Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Barack Obama: No Fairweather Fan

Barack Obama would take my donation, I'm sure. But would he approve of my Florida fandom? Here's Obama on his rooting interest in the event of a White Sox-Cubs World Series:
"Oh, that's easy. White Sox. I'm not one of these fairweather fans. You go to Wrigley Field, you have a beer, beautiful people up there. People aren't watching the game. It's not serious. White Sox, that's baseball. Southside."
He leans on an old stereotype of Wrigley fans. As someone who used to live in Wrigleyville, I dispute that -- to a point. Wrigley Field DOES attract a lot of fans there for the stadium experience alone.

I do give Obama credit for sticking with his team -- there's no room for pandering when sports and politics collide. Empathetically connecting with locals? Sure. But not pandering.

-- D.S.

4 comments:

Ben Rice said...

Just another reason to vote Republican, or better yet, Libertarian. Fair weather fans!?! I've been rooting for the Cubs through every heartbreak since 1983. It's the Sox fans who suddenly emerge from the woodwork when they make the Series! at least he didn't suddenly become a Yankees fan like SOME people.

cgwla2 said...

The Wrigley experience is the same as Camden Yard (well, used to be), its become a tourist destination, no longer a place for fans.

Brett said...

Benjamin-

You know who those "Sox fans who suddenly emerge from the woodwork when they make the Series" are?

You guessed it Cubs fans.

Your Humble Correspondent said...

As a Cubs fan, I respect Obama's position on this. He absolutely leans on a stereotype, but that's what Sox (and Cubs) fans do.

Cub fans are drunken frat boys and Sox fans are shirtless goons who beat on umpires.

Real Cub fans respect Sox fans a lot more than those that claim to be both (or neither).