Interleague play makes for some very strange bedfellows. Yesterday, I was watching the Cubs game with my buddy, who is named after a woodland predator, and his girlfriend, who has a normal name. He is a Sox fan, she is a Cubs fan.
He and I tried, gamely, to root for the Cubs to beat the Indians. When that sounded a tad forced, to be polite, we tried rooting against the Indians. While slightly more successful, we still felt like we were cheering for the Cubs and, well, it felt wrong.
Simply put, we are not wired that way.
Nevertheless, after the Cubs come from behind victory over the Tribe, we bravely suffered through a blaring rendition of GO CUBS GO. There is one advantage to this from our point of view. The battered little TV that the bar owner, and Cubs fan, watches the games on has a tiny little speaker. So, when he cranks the volume and warbles along, it sounds as though the song is being performed by Ministry.
Which helps. Somewhat.
Now, if only someone could give me an explanation, other than “You just don’t get it,” as to why they play that stupid song AFTER the game instead of before, where it belongs, I would be appreciative.
Even so, the night wore on and the Sox took on the Reds. While Contreras put in another solid outing, going 7 innings and giving up 3 runs, the Sox lost 4-3 to Dusty Baker’s surprising little team. Seriously, did anyone pick them to be in contention at any time this year?
But, and here is where the weird turned pro, our favorite bar owner tried (as best he could) to root for the Sox.
The effect was similar to watching a walrus mambo. Mildly amusing but painful to see all at once.
My woodland pal and I certainly felt his pain.
I am not sure if rooting for the Cubs (in my case) is a crime against all that is “Good and Holy”, but it sure feels that way.
A friend of mine, not the woodland one, once said that cheering for the Cubs is like cheering your grandma on a date. It is so wrong at so many levels that long-term, aggressive, therapy is usually the only hope of a cure.
But, my friends and I are made of sterner stuff than that. So, today, we are going to meet up again and cheer for .... the Indians to lose.
I am trying. Really I am.