For White Sox fans feeling conflicted as the 112th World Series gets under way, perhaps the opinion of a team legend can provide perspective.
The most iconic Sox player of this generation, “The Big Hurt” enthusiastically hopes for a Cubs World Series title.
“I would love to see them win it, I’ll be honest,” Thomas, now an analyst for Fox, said Monday. “I’ve been in Chicago over 26 years, and heard about this curse for so long, it’s time for it to end.”
It’s a potentially ambivalent position for South Siders. The Cubs, the team they despise most of all, are making their first Fall Classic appearance in 71 years. Some Sox fans toe the traditional party line of rooting against the Cubs. Others put partisanship aside and join the proverbial big tent of civic pride.
Regarding the remaining undecideds, Thomas pointed out that despite all the success the Sox had in the 1990s and 2000s, “it always seemed to be a Cubs town, even though they were losing, the lovable losers forever. If they win the World Series, it’s probably going to be a Cubs town for a long time to be.”
Eleven years ago, the Hall of Famer played his final season in Chicago, helping the Sox win their first World Series since 1917. Regardless of the World Series result this year, Sox fans can always claim that their side ended their title drought “first.”
Thomas sees this as a time for unity. He said there should be “no hard feelings either way.”
“To watch this Cubs team, I’m very impressed with their players,” he said. “It’s great to watch young stars play the game of baseball the right way. One way or the other, I’m happy for the Cubs.”
SouthSideSox.com, the SB Nation White Sox fan community, conducted a poll at the start of the postseason, which conveyed the persistence of some “hard feelings.”
While 22 percent of respondents hoped the Cubs would just “win the World Series and get it over with,” another 43 percent wished for the Cubs to get swept out of the first round of the postseason.
Joining Thomas in the Fox studio this October has been baseball’s all-time career hits leader, Pete Rose. He gave the green light for Sox fans to root for the Cubs, if they were looking for any such affirmation.
“No matter how many games the Yankees win, the Mets fans are never going to like ’em,” he said. “… But then you start rooting for city pride, if you’re from Chicago. I wouldn’t hold it against any White Sox fan to root for Cubs, just like I wouldn’t hold it against a Cubs fan to root for the White Sox. It’s just the way I feel.”
Paul M. Banks is a RedEye contributor. @paulmbanks