[Bumped up x2 for obvious reasons.]
Enjoy.
Go Sox.
*** UPDATE 1 *** I’ve heard reports that Gov. Blagojevich was booed at yesterday’s Cub rally, but this, albeit edited video from the Tribune sure seems to prove the theory that Cub fans will blindly cheer anything that has their litle logo on it, including this hugely unpopular governor.
The Sun-Times makes no mention of booing during this passage in the governor’s speech…
“Sometimes when I’m arguing with the Legislature, I feel like Lou Piniella arguing with the umpires. Some of the times I have to make decisions as governor, I ask myself, ‘What would Lou do?’ Then I make some decisions,'’ Blagojevich said.
Feeling good about yourselves, Cub kids?
*** UPDATE 2 *** Sen. Meeks won’t surround Cub Field with protestors today as originally planned….
Hundreds of school funding protestors are expected to converge outside Wrigley Field today during the Cubs playoff, but they won’t be ringing the stadium as originally planned.
Instead, protestors wearing bright orange t-shirts will be confined to a cordoned-off area in the middle of Addison, near the park entrance, State Sen. James Meeks (D-Chicago) said Tuesday.
The group’s new position is “a compromise'’ with city officials for agreeing not to surround the perimeter of the stadium with 6,000 protestors, Meeks said.
Fewer protestors will now be needed, but Meeks said he still expects more than the 1,400 who gathered at New Trier Township High Sept. 2 to protest the inequities in Illinois’ school funding system.
LIVE session coverage...
- Blue in DuPage - Tuesday, Sep 30, 08 @ 10:11 pm:
Yahoo!! The only thing sweeter than the White Sox winning the World Series would be to beat the Cubs in the series!
- Levois - Tuesday, Sep 30, 08 @ 10:14 pm:
Cubs/Sox baseball playoffs. Great news!
- JakeCP - Tuesday, Sep 30, 08 @ 10:16 pm:
HOORAY!!!!
- 47th Ward - Tuesday, Sep 30, 08 @ 10:19 pm:
Congratulations Rich, you’ve got a good team on the south side. Here’s to a Red Line World Series!
- Pot calling kettle - Tuesday, Sep 30, 08 @ 10:38 pm:
My boy will be most pleased!
- wndycty - Tuesday, Sep 30, 08 @ 10:48 pm:
As I said earlier
Obama=Sox fan
Rod=Cubs fan
Go SOX!
- Freezeup - Tuesday, Sep 30, 08 @ 10:49 pm:
Nice hat, Rich!
Do I send you my credit card number to get one?
CONGRATS SOX!
GO CUBS!
OCTOBER ROCKS!
- SOXTOBER BASEBALL - Tuesday, Sep 30, 08 @ 11:08 pm:
What an incredible game! Danks throws absolutely lights out. Thome’s homer was a BOMB! Griffey Jr. throws a strike from center field to home and AJ hangs on for the tag. Jenks comes in and is on fire; and Brian Anderson; in defensively for Griffey makes a phenominal catch to end the game.
I’d love nothing more than to have a Red Line World Series; and steal that stupid “W” flag and plant it upside down in Center Field on the South side when the SOX win game 7.
- Amy - Tuesday, Sep 30, 08 @ 11:19 pm:
today on espn Skip Bayless said he hoped the Twins would win cause he can’t stand Ozzie Guillen. Eat those words, Skippy,
we beat the Twinkies.
Danks was lights out, and that was a Thomer!!!!
- Levois - Tuesday, Sep 30, 08 @ 11:35 pm:
Oh come on wndycty don’t sully the Cubs with that man!
- Cubs Fan, Bud Man - Tuesday, Sep 30, 08 @ 11:57 pm:
Yawn.
- JonShibleyFan - Wednesday, Oct 1, 08 @ 12:23 am:
The Griffey to AJ play was the play of the game, IMO. Loved Thome’s bomb and BA’s catch for the final out, but the play at the plate…sweet.
- south side mike - Wednesday, Oct 1, 08 @ 12:32 am:
Everybody is hyping a Sox Cubs series, but, if that eventuality should occur I seriously doubt the Cubs will show up.
- Shore - Wednesday, Oct 1, 08 @ 1:21 am:
It’ll be over in 3 games freeing you to watch as the city begins a non-stop party as the Cubs beat the Red Sox in 6.
- BandCamp - Wednesday, Oct 1, 08 @ 6:06 am:
I think it is great for the city of Chicago, and I think it is great for all us Cubs/Sox fans who can still hold out hope for a North/South WS…
you never know!
