Not everybody sees Cubs as lovable losers
Although the Chicago Cubs have been known for years as lovable losers, not everybody thinks they’re so warm and fuzzy with the team in position to win its first World Series title in 108 years.
“I hate the Cubs just like my father before me hated the Cubs,” Lisa Hitesman of Peoria, Ill., wrote on Facebook. “I hope the Indians sweep their (expletive)!”
Of course, the line for Cubs hating has started on the South Side of Chicago — home to the White Sox — and in St. Louis — home to the National League rival Cardinals. But there are other constituents who are passionate in their dislike for the Cubs, their fans and Wrigley Field.
Facebook is a meeting place for many of them during the World Series, which continues Friday in Chicago with the Cubs and Cleveland Indians tied 1-1 in the best-of-seven series. There are no less than 36 Facebook pages that include the words “Cubs suck.”
Among the most popular: “Chicago Cubs Suck,” run by Joe Merkle, who said he grew up in Chicago rooting for the Cubs before growing disenchanted with the team’s fans that he described as unruly.
“What was really eye-opening to me when I started this Facebook page was how much vitriol there is towards Cubs fans all over the place,” Merkle told USA TODAY Sports. “There’s multiple Cubs fans on the page now, so it’s like dogfights all over the place.”
Another heavily trafficked destination is www.cubsuckclub.com, which is selling Tshirts that read: “I Hated The Cubs Before Hating The Cubs Was Cool.” The site’s Facebook page has almost 24,000 likes.
Billy Murray, Eddie Vedder and John Cusack are among the most celebrated Cubs fans. Now the haters have their own celebrities.
Frank Kaminsky, in his second season with the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets, grew up in suburban Chicago and has been seen in recent weeks wearing a Cubs jersey with the name “BARTMAN” and “03” on the back. That’s a reference to Steve Bartman, the Cubs fan who was vilified when he interfered with a foul ball in Game 6 of the 2003 National League Championship Series, which the Cubs would end up losing.
Then there’s Bill Burr, a comedian who in 2014 taped a profane screed against Cubs fans.
“I don’t have any sympathy for Chicago Cubs fans because they don’t even give a (expletive),” Burr railed. “They’ve only given a (expletive) for like the last 10 years. But other than that it’s just been take your shirt off and let’s have a keg party.”
Meanwhile, on Facebook, the drumbeat against the Cubs continues.
“I’ve often marveled at the passion their fans have!” Leslie Lorens of Hazel Crest, Ill., wrote. “It must really be a DNA abnormality to cheer for failure.”
“I do not sympathize or empathize with the Cubs,” Ryan Bacon of Illinois wrote. “They have played bad baseball for over 100 years now and there is no excuse for it.”
“They don’t lose over curses,” Tom Federoff of Beverly Shores, Ind., wrote, “they lose because the organization didn’t care to put a decent team together or spend any money up until a few years ago.”
John Canning, a White Sox fan in Chicago, said his Facebook posts have come at a price.
“My relatives pretty much hate me because all I do is put anti-Cubs stuff on there,” said Canning, who said of the Cubs, “There’s nothing lovable about them.”