This Just In ...
Kevin Fischer is a veteran broadcaster, the recipient of over 150 major journalism awards from the Milwaukee Press Club, the Wisconsin Associated Press, the Northwest Broadcast News Association, the Wisconsin Bar Association, and others. He has been seen and heard on Milwaukee TV and radio stations for over three decades. A longtime aide to state Senate Republicans in the Wisconsin Legislature, Kevin can be seen offering his views on the news on the public affairs program, "InterCHANGE," on Milwaukee Public Television Channel 10, and heard filling in on Newstalk 1130 WISN. He lives with his wife, Jennifer, and their lovely baby daughter, Kyla Audrey, in Franklin.
Cub fans, stop your whining; you've got nothin' on the Phillies
There are a lot of Wisconsin baseball fans who like, and root for, the Chicago Cubs. Quite honestly, I find that to be silly and stupid and I just don’t understand it. I realize it’s true, but I don’t understand it. I happen to hate the Cubs.
Why so many soft hearts for the Cubs here and across the country? I believe the main attraction is this older than dirt reputation the Cubs have as being lovable losers. You hear that phrase all the time. “Oh, those Cubs, I just feel so sorry for them because they’re such lovable losers.”
Sorry. I’m not buying that whole lovable tag. Losers? Depends who you talk to. When it comes to the futility index, Allen Barra of the Wall Street Journal says Cub fans should stop their whining because they’ve got nothing on the Philadelphia Phillies, who open the World Series tonight against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Barra has a point:
“From 1906 to 1945, the Cubs won 10 pennants; and in two of those years -- 1907 and 1908 -- they took the World Series. Before 1980, the Phillies won just two pennants, and their combined record in the World Series was 1-8. Cubs fans, at least, didn't have to suffer the humiliation of waiting 80 years into the 20th century, as Phillies fans did, for their team to win a world championship; the Phillies, in fact, were the last of the original National League franchises to win it all.
And the Phillies date back to the 19th century -- 1883, to be exact. If you're counting, that's one World Series victory in 125 seasons, one ring to show for baseball spanning at least part of three centuries.”
Wow! That smarts!
Tampa Bay’s been a loser for only a few seasons. The Phillies have been losers in three centuries!
The Rays might be the sentimental favorite because they’re such a young expansion team. But if you’re going to use the argument that one team is just so hapless (like the Cubs), then you’ve got to be pulling for the Phillies.
One last note. Some so-called experts say this won’t be a compelling World Series for the fans because the Yankees aren’t there, the Red Sox aren’t there, the Cubs or Dodgers aren’t there. That’s nonsense. Who cares! If you like baseball, how can you not get jazzed about the World Series? Plus, these two teams are jerk-free and exciting to watch.
Bring on the Fall Classic!
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