With the Chicago Cubs in the playoffs for the first time since 2008 and aiming for their first playoff win since Game 4 of the NLCS in 2003, Wrigleyville once again figures to be the epicenter of all revelry in the city of Chicago.
It’s also very likely going to be the epicenter of stupidity tonight.
The church isn’t open – the Cubs declined to make Wrigley Field available for a watch party – but that isn’t going to stop the faithful from congregating in the surrounding neighborhood, as people are wont to do any time any Chicago sports team is on the big stage. Bars are expecting big crowds, lured by the promise of being as close to the action as possible without actually being in Pittsburgh.
But if you are going out tonight, we ask one thing of you: Please, please, please behave yourself.
Enjoy the game, high-five as many strangers as you possibly can, have an adult beverage or two, if you’re so inclined.
But please do not do anything stupid that would hurt you or somebody else.
Major sporting events have a way of bringing out the absolute best and the absolute worst in the city of Chicago at the same time. While the vast majority of us are able to celebrate peacefully, there’s always a handful of people who wind up ruining it for everyone else.
Twenty-five people were arrested in the wake of the Blackhawks’ Stanley Cup victory in mid-June, according to a Tribune report. People were reportedly throwing bottles at cops, climbing light poles, and generally doing dumb things they wouldn’t normally do, emboldened by a large crowd congregating into the same place at the same time and (likely) copious amounts of alcohol.
Don’t do that. You definitely don’t want to spend a night in jail or see your name in the paper for having done something dumb and then have to explain that to your parents or even worse, your boss.
Tonight’s game isn’t nearly on that level in terms of importance, but as anyone who has been in the city of Chicago lately can attest to, people are definitely pumped up for tonight’s game. It is a really, really fun time to live in the city of Chicago and we should absolutely enjoy this while it lasts.
So go out tonight. Cheer until you’re hoarse if the Cubs win, and console your fellow fans if they lose.
But please, please don’t be an idiot.
Matt Lindner is a RedEye special contributor.
