June 10, 2014: A Tale of Two Cities

The Cubs and Sox both started their new series on Monday.  While the Cubs lost in Pittsburgh, the Sox won at home against Detroit.  I have been to PNC Park before to see the Cubs play, while I have visited Detroit a few times, but never for a Sox game.  They are definitely different cities, and represent different teams.  I’m going to revisit my visits to these 2 cities, and look at the teams that play there.

I liked Pittsburgh.  My visit to PNC park with my future wife was a great time.  We got to Pittsburgh earlier in the day for the Cubs game that night, and were able to walk around the stadium.  I remember walking along the Allegheny River and seeing Corey Patterson enter the stadium.  Big thrill…haha.  I also remember seeing the Roberto Clemente statue.  Growing up, my dad would always say how he was one of his favorites, and reading about him myself, I could see why.  I think I would have enjoyed watching him play as well.  Staying in downtown Pittsburgh, as we made the walk across the 6th street bridge, now named in Clemente’s honor, we were able to see right into the stadium.  Not as cool as the Wrigley rooftops, but pretty awesome just the same.  I could imagine fans hanging out on that bridge during a big playoff run, if the city allowed it.  Truth is, I can’t even remember if the Cubs won or lost that game.  It was during the good times, and not because of Corey Patterson, but because it was one of Sammy’s big home run years.  Sitting in the left field outfield seats, we missed one of his home run balls by about 10 feet.  I think that’s the closest I’ve ever been to a home run ball.  We ended the night back at some late night hoagie place in the city which was delicious.  Pittsburgh and PNC Park got my stamp of approval.  This is a place I will definitely return to at some point.

I don’t quite mind the Pittsburgh teams either.  The Pirates never really bothered me.  I would actually prefer that they win the division, obviously if the Cubs don’t.  With St. Louis, Milwaukee, and Cincy the other teams to choose from, it’s an easy choice.  The Steelers don’t bother me either… well, they started to bother me.  It wasn’t necessarily for when the Bus ran over Urlacher, but instead for the consistent success.  I eventually began to dislike them.  I remember that Super Bowl vs Seattle… if there was ever a fixed game, that was it.  I remember the penalty called on Hasselbeck for chop blocking when he was tackling the defender after he intercepted the ball.  Also, some timely holding calls which really killed the Seahawks stand out.  As we look to the final team in Pittsburgh, the Penguins, I really don’t like them.  We can point to the 1992 Stanley Cup finals when the Hawks were swept, or to the recent big hit on Toews, or NHL poster boy Sidney Crosby.  I guess the Pirates are OK, but after further review, I could do without the other two.  Wait a second, I remember why I don’t like the Pirates either… they were our biggest rival in little league!  As a die hard fan, there are usually reasons to dislike most other teams.

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The Detroit teams are a different story.  I just chronicled my hate for the Bad Boys, so I guess I’ll always dislike the Pistons.  The Lions and the Red Wings are pieces of crap too.  Although I enjoyed watching Barry Sanders in his day, except when he made the Bears defense look ridiculous (like most defenses), the Lions are horrible.  Even now, when they are supposedly on the brink, they still suck.  The Red Wings were the Hawks rival for decades, so it’s easy not to like them.  Not sure if they’ll be an entry in the Hate Files… they might have made it if they beat us last year.  That leaves the Tigers.  No real strong feelings one way or another about them.  I remember watching them pummel the White Sox in the Cell’s inaugural game.  We walked from St. Rita high school to the Cell for our annual walkathon, and got free tickets to the game.  I still have that ticket stub somewhere.  Some die hard White Sox fan may be interested in it one day.  Oh wait, they did beat the Cubs in the 1945 World Series, so even though that was long before my time, beating the Cubs in their last World Series appearance is reason enough to dislike them.

So wait, I thought I didn’t mind their teams…  Well, I guess I do.  Although I enjoyed the city of Pittsburgh much more than the city of Detroit, their teams are both the same.  How can you really like another city’s teams?  There may have been certain teams from other cities over the years that I enjoyed watching play, and I’m sure I’ll remember that eventually… maybe.  I do have a special place in my heart for certain teams that beat one of my hated teams in big games.  But, in this tale of 2 cities, I have reasons to dislike all their teams.  I guess that shouldn’t surprise me.  Chicago die-hard all the way.