SOMEWHERE OUTSIDE CLEVELAND — It’s 12:38 on Wednesday morning, I’ve been up for 20 hours, on the road for nine of those hours. and I spent a month’s rent on a ticket to a baseball game in Cleveland.
On paper, that seems ridiculous and irrational.
But here’s an inescapable fact of life: The things we’re passionate about cause us to act in a completely irrational fashion from time to time.
In my case, that meant dropping far too much money on a ticket to Game 6 of the World Series, enlisting a buddy and his wife to go on a spontaneous road trip, and sacrificing a day’s worth of sleep just to see the Cubs play a do-or-die elimination game hundreds of miles away.
It was the best decision I’ve ever made.
Tuesday night’s 9-3 Cubs win was the kind of once-in-a-lifetime experience you tell people about for years to come.
It wasn’t just the outcome of the game that made it memorable, though that certainly played a large role. It was everything about the experience of packing up a car with a couple of buddies and going on a road trip just for the hell of it, because life’s too short to wonder what might’ve been.
I almost can’t form a coherent thought right now. I’m broke, and I’m trying to keep my buddy awake so we can make it back to Chicago in time to go to work later Wednesday.
And I would do it all over again in a heartbeat.
Here’s what made Tuesday in Cleveland one of the best experiences I or any other Cubs fan could have envisioned.
THE ATMOSPHERE
I didn’t get up at 5 a.m. to road trip to Cleveland to make new friends.
But even if I had, walking around downtown Cleveland and Progressive Field wearing an Andre Dawson jersey wasn’t going to help my cause.
“Good luck tonight,” an Indians fan said to me with a condescending smile and an icy glare in the beer line in the 500 level at Progressive Field just minutes before first pitch. “I don’t mean it, but good luck tonight.”
Cubs fans were visible but vastly outnumbered, at least early on. When I got to my seat in Section 572, I found myself surrounded by Indians fans with nary a Cubs fan within high-fiving distance. Cubs fans were vocal, but Indians fans acquitted themselves quite well, creating a loud and electric atmosphere early on.
THE FOOD
Progressive Field was selling a hot dog that comes topped with bacon, mac and cheese … and Froot Loops. Yes, Froot Loops.
Because I’m a disgusting human being, I happily plunked down $10.50 to try this monstrosity, much to the delight of my buddies.
Put a ridiculous stunt food like that on the menu, and there is a 110 percent chance I will try it.
Here’s the thing: It was actually really good. The sweetness of the cereal played well off the creamy mac and cheese and the saltiness of the hot dog and bacon.
THE CAMARADERIE
Wearing a Cubs jersey in enemy territory makes you appreciate the sight of another Cubs fan real quick.
In this case, at the bars in downtown Cleveland and in the ballpark, anyone wearing Cubs gear was greeted with a high five or fist bump. Anyone crazy enough to A) Make that kind of a trip on a weekday and B) Wear Cubs gear in an environment that was less than welcoming is the kind of person you want on your side in that situation.
DOWNTOWN CLEVELAND
The area around Progressive Field is incredible, and worth the trip to Cleveland in and of itself. There’s a lively bar and restaurant district within a short walk of the ballpark that felt like what Wrigleyville aspires to be.
Do yourself a favor and stop by Butcher and the Brewer, a brewpub boasting an extensive list of craft beers and beer cocktails, as well as a mouthwatering food menu.
THE END
The most memorable part of this particular trip, however, was the ninth inning. By that point with the outcome no longer in doubt, most Indians fans had cleared out of the ballpark’s 100 level, and Cubs fans descended on seats just behind home plate to watch the game’s waning moments together.
“I just want to experience this with other Cubs fans,” I said to myself.
Travis Wood recorded the game’s final out, and the “W” flags came out in enemy territory followed by a spontaneous rendition of a familiar song.
“Hey Chicago, whaddaya say, the Cubs are gonna win today …”
This version wasn’t loud enough to be heard a mile away from the ballpark, but it’s this version of a song I’ve heard a million times that I’m going to be hearing in my head for years to come.
Matt Lindner is a RedEye contributor. @mattlindner
