So today, I’m realizing how different today is. My whole adult life, when someone delivered disappointing news, one of my pat responses has been “Don’t worry about it. I’m a White Sox fan.” My whole life, I have distinguished myself from the successful and cheerful. My team are lovable losers, full of faith and without hope.
The whole paradigm for White Sox nation is new, thanks to our dreams coming true. I’d have said I was a casual fan, if devout. But a lot more has changed for me than just the Series. The Sox are a good team. World Champions, in fact. What do you all think? Time for me to get spoiled?

This is absolutely amazing. My childhood, my adolescence and my adulthood have been spent hoping this day would come and almost believing it. 1977, 1983, 1993, 2000 years I believed and come November started believing for next year.
Aral, Mana I want to buy you both a beer. One of the nasty ones they served in Comiskey park. PBR!

Was that amazing? Yes, it was.
Good Night World,

Tonight’s a big game. This is probably the game I’m least confident in. Nearly the whole team will be seeing the weird Minute Maid Field for the first time and Oswalt’s been on fire. I’m calling it for the Sox as a loyal fan and as a loyal White Sox fan, I’m prepared to be diosappointed. Still, come tonight after the game we’ll have seen everything scary Houston has and be as prepared as we can be to bring the Championship to where? Chicago, Illinois. Southside to be specific.
So here’s a question from a former Southsider to Sox fans who have gone to the playoff games: How many of the White Sox fans in that stadium do you think were Cubs fans in drag?

I am sure enjoying this. It’s worth a mint to me that the White Sox here and winning, but I think this would be a great postseason if, say, the Mariners were playing the Mets. I love that the two teams in the World Series are underdogs. And, honestly, there’s something really, really good about the messiness of these playoffs.
You hate to win by a semi-called passed ball or misunderstood foul ball or a dropped pop-up to shallow right. But then, isn’t baseball more exciting when it’s unpredictable and the things that can’t happen start to? Doesn’t it make the play more interesting when Roger Clemens can’t get to the third inning and Bobby Jenks goes from invincible to temporarily incapable. The imperfections of this post-season are what make it the best ever. Or maybe it is that White Sox are winning.

The southside has been home to Chicago’s immigrant communities and some of its oldest communities as well. Manager Ozzie Guillen is the perfect White Sox manager. An immigrant, but also home-grown talent God bless him. If he thinks he’s getting out of here alive after one World Championship, though…I’m no Pat Robertson, but I would favor blockading Venezuela to keep Guillen from going home.
So, it seems to me that all the Sox blogs should be about comparing our team to that other one and predicting Chicago in x. Do White Sox fans follow normal patterns, though?

I tried to get tickets yesterday for Game 1. My failure was humanity’s failure. By humanity, of course, I mean White Sox Nation.
Some key statistics:
White Sox’ 2005 playoff record in games I did not attend: 4-1 (.800)
Average Score in 2005 playoff games I did not attend: CWS 4-OPP 2.1 (CWS win by 1.9)
White Sox’ 2005 playoff record in games I attended: 3-0 (1.000)
Average Score in 2005 Playoff games I did attend: CWS 9-OPP 2.67 (CWS win by 6.33)

I’m not saying the Sox won’t win because I’m not there but why take chances.

Right, Scott Podsednik at ALCS Game 4.
The White Sox are just ahead of the Cubs in terms of having a proud tradition of accomplishment. The contest isn’t an epic one. The contest for hearts and minds is a bigger contest and more decisive. Outside the Midwest, people know that Chicagoans break down by North and South into Cubs and White Sox fandom. within the City Limits. As soon as you cross into suburbs and out into Northern Illinois, Iowa and Indiana you’re in Cubland.

I went back to Chicago for games 1 and 2 of the ALDS. On the train to U.S. Cellular Field, every advertizement featuring a Baseball player featured a Cub. Even in our own town, even in our best year, White Sox nation is overlooked.

So the robust character of the White Sox fan comes not only from enduring the futility which is the portion of the fans of many teams, but also from living in a psychologic enclave where friends are few and the wolves all around. For those of you climbing on the bandwagon, welcome. It’s always been a big tent, but empty.

Everything there is about me and why I’m the most excited person in California today is covered in a post on another blog (click the picture.)
Here’s a little bit more to know: I am the Executive Director of an agency that helps adults with developmental disabilities live independently. I have been blogging on work-related topics since June, 2004. That dull site is here. I co-write a satire weblog with Ambrose Bierce, a great American writer who didn’t live to see the White Sox’ last championship. That weblog is here.

So that’s who I am. I’ll be writing daily at least through the World Series.

Above, me and my friend Emily at Game 1 of the ALDS

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO WHITE SOX!

Opening thought. If the Sox bring the championship home, it will be the second Chicago championship since 1917. Isn’t it time the Cubs held up their end?
If you want to know everything there is about me and why I’m a White Sox fan, try this link.