- Dan S a Die Hard Cubs Fan and a Voter - Wednesday, Oct 1, 08 @ 6:18 am:
I root for 2 teams, the Chicago Cubs and who ever plays the Cardinal except the Sox. Blagoof has been excomunicated as a Cubs fan and banished to hell or the Cell which ever is more painfull. GO CUBS GO!!!!!
- phocion - Wednesday, Oct 1, 08 @ 6:21 am:
I’m happy to see the Sox are now the weakest team in the playoffs. Now I hope they can somehow limp their way to the World Series. The strongest team in the playoffs will be waiting there for them. The Cubs will destroy the Sox in the 2008 World Series, justice will reign in the universe, and I can enjoy being more smug than a Hyde Park Obama supporter.
- BandCamp - Wednesday, Oct 1, 08 @ 6:21 am:
Here’s why it’s hard to share the Cubs with Rod lately…did you read the Suntimes today? He thinks he’s Elvis sometimes? Now he thinks he’s Lou.
Rich, you are lucky.
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Oct 1, 08 @ 6:35 am:
===The strongest team in the playoffs will be waiting there for them.===
Are you talking about the Dodgers? Bring ‘em on, baby.
- Bill - Wednesday, Oct 1, 08 @ 6:46 am:
Its a great day for Chicago and all Sox fans. A whole new season starts tommorrow. I’ll take my chances with proven veteran hitters and great young starting pitching. Bring on the Rays!
- South Side Mike - Wednesday, Oct 1, 08 @ 7:11 am:
My Gosh, I agree with Bill!
The Sox have a difficult road ahead, to be sure. However, should they make it to the World Series, no one should count them out. They have played with their backs to the wall recently, and know how to claw out just enough to win. They also have winning playoff experience.
As for the Cubs, all I can say is, don’t start counting those pennants before they’re won. The Cubs know how to rip beating hearts from their fans’ chests.
- Gregor - Wednesday, Oct 1, 08 @ 7:26 am:
Wait till next year!
Wait, what? They’re still in it, and not just mathematically? I’m not sure I know how this works, as a Cubs fan… but I will enjoy learning!
Hoping for a subway series.
- Bill - Wednesday, Oct 1, 08 @ 7:32 am:
“What would Lou do” ????????????
OK, That’s it! You’re a moron Rod!
- Wumpus - Wednesday, Oct 1, 08 @ 7:46 am:
Rod should ask what would Ozzie do..then he goes into some uncomprehendable profanity-ridden tirade against Mike Madigan (which wouldn’t be a bad thing). Good luck to both teams, more luck to the Cubs.
Will Comrade Daley ban crack sales after the 7th around 35th?
- bored now - Wednesday, Oct 1, 08 @ 7:48 am:
the bears are tied for first (go figure) and the dolphins have actually won a game (beating the hated patriots — ok, we hate all our rivals in the east, so)! and the fire look to make the playoffs, to boot!
i won’t say that i haven’t watched both chicago teams clinch, but let’s have a little perspective…
- Yes2ConCon - Wednesday, Oct 1, 08 @ 7:49 am:
Cubs, World Series Champions: 1908, 2008, 2108.
- DzNts - Wednesday, Oct 1, 08 @ 8:03 am:
The difference between Rod and Lou (one of probably a thousand differences) is that Lou makes decisions within the policies and rules established by major league baseball. I’ve never heard of “Lou Right to Do Right”. Another difference is that Lou maximizes the talent on his squad, gets people of different backgrounds to play together toward a common, shared goal. Maybe Dudley the Governor should spend more time at Wrigley Field - he could learn a thing or two about executive management. Nah, he would find a way to charge the players $20K each just to meet with him.
- SOXTOBER BASEBALL - Wednesday, Oct 1, 08 @ 8:06 am:
Someone should call Hynes and tell him to inspect the check registry to make sure there are none missing. The Governor might run into Sam Zell out there tonight and in his heightened state of euphoria, he might just buy the place.
Despite the cooler temperatures that October will bring to bear, I don’t think Individual B (CI)will be available to put a roof on it anytime soon either, so he better wear his woolies out there.
- Mr. Mann - Wednesday, Oct 1, 08 @ 8:11 am:
It’s been a fun season for Sox fans and it will end with the fans and Sox players in front of their TVs, watching the Cubs in the World Series.
Enjoy the moment — it’s almost over.
- Captain Flume - Wednesday, Oct 1, 08 @ 8:16 am:
Meanwhile, state revenues are tanking, layoffs in industry loom, the U.S. Senate is going to vote on corporate welfare . . .
