Gotta Support the Team

A wise man named David Putty once said a something that has motivated me ever since, “Gotta support the team”.

Supporting the Team on Seinfeld

Another, even wiser, man named Dennis Savard once said, “Gotta commit to the Indian”. These are the reasons I had to seek out the All Star Parade today, because I didn’t want them to “take me upstairs and get me outta there”. I had heard there was a parade and thought it was yesterday, but details of the event were nowhere to be found so I let it go. Luckily, my coworker informed me that she saw preparations for the event today on Sixth Ave. Immediately, I shifted my day and arranged to go.

If you didn’t know the Cubs have EIGHT, that’s right EIGHT All Stars this season plus Lou Pinella. I knew that in order to push my team to the World Series I had to fully contribute to cheering them on up 6th Avenue. I didn’t bring my camera (or my jersey) to work so I had to borrow one from work in order to share my experience with you.

I walked down the block anxiously to be greeted by the Peoria Chiefs manager Ryne Sandberg. Awesome! I was bursting with enthusiasm. My persona was exact opposite from my business man attire and I transformed to a crazy Chicago fan in the middle of Manhattan. I was screaming, “Cubs Woo! Ryne Woo! Go Peoria Chiefs!” I had never been so proud. The only thing I could compare myself to is the clip in Fever Pitch when Jimmy Fallon is being an idiot Boston fan at Spring Training and going nuts on tv.

Every player and Hall of Famer had their own Chevy to ride up the street in. After the Hall of Fame set was finished the American League trucks started showing. I saw all the big guys: A-Rod, Jeter, Ortiz, and even got to see Ripken. As the South Side representation, Crede and Quentin, rolled by I even cheered them on in the spirit of seeing them in the World Series.

There were these ladies next to me wearing peacock feathers and pink shirts who were cracking me up. They would cheer anybody coming by. One of them said, “J Crew is coming” mistakenly referring to J.D. Drew who was being booed by all the Yankees fans.

The moment I had waited for finally arrived. Sweet Lou came through and I screamed my lungs out. I thought I would have to compete in volume, but my voice carried perfectly. I screamed, “Lou! We’re going to the World Series, Go Cubbies! We’re going to the freakin’ World Series!” He looked at me, gave a little Lou chuckle and waved . I’m telling you, I love that guy. After that, Fukudome and Ernie Banks pulled up as I screamed “Kosuke! Fukudome! Mr. Cub!” I had to make our Japanese friend feel at home and act like a psycho Chunichi Dragons fan.

The space between the National League trucks became large and I had limited time. I saw Geovany Soto coming down the line and immediately yelled, “Ya Geo! Rookie of the Year, you’re gonna be the Rookie of the Year! Woo!”. Unfortuanately, work had to be done and I couldn’t stay to see the rest of my Cubbies. I asked the ladies with the peacock feathers if I could take their picture and after told them, “I have to get back to work, but I need you to cheer on the Cubs because we’re going to the World Series. It’s been 99 years and we’ve got to cheer them on.” I am confident they did.

Walking back to my building I felt so good. I had done my duty. I lived up to my calling as a Cubs fan, a Superfan, a True Chicago Fan.

Currently, the National League is winning the All Star game 3-2 in the 8th and Joe Buck made another idiot comment, I hate Joe Buck! Hopefully, they will win, but either way, in the unfulfilled words of Ronnie (who I would have seen to day if not for the bogus Hall of Fame rules) in 2003, “We’re going all the way, I just know it”.

Ryno!

I had to support Chicago

Cal Ripken Jr.

Sweet Lou!

Fukudome!

The Peacock Ladies

Gotta Support the Team