Why do you hate the Cubs?

I actually can’t really say that I hate the Cubs, because I have a soft spot for losers. The things that bother me about the team though are usually related to the fans (I’m thankful to the owners and the management for not putting together good competition most of the time, although this year is much different). The stereotypical Cubs fan doesn’t actually know that much about baseball, and is sort of the follower type of person, just in it to be accepted. That and use the field as the biggest bar in Chicago. Also, even when the Cardinals are clearly the better team in other years, the average Cubs fan will loft comments at you like “the Cardinals suck” and just will taunt you in general like a schoolyard bully. Which I think is pretty lame. This type of fan also has a seething violent quality about them, which I think is disturbing. That said, I have also known a lot of good Cubs fans, and most of my friends are indeed Cubs fans. My younger brother is one, and where we grew up (Quad City area) the two teams were liked about equally (maybe a few Chisox fans thrown in). As for the Cubs team, this year seems to be almost a class act. They work together well as a team, with no players sticking out like a sore thumb (meaning they are all above average players, but none of them are Pujolsian… well, they do have some damn fine pitchers). I would imagine a lot of Cardinals fans hate the Cubs because their fans come en masse to Busch III and create a ruckus, although I haven’t seen a Cards vs. Cubs game in St. Louis yet. I will stop for now, as I could go on a lengthy analysis that would put you to sleep.

I really don’t hate the Cubs.. only when they are ahead of us in the standings ; )

I live in Chicago and the only thing I hate is how the bandwagon fills up during seasons like this. I also hate how their fans talk so much shit despite rooting for one of the least successful teams in sports history.

or at least their fans, but I just dont want them to win and its fun to get on each other a bit.

Rivalries make sports a little more fun

and it’s because of their fans.

I grew up in Southern Illinois and really didn’t care one way or another since they were hardly every any good. But I went to college at NIU and now live in the Western suburbs of Chicago. That in itself is enough to drive someone off the ledge.

I hate their fans. They think it’s romantic to lose. Because they wear losing for so long like a badge of honor. Because they celebrate a stadium that smells like pee.

Now the team – they’re a good baseball team right now. Good players. If you like the game, you can appreciate the Cubs players this year.

but adds up with events. From Sosa to Jeff Fassero, from never forgiving Bartman to the hatred of JEd over the past decade, the list goes on. There really is no reason for hatred as you first become a Cards’ fan, but then a pseudo hatred begins to lead to an actual hatred with the passing of time. I still have complete respect for the team and their fans (especially considering living in Chicago most of my life most of my friends are Cubs or Sox fans), but I will always hate to see them win more than anyone else.

I dispise the Chicago Cubs. I think there should be a National Holiday for O’Leary’s cow! The only good thing that ever came out of that town was the fire. And God love Bartman! The 2003 playoffs was the first time I ever wanted to kiss a Man! Long live the Cubs curse. I hope they lose every game.

Every time I go to Chicago (the arm pit of the midwest) I have this strange urge to litter. I could unload a few dump trucks from the area disposal and no one would notice. Do you understand that the Chicago Cubs world series trophy is as old as Mothers Day? God I hate blue in the summer time.

i was raised to be a cubs-hating cardinals fan by grandmother in the eighties (i was born in 81), growing up in the alton, illinois area. we would sit and play cards and listen to buck and shannon on kmox every night.

she used to wear a t-shirt all the time that said, “my two favorite teams are the cardinals and whoever is playing the cubs”. i thought that was pretty awesome.
when we went to church she always got into these heated arguments with a cubs fan, though they were actually pretty good friends.

which leads me to cubs fans… i’m really good friends with tons of them, which has made the rivalry really fun over the years. i know way more fair-weather cards fans than i do cubs fans, though i do know plenty of both. the diehard cubs fans i know are always great to run into and have a conversation about baseball with, i must say.

just about anytime i’ve been to chicago, peoria, champaign, bloomington, etc, i’ve run into plenty of dumbass cubs fans though. i’ve been heckled a plenty just for wearing my cards hat around chicago, more so than i would expect a cubs fan to have problems in st. louis.

generally speaking, i don’t hate the cubs. i just hate to see them win.

because they have stunk it up for so long. Michigan, Ohio State, Notre Dame—those are teams a person can really dislike. The lovable Scrubbies…how could you?

and everything they stand for. I hate them because I’m a Cardinals fan. I hate them because baseball is more fun when you have a bitter rival. I hate their fans. I hate the way it’s cool and trendy to be a Cubs fan. I hate the way they try to blame 100 years of losing on a goat. I hate that they take pride in losing. I hate their uniforms. I hate that they are named after a baby bear. I hate that people call them the “Cubbies”. I hate the constant media coverage they get. I hate that they think they are special because they have a historic ballpark. I hate them because they play in the NL Central. I hate them because they act like the only reason they didn’t make the World Series was because Bartman caught a ball Alou wouldn’t have caught anyway. I hate that they forget their shortstop booted an easy ground ball soon after which was the real reason they lost. I hate that they now cheer for Jim Edmonds. I hate how they talk smack even when the Cardinals are clearly better. I hate how they have an excuse for everything. I hate white flag time at Wrigley. I hate Derrick Lee. I hate Carlos Zambrano. I hate how they worship Lou Piniella. I hate them because baseball is more fun when you have a bitter rival. But most important of all, I hate the Chicago Cubs.

love the place, but have never been a Cub fan even though I root for the bears and Bulls. We lived closer to ST Louis than Chi @(217) so was caught in the middle of the war.

