White Sox fans divided over supporting Cubs
CHICAGO (FOX 32 News) - Cubs fever is sweeping much of Chicago, but there are some places, particularly on the Southside, where fans might not be so welcome wearing Cubby Blue.
At McNally’s at 113th and Western, the sign outside expresses the clear Sox sentiment: “Cubs bandwagon doesn’t stop here.” It’s a bar notorious for cheering on the Sox or whoever is playing the Cubs. During the Cubs series with the Cardinals, the bar was giving away free beers whenever the Cardinals hit a home run.
Whether it’s the true sentiment or just marketing, there was some Cub hating going on inside.
“Cubs bandwagon can go wherever the hell they want. Just not next to me,” said Joe Welter, who's a die-hard Sox fan.
He said he’s not really against the Cubs doing well in the playoffs, but…
“I'm a Sox fan who hates Cubs fans. I don't mind the team, I think they're a bunch of good players. I just don't like their fans, they're a bunch of jerks,” Welter said.
It’s what you might expect in a city divided in its baseball loyalties. Just a few blocks up Western Avenue, another Sox haven has taken a more welcoming approach to the Northsiders after discovering more regulars were actually Cubs fans.
“We just want everyone to know that they're welcome here and that we think everyone should be behind the Cubs,” said Abby Casciato, a bartender at Sean’s Rhino Bar where the sign outside reads: “Sox and Cubs fans back your city. Let’s go Chicago.”
“I think it's a great sentiment, you know. The White Sox didn't make it, we're Sox fans but we're not gonna hate the Cubs because they got there, we’re all for them,” said Charlie Fitzgerald.
The simple math says the Cubs have been good for a lot of businesses even when they operate in the heart of Sox country.
“When they finally made the playoffs, it just got crazy, getting crazier every day,” said Pete Powers, owner of the Grandstand, located in the shadows of US Cellular Field.
He said a lot of customers are shocked the amount of blue merchandise on the shelves.
And Cubs fans refuse to be intimidated.
“I'm from New York State and we live on the Southside here, right in the shadows of White Sox Park and I'm here to buy a Cubs shirt cause I've been a Cubs fan all my life,” said Anne Reiman.
But a Chicago Police officer tried to buy his Mets ball cap in secret, he asked us not identify him, because he feared being shamed when he got back to his district.