Red Hot White Sox

Congratulations to the Chicago White Sox and all their fans on their spectacular win in the World Series 2005.

I didn't know when I woke up Saturday that I would be going to Game 1 of the World Series in Chicago. But I did. And I had a great time seeing the White Sox beat the Houston Astros 5-3. I screamed and cheered and booed and drank beer and high fived strangers around me. I know many people are probably reallly mad that I, a Cub fan, who hasn't been to US Cellular Field since it was called Comisky Park, got in. But that's how life works sometimes, and I'm not going to worry about it.

You see, I don't buy into the whole Cubs/Sox rivalry, except when they are playing each other. That in itself is a rather new event, since the invention of interleague play. On those rare six games a year, I want the Cubs to win, as always. So I happily admit, I am a Cubs fan, but I am also a baseball fan.

I love the game of baseball and I love to watch it no matter who is playing. I love to go to different stadiums and be a part of the crowd. Sure I played little league ball as a kid, but I wasn't very good. Mostly I played street ball and backyard ball and spent the greater part of most summers hitting balls around the neighborhood. Most kids did. It was fun, it was cheap, it was a good way to fight with my brother about every other call. " Hey, you didn't touch first!"

When the very long basesball season gets down to the final seven games; each pitch, each hit, each run, seems bigger. The energy in the crowd Saturday was supercharged. This is not just a baseball game. The World Series is an event bigger than a single game, where every pitch counts.

I'm glad to be celebrating along with all Chicagoans tonight. I'm really happy the Sox won. And maybe next year, it will be the Cubs!