- SOXTOBER BASEBALL - Wednesday, Oct 1, 08 @ 8:17 am:
Hey Biden,
there is no video footage from the 1908 World Series available for Sox fans and players to watch.
- Vote Quimby! a Waukegan native now stuck in 618 - Wednesday, Oct 1, 08 @ 8:20 am:
I’m a Cub fan and I was pulling for the Sox the last two nights. I’m glad to see both Illinois teams in the playoffs, and am sincerely hoping for a Red Line World Series! My wife asked me about that last night, and I said “It would be great but I don’t know if the city would survive.” Growing up watching Channel 9 I remember Ray Rayner with his Cubs/Sox hat he would turn around while giving the scores. Not feasible now but, at least for today, we can all share the glow of making the postseason. Hats off to the White Sox and Cubs as division champs! Go Chicago!!
- Leave a light on George - Wednesday, Oct 1, 08 @ 8:25 am:
Rod is more like Marvelous Marv Thornberry. Remember him. An original NY Met made famous by a long ago Miller Light commercial. The tag line was “I’m afraid I’ll do for them what I did for baseball.”
- Ahem - Wednesday, Oct 1, 08 @ 8:37 am:
I heard much of the gov’s speech and a lot of it hinged on his encyclopedic knowledge of baseball and the Cubs. The booing was mostly of things antithetical to the Cubs.
- Phineas J. Whoopee - Wednesday, Oct 1, 08 @ 8:39 am:
It’s going to be a hot time in the old town this month. The employees are already coming in hung over. Please Rich, rip on the Cubs all you want but bringing Blago into the mix is cruel. Cub fans are people too.
- Ravenswood Right Winger - Wednesday, Oct 1, 08 @ 8:43 am:
GO GO WHITE SOX! We’re with you all the way!
BEAT TAMPA BAY.
- OneMan - Wednesday, Oct 1, 08 @ 8:44 am:
Steve Dahl asked the question this morning who is the more embarasing to have as a cubs fan, Ronny Woo-Woo or Blago.
The answer was Blago.
- Fan of the Game - Wednesday, Oct 1, 08 @ 8:46 am:
2008 White Sox = 2006 Cardinals
- charles in charge - Wednesday, Oct 1, 08 @ 8:53 am:
I was at yesterday’s rally and can report that there was indeed audible booing when the guv took the microphone.
Of course, the loudest boos came when the Sox were mentioned.
- Vote Quimby! a Waukegan native now stuck in 618 - Wednesday, Oct 1, 08 @ 8:53 am:
==bringing Blago into the mix is cruel. Cub fans are people too.==
lol. The bandwagon is non-discriminatory and there is no background check or IQ test required to hop on board. Why don’t the Cubs use whatever method Obama does to keep him silent and away from such events….
- VanillaMan - Wednesday, Oct 1, 08 @ 8:55 am:
We are very pleased!
We love the Sox!
- BandCamp - Wednesday, Oct 1, 08 @ 8:58 am:
==The bandwagon is non-discriminatory and there is no background check or IQ test required to hop on board.===
That’s for sure. Look at all the inebriated barbarians we have steering the wagon!
- Dan S. a Voter and Cubs Fan - Wednesday, Oct 1, 08 @ 9:00 am:
OneMan, I have met Ronny and I totally agree. Cubs-woo, Cubs woo, Cubs-woo!!!!!!!!
- Vote Quimby! - Wednesday, Oct 1, 08 @ 9:03 am:
Cubs v. White Sox Game 7 = Great Chicago Fire 2
- Bill - Wednesday, Oct 1, 08 @ 9:06 am:
woo this
- OneMan - Wednesday, Oct 1, 08 @ 9:15 am:
Having met them both Dan S. I would agree, I got a picture taken with Ronny Woo-Woo figured one with Rod would show up in an ad when I run for governor…
- Skeeter - Wednesday, Oct 1, 08 @ 9:17 am:
[Bumped up x2 for obvious reasons.]
You mean to celebrate the last game the Sox will win this year?
Have a big party now, Sox fans. And remember, when you head north and try to jump on the bandwagon, no beer after the seventh inning.
Instead, after watching the Cubs take a lead into the seventh, head south to the 42nd Ward where there are many fine establishments where beer can be purchased.
- wordslinger - Wednesday, Oct 1, 08 @ 9:17 am:
John Danks never has to pick up a tab in Chicago for life. Talk about guts!
What a week. Look at Rays, this team’s been through the fire and has nothing to lose.
Red Line Fever — Catch it!
