin’ Donuts right across the street from my apartment, and since Senor Miguel’s breakfast “burrito” didn’t do much for me, I decide to grab a sausage, egg, and cheese bagel.  This was not a mistake.

8:47 PM – Despite the mountain of papers I have to grade, I decide to take the night off because I’m utterly exhausted.  So, I play a little MarioKart Wii.  I won a few gold trophies in the 150cc league.  My only loss in this cup was due to a fluke pass right at the end, after I dominated the entire race up ’til that point.  Stupid spiny shells.

12:26 AM – I spend the rest of the night watching The Karate Kid and The Karate Kid Part II on AMC.  Oreo and I are in and out of consciousness pretty much the whole evening.  Man, my dog is cute.  Too cute.