For those of you outside the Chicago area, the crosstown rivalry between the Cubs and White Sox may be a little difficult to understand. The roots of the rivalry essentially follow generationally inherited interests that fall along geographic lines. There have always been exceptions, of course, but for the most part, Cubs fans are northsiders, Sox fans are southsiders. As the older generations moved out to the suburbs, the geographic net has expanded but has largely remained along the same partisan lines. You live in Schaumburg? You’re likely a Cubs fan. Conversely, if you call Orland Park home, it’s “go, go Sox”. The suburban migration may have diluted the allegiences a little, but for the most part, it rings true.

Of course, over time, many colorful stereotypes have forged themselves into the mass consciousness. As with most stereotypes, these have grown a bit detached from reality. If a Sox fan wants to insult a Cubs fan, he’ll imply that Cub fans are effete, yuppie homosexuals who don’t know the score of the game. Conversely, a Cubs fan can counter with the assertion that Sox fans are unemployed trash who make crystal meth in the basement of their bungalows and whose fair-weathered impulse allows them to only root for the team when they’re winning.

While there’s nothing wrong with being poor or gay, these generalizations are not really true–they’re just socially derogative pejoratives dispensed in the spirit of trash talking. The truth is, your typical “true” fan of either team is no different than fans of other teams in other cities–passionate and knowledgeable. Speaking as a Cub fan, I would prefer that more of the post-college yuppie douchebags that presently stand in front of me while the game’s going on with a cell phone attached to their ears would infest Comiskey. The truth is, though, that there are probably as many real fans of both teams, but that’s neither here nor there.

However, I’m becoming increasingly convinced that there exists a stereotype of Sox fans that rings true:

Sox fans are obsessed with the Cubs.

One would think that their team winning the World Series in 2005 would render the Cubs irrelevant in Sox fans’ minds. Speaking for myself, a unique quality to the Cubs/Sox rivalry had been the fact that neither team had a won a World Series in anyone’s lifetime. Therefore, prior to 2005, there was not only hatred between the two teams, but a sincere desire for your team to win it all first. Bragging rights and all that.

Look, I hate the Sox. I hate them so much that by extension I hate Matt Clement, David Wells, Vladmir Guerrero, Roger Clemens, Morgan Ensberg and every member of Boston, Anaheim and Houston who failed to prevent the Sox from winning it all in 2005. And I still enjoy when the Sox lose. However, if the Cubs had won the World Series before the White Sox, while I would still root against the Sox, I would be content in knowing that my team had won it first. To a certain degree, I would hardly care what the Sox did after that.

Well, it has been my experience since 2005 that rather than bask in the warming glow of those bragging rights, Sox fans are still more in their element taking a peek at the goings on of the Cubs. Their inferiority complex seems to rear its ugly head whenever possible.

The best and most recent example of this–and the inspiration for me writing this entry–occured last Friday night at the United Center. Like with the Bears and Bulls, Sox fans and Cubs fans do find common ground with the Blackhawks, and last Friday night was an ideal evening for a lovefest between the Hawks and their long-lost fans.

Honored during the pregame ceremonies were Hawk legends Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita. Prior to these legends being introduced, the fans got warmed up by seeing such former Hawk players like Doug Wilson and Al Secord take the ice for some recognition. The late Keith Magnuson was represented by his son Kevin, and the emotions were running high. It was such a lovefest, in fact, that new owner Rocky Wirtz–son of the reviled and thankfully dead Bill Wirtz–was greeted by the sellout crowd wih chants of “Rocky! Rocky!”. To think that a Wirtz would be introduced at the United Center and be greeted with anything other than f-bombs and rotten produce would have been unfathomable only a year ago.

Finally, Rocky Wirtz gave way to new Hawks president John McDonough. McDonough, of course, has long been credited with the wildly successful anicllary marketing efforts for the Cubs since coming on board with Dallas Green in 1982. McDonough’s efforts eventually earned him a promotion to Cubs President in 2007. The uncertain status of the Cubs ownership situation, combined with Bill Wirtz’ passing, presented the opportunity for McDonough to jump ship and lead the Hawks. So far, the Hawks seem to be going in the right direction and making a long-lost connection with the past by honoring Hull and Mikita is proof that McDonough knows how to generate buzz.

So there I sat in Section 326, goosebumps on my arms as the Hawks were being received in a manner that was unprecedented for them at the United Center, seeing as how the UC was built (1994) when the Hawks entered their recent malaise. And as we stood and applauded and got excited, what did I hear about 6 rows behind me when McDonough paused during his speech?

“Cubs still suck!”

There you have it, ladies and gentlemen. The mind of a White Sox fan.