- Gadfly - Wednesday, Oct 1, 08 @ 9:19 am:
===but this, albeit edited video from the Tribune sure seems to prove the theory that Cub fans will blindly cheer anything that has their litle logo on it, including this hugely unpopular governor. ===
Look at Miller, trying to troll his own blog again.
All I can say is I was at Wrigley on the Tuesday after Carlos’ no-no, when RRB declared it Zambrano day or whatever. When Rod made the presentation, I’ve never seen 40,000 folks agree so vociferously, and that agreement was to boo.
South siders aren’t off the hook when it comes to Rod, they voted for him too.
- Wumpus - Wednesday, Oct 1, 08 @ 9:21 am:
wordslinger, like Sox fans pay for anything anyway.
- anon - Wednesday, Oct 1, 08 @ 9:22 am:
most of Rod’s decisions are comparible to Lou’s senior Moments
- Levois - Wednesday, Oct 1, 08 @ 9:26 am:
I consider myself a Cubs fan and I would never cheer the governor.
- Mr. Cub - Wednesday, Oct 1, 08 @ 9:30 am:
Congratulations to the South Side White Sox, who beat three different opponents on consecutive days (first time ever) to earn a post-season birth playing for the World Serious. But I can’t help but think they squeezed every last bit of effort and emotion out of their talent just to get this far. I’d love for them to beat the D-Rays (I hate teams that play indoors on faux grass >> it’s not baseball), but it’d seem the Tamp team has all the breaks in this serious. Regardless, it would be cool for the Sox to win Game 1 on Thursday, because that would mean beating four different teams in five days … and that would be another first. One thing that’s clear >> the Sox have the most exciting rookie in baseball in Alexi “Cuban Missile” Ramirez. He looks like a young Soriano (and a much better fielder).
- Harry Caray's glasses - Wednesday, Oct 1, 08 @ 9:32 am:
American League baseball is like watching paint dry. GO CUBS!!!
- Mr. Cub - Wednesday, Oct 1, 08 @ 9:33 am:
Hey, that hat looks a lot like the hat the Cubs wore a week ago! An immitatation?
- SOXTOBER BASEBALL - Wednesday, Oct 1, 08 @ 9:35 am:
{South siders aren’t off the hook when it comes to Rod, they voted for him too.}
That’s a personal affront to all those SOX fans from Champaign, Cumberland and Effingham that voted for Eisendrath in the 2006 primary election.
- Dan S. a Voter and Cubs Fan - Wednesday, Oct 1, 08 @ 9:37 am:
Looks like Meeks is all talk, did Blagoof offer him something to make him comprimise? Game 1 of an MLB Playoff game is no place for this protest. have the protest in Daley or Blagoofs yard.
- Mommy - Wednesday, Oct 1, 08 @ 9:40 am:
Cubs = McCaine
Sox’s = Obama
Cubs Win, Cubs Win. Holy Cow!!!!
- Pete Speer - Wednesday, Oct 1, 08 @ 9:42 am:
We already have a League baseball champion in the Chicago area — and for two years running.
Not that the Trib would notice.
Down in Crestwood, in the Frontier League, our own Windy City Thunderbolts came from way off the pace in the regular season and won the playoffs.
Just like Kane County Cougars, only this team won.
Both are great places to take the family to watch a game, without having to peer through the forest of beer vendors or listen to corporate types do business on their cell phones in front of you.
The young men who played in Crestwood are just starting up the ladder. Many will fall off, others will make the majors.
But for now I have been a Sox fan who would like to see the Cubs make the World Series — with the same result as when they last played each other for the Championship.
- Reddbyrd - Wednesday, Oct 1, 08 @ 9:44 am:
Go Cubs-Go Sox A Redline Series would be a hoot
One only needed to listen to the raly on the radio (WBBM is between reports on the Wall Street Scandal and Cubs-onwed WGN) to hear crowd response to Blagoof.
BTW is anyone else worried that Blagoof’s support could be the 2008 version of the Goat. They di look a little alike.
Bill/SpinSisters/Slick Willie?
- Commonsense in Illinois - Wednesday, Oct 1, 08 @ 9:45 am:
The Governor addressed the pep rally? Sheesh! Well at least we don’t have to worry about that damn goat…now we have Blago to hex this, too.
- stones - Wednesday, Oct 1, 08 @ 9:45 am:
Blago being a Cubs fan is like the kiss of death!
- leigh - Wednesday, Oct 1, 08 @ 9:51 am:
Last night was one of the best baseball games ever. Both teams were amazing! I LOVE those Sox!!!
- Honest Abe - Wednesday, Oct 1, 08 @ 9:51 am:
Blago’s appearance at the Daley Center Plaza was exactly what one might expect from someone who is likely to be impeached or indicted sometime soon.
