Thoughts on Fans and Other Ramblings

So, those of us that are paying attention to such things as baseball at this time of the year know that the Brewers currently reside 3 games behind the Cubs for the NL Central lead. Winner takes all, as their records aren't good enough to contend for the Wild Card playoff spot.

You can see from my signature that I live in Milwaukee, but am a Cubs fan. Odd mix, eh? (I'm also a Bear fan from Green Bay!) I love the Brewers, but have always been a die-hard Cubs fan. It was a whole lot easier when the Brewers were in the AL, believe me.

I understand rivalries, etc, as I am a huge sports fan, and fully realize that my Cubs fandom crosses several "lines" about "where you're from and who you are fan of" rules. Again, let's just say my family and I disagree heavily about football. But I do have a problem with all of the fans giving each other the business about it. I'm not a trash talker, and I don't necessarily like it. Frankly, the fans shouldn't have a lot to say because the games aren't in their control. But over the last few years I've noticed that the rivalry between the Cubs and Brewers has gotten increasingly nasty. I've been to games vs the Cubs at Miller Park, and against the Brewers at Wrigley. I'll tell ya...the Cubs fans were NOT nice when they come up to Milwaukee. They're loud, obnoxious, rude, and think they own the place. Rather embarrassing actually. This is however, not to say that the Brewers fans were innocent; far from it. They were just as loud, rude, and obnoxious toward the Cubs fans, when they weren't that way towards the fans of other teams. A lot of incidents were provoked on both sides. It was a few years ago when I was at Wrigley when the Cubs faced the Brewers (and neither team was that good at the time), but I distinctly remember that the fans were well behaved...they didn't get on each other to the point of coming to blows (like they do in Milwaukee), but there was obviously still some razzing.

Familiarity really does breed contempt. I'm not passing judgment on whose fans are better. Both teams have a LOT of really knowledgeable fans. I don't know anyone who is a bigger Brewers fan than my best friend, Mike, who is extremely knowledgeable not just about the Brewers, but all of Baseball.

Let's all use our heads and not our mouths this week. Enough name calling and bad feelings. No matter who wins the NL Central, one teams fan base is going to be upset. If the Cubs win, the Brewers fans will be extremely upset. Someone said to me today: "anyone but the Cubs. I can stomach anyone beating us, except the Cubs." I hear ya. Cubs fans don't want to give up their 3 game lead to their neighbors to the north either. I predict increasing hostilities on both sides in the coming years.

Regardless, it will be a great week of baseball!!! All of the races in the NL and one in the AL are still up for grabs. I'll have to revisit my predictions from the beginning of the season as to whom would be the playoff teams. Somehow, I don't think I did too poorly.

Other random thought: Moved into a new office this week in downtown Milwaukee. Beautiful, just beautiful. The commute, not so much, but nearly everything else is really nice. I also got a promotion at the beginning of the month, so I'm adjusting to the new role. It's not a huge change from what I was doing, but large enough.