I love looking forward each yr to seeing how the cubs will blow their good team. The weird thing is growing up in central IL pre all the coverage noe there was wgn and you got cubs games. If there was nothing on in the summer and there wan’t I’d find myself watching the cubs. Not rooting for them or as involved in a Card game but watching them. Plus that series was always the big series of the year.

Watchign Harry Carry Butcher names like Geranimo pena and actually I liekd guys like the Hawk. I hate losing to the cubs but with the battles the cards had with the astros in recent yrs I despise them more…At least cub fans are die hard.

However, the Cubs are one of the only teams that I actively root to lose. I love to see them fail. I wish that I had a real reason for it, but its almost as good as watching the Cardinals win to see them lose.

I have to concur with a lot of the comments about most Cubs fans that I have come into contact with. The ones that I have encountered are ignorant and obnoxious. A friend works for the Reds and the only time that they dread their job is when the Cubs are playing the Reds and they have to deal with all their fans.

The only other reason that I can think of that causes the hatred to fester in me toward the Cubs is the way that they seem to be the trendy or “in” team to root for. They are the pick of the girls who want to seem like they are cool and like baseball and that just grates on my nerves.

It is a good rivalry and I am thankful that I root for the side of good.

I grew up a Cardinals fan in the suburb bordering Chicago to the North. So you can probably imagine.

This is a fun thread. I imagine that many of us have similar experiences….I’ve found myself chuckling while reading through these.

I grew up in Quincy within a Cub-lovin’ family. I had a grandma, probably similar to adiueordie’s, except that she was on the other side of the fence, who loved sports and always had the Cubs on TV. However, it was always easier for me to actually get to a game in STL than Chi, so I bucked the family trend and became a Cards fan.

Honestly, I can’t say I HATE the Cubs. Probably the biggest things that irritate me about the Cubs are:
1- The trash-talkin’ and/or bandwagon fans. It’s always been obnoxious, but I do think that BOS fans have replaced the Cubs fans as my most hated fan-base.

2- The constant media love affair with the Cubs. I am pretty sure that Playboy (not the most reputable baseball analyst, but still) has picked the Cubs to win the NL Central – and go to and/or win the World Series in many years – for like the last 8 yrs running. Several prominent “experts” seem to do the same thing and I always ask “based on what?” I talk about this phenomenon w/ both Cubs and Cards fans and the consensus is that pretty much everyone wants to be “right’ if/when the Cubs actually do go to/win the World Series, so they just keep picking it. It’s a gambler’s fallacy, but it is no less annoying.

3- And of course, Carlos Zambrano’s antics. Remember when he wasn’t even pitching (I don’t think it was against us) and he ran out into a brawl and started taking off his belt or some shit? I mean, what was he gonna do? Was he my dad or something?

4- And I definitely hate when they’re ahead of us in the standings, obviously. On a similar note, I hate when we’re the far superior team (which has happened, probably 68 times since they last won a WS) and then we face them for a series when they’re like 15 games under .500 and we end up getting our asses handed to us. God I hate that!

Stil though, I really dig the friendly nature of the rivalry. maurerdj said it well:
“Rivalries are their best when you can enjoy a beer when the opposing teams fans afterwards and heckle each others.”

I agree with that. I mean, I like being able to go to/watch games with a Cub fan or two. Do you think there are a lot of BOS/NYY fans who room together, stand up in each other’s weddings, etc?

Far and away some of the best times I’ve had in my life have been at Cards/Cubs games surrounded by friends who are rooting for the Birds, with probably an equal number of friends who are rooting for the small bears. We had about 30 people – some friends, some family, some strangers – on one of the Party Patios for my bachelor party a few yrs ago. It was just a great day at the ballpark. It helped that the Cards won, but it was exactly what I wanted in a bachelor party. Plus, my little bro caught a D Lee batting practice HR, he had a bunch of the bachelor party participants sign it, and I still have it displayed in my office to this day.

Sorry for the lengthy post…....win the series, boys!

Before we won the World Series I took Baseball much more seriously and back then I did hate them lol. I used to hate the Cubs because at Busch one time a Cubs fan stood up in front of the whole section of people(children included) and flipped everyone off….. I just wanted to smash his face into the concrete…........
But since we won it all I just relax and enjoy Baseball and I dont take things so serious anymore.

I enjoy talking to knowledgeable respectful Cubs fans but the obnoxious stupid ones I cant stand.

definitely got a chuckle out of this diary. Quite frankly I don’t blame you guys for hating the stereotypical Cubs fan. I’ve seen them at Wrigley and I see them on the road (Miller Park, Busch Stadium). I’m not a fan of them either…..anyways, best of luck to you guys this weekend. I’m looking forward to seeing Carpenter vs Demptser on Sunday. That should be a fun matchup.