As for the Sox, I went to watch the game at a watering hole last night and for all of the enthusiasm that I saw it could have been a game between the Rangers and the Royals.
- Jake from Elwood - Wednesday, Oct 1, 08 @ 10:05 am:
GO SOX GO. First, beat the Angels; then beat the Devil Rays. Cubs-RED SOX would be a dream matchup!
- Maggie - Wednesday, Oct 1, 08 @ 10:06 am:
Since the gov never wears a hat. Not even a cubs hat. It’s the hair thing. Look how high that cap is sitting. He refused to pull it in place as to not mess up the do.
- Been There - Wednesday, Oct 1, 08 @ 10:12 am:
Anybody ticked off about only having TBS televise the playoff games? I know we all have cable or a dish but this is screwing up my plans for my garage parties like we had in 2005. I now have to figure out how to run a 100 feet of cable to my garage by Friday afternoon.
And to Honest Abe ===I went to watch the game at a watering hole last night it could have been a game between the Rangers and the Royals.====
you must not have been on Western Ave.
- Irish - Wednesday, Oct 1, 08 @ 10:41 am:
As a lifetime Cardinals Fan, I too enjoyed the Sox victory last night. They were not to be denied. Winning a game like that shows a lot more about a team than just breezin through the opposition. Don’t count the South Side Boys and the Wizard of OZ out. Since the Redbirds have decided to take this year off it would be nice to see a cross town World Series.
- Vote Quimby! - Wednesday, Oct 1, 08 @ 11:32 am:
==Since the Redbirds have decided to take this year off==
and last year, too….
- Anon from BB - Wednesday, Oct 1, 08 @ 11:49 am:
At least the NLCS and the World Series will be on Fox. I don’t get TBS in HD, but I do get Fox in HD. Love watching the games on the HD set.
- Mark W. Johnson - Wednesday, Oct 1, 08 @ 11:59 am:
Rich,
I missed the posted Cubs Hat when all the real teams cliched last week. Anyway, good luck to the Sox. I think an all Chicago series would be great.
- Linus - Wednesday, Oct 1, 08 @ 12:05 pm:
I was at a Cubs game a couple weeks ago at which the Governor’s name somehow came up (via P.A. system or the electronic message board, I can’t remember). Immediately, the crowd began BOOOOing as loudly and lustily as they used to boo LaTroy Hawkins blowing another save. That might be at least a marginally more accurate barometer of public opinion - even exclusively Cubs-fan opinion - than a rally of wildly, post-seasonally giddy fans.
- TaxMeMore - Wednesday, Oct 1, 08 @ 12:05 pm:
For the sake of the poor people struggling to pay for food, fuel, mortgages, property taxes, sales taxes, utility taxes, and corruption taxes, lets all hope the Welfare Sox lose in 3 so the Welfare Sox don’t cost taxpayers any more of their hard-earned paychecks.
Or did the Welfare Sox actually pay SOME rent this year that might include the extra playoff games? Doubtful. Chicago Democrats give the Wall Street tycoon owners of the Welfare Sox poor people’s paychecks in exchange for the tickets and favors all the politicians will get at the games.
Meanwhile, the Cubs have to bribe Daley every time they want to dust a brick at Wrigley. Much better deal for the working class.
The pursuit of happiness wasn’t suppose to be subsidized with taxes, it was meant to be freely pursued without the burden of excessive taxes that are seen in Chicago.
Cubs over Angels in 6! The Welfare Sox will take out the Rays, but that’s all.
- Black Ivy - Wednesday, Oct 1, 08 @ 12:14 pm:
OMG OMG OMG! I am so proud of MY WHITE SOX!!! Thier bravery and resiliency is inspiring!
WAY TO GO, TEAM!
S-S-S_SOUTH SIDE!
- Slugo - Wednesday, Oct 1, 08 @ 2:04 pm:
Congrats to the Sox
Go Cubs Go
Go Away Rod
Red line series = too many dead Chicagoans
- Capitol View - Thursday, Oct 2, 08 @ 9:36 am:
I’m a very big Sox fan, but I must confess that I will be surprised if they win today. They’ve worked hard to get this far, but are going with their worst starting pitcher and they are playing on artificial grass again, as they frustrated themselves on in Minnesota.
But I predict that they will win at least one game in Tampa, and we’ll see which team moves on in the playoffs.
The Sox were picked for third or fourth in their division, at the beginning of the year. I’m delighted that they have won their division, and perhaps they are on a roll as they were in 2005. They can come back and win, even if they lose this first game.