A friend of mine gave me trouble about my cub hatred. He said hating on a team as historically beleaguered as the Cubs is like being against autistic children.

There’s many responses to this bit of misplaced empathy. But my quickest response was to allude to that terrible, teeth-gnashingly awful series in early September 2003 when the Cubs overtook the Cardinals’ spot in first place and went on to win the division.

Cubs 7, Cards 0
Cubs 4, Cards 2in 15 innings
Cubs 8, Cards 7
Cubs 7, Cards 6

Crushing.

Even though the Cubs went on to lose the NLCS through feats of world-historic improbability and shame, I still have raw feelings over that series.

In the past few years, as the Cards have racked up Division Championship, after Pennant, after World Championship, I’ve often questioned the point of winning if you don’t also beat the brains out of the Cubs?

Here’s hoping for a little good conquering evil this weekend.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrlLmTh32KI

I guess because I live in Michigan I don’t get into the hatred thing. Unlike most Cub fans I like the Cardinals. I hear some ppl gasping at that comment, but my dad grew up loving Dizzy Dean and the old Gas House Gang. Who couldn’t love a ball club like that? Its sort of neat that my dad will root for the Cards and I for the Cubs. But, when the Cards made it to the series we cheered the Cards together. When the Card beat those stinking Tigers in the Series I was cheering with my dad! That was cool!

I enjoy the great games that come out of this rivalry. I don’t like the fans on either side who make fools of themselves and act obnoxiously. We don’t have to be like the Yanks-Red Sox war front, that is not what I call fun. I enjoy seeing the Cubs and Cardinals go at it for it usually turns out be some of the best baseball I see all year.

Personally, I can’t think of anything better than the Cards and Cubs making it to the playoffs. Can you imagine what that would be like? big grin

more than i hate diehard cubs fans…...that being said Jim Edmonds is now replaced A-Rod as the gu I root to go 0-fer everyday

some reasons to dislike the scrubs:

1.) having lived in Chicago for fifteen years, and listening to WGN, Ron Santo is beyond help as a color guy. His total lack of ability to contribute anything meaningful to his partner (too many examples to list) make Shannon sound like Jack Buck. Santo should be in the Hall of Fame, but not as a “broadcaster.” Like so many things Scrubbie, WGN keeps him on the air as an embodiment of the eternal Scrub “hope against hope.”
2.) go to “from the Cubicle” on ChicagoSports.com, and read the play-by-play “coverage” from the Tribune’s Redeye sportswriters. They pander to the Scrubbie GenX and GenY slacker, who are more interested in ripping the Cardinals fans than good baseball. You have to wonder what J-school these guys received their degrees.
3.) WGN’s David Kaplan, who’s such a homer it’s painful to hear him after Cubs games. Add Paul Sullivan, the Trib’s beat writer, and Phil Rogers, the Trib’s baseball columnist, to the homer list.
4.) Wilco singing TMOTTBG in Scrubs jerseys. Yeah, I know their appearance was tied to their set at Lolla, but to wear the hated blue pinstripes growing up on Belleville, Jeff? The only reason they should be allowed to sing the national anthem at the All-Star Game next year would be to stop Fox Sports from getting some “American Idol” reject, Michael McDonald, or Gretchen Wilson to sing it.
5.) Carlos Zambrano. ‘Nuff said.
6.) Over-served Scrub fans in Wrigley Field. Their superior attittude when they see you in red and refer to “hillbillies;” “uh, yeah, I probably understand the game better than you do, so go back to Lakeview or Deerfield and continue to live on Dad’s trust fund, jackass”
7.) Pinella’s antics. How exactly is he equal to or better than TLR as a manager? Plus, at post-game conferences, he looks like he’s hard-pressed to put two sentences together.
8.) The soon-to-be-federally-indicted governor of Illinois is a Scrub fan.
9.) The Scrubs operate their own ticker broker service.
10.) The franchise’s mere existence. If the Scubs win the WS this fall, it’s just another sign of the apocalypse.

when kerry wood and carlos zambrano started the bean ball war in chicago a couple of seasons ago
ill never forget zambrano beaning edmonds and then staring him down daring him to charge him
forever changed how i feel about them

their fans are also insufferable when they have one of their few winning seasons

although SV’s last album wasn’t their best, the anthem would be pretty good sung by Farrar. Not sure about Chuck Berry, though. What about Nelly? What other STL natives/residents could sing it? Having grown up on KSHE, I’ll lay 4-1 odds that somehow Sammy Hagar sings it :)

I grew up and live in Des Moines, going to see Iowa Cubs AAA games. It was so neat as a little kid (and, frankly, it still is) to see prospects come through Des Moines en route to The Show. I always cheer for former I-Cubs when they get called up (except for when they play the Cardinals). Plus, the Cardinals are such a good franchise with a dedication to winning, that’s it’s really easy to be enthusiastically for them rather than against another club.