I never thought I’d ever witness a Chicago baseball team with the World Series. Congrats to Chicago White Sox on winning the World Series on Wednesday night. As I stated in my previous post, I could not jump on the bandwagon as a Cubs fan, but in the end I did not root against them either.

I watched every inning of all four games, including the almost 6 hour, 14 inning Game 3 on Tuesday night. Needless to mention it was an unproductive day at work the next day. It really was that way the entire week since the games always ended late. I wanted to watch mainly because I always watch it every year (barring 2003 for obvious reasons). I also wanted to witness a Chicago team play in the World Series, a very rare occurrence indeed.

Even though it was the White Sox, I have to say this was one of the best World Series I have ever seen. Every game had its own stars, and a large number of strange/amazing plays and situations. It had all of the elements of what makes baseball so great and in the end I must admit I was happy to see the Sox win. For Chicago and for that team. They defined the word “team” and were absolutely deserving to win the World Series.

The celebration here in the Chicago area has been ongoing since Wednesday night. I am very happy and surprised how peaceful it was. The ticker tape parade and rally that occurred Friday drew 1.75 million, much larger than I ever expected. All of Chicago was proud. It was good to see some of my Sox fan friends enjoying this so much.

The Cubs should take serious notice and learn how to play as a “team” for a change. Get with the program Cubbies!

Footnote: The Sox should have to come up with a better championship theme song to play over and over other than “Don’t Stop Believing” by Journey. That song is stuck in my head and it won’t go away! Ugh!

Photo Credits : Chicago Tribune

I make it fairly clear in the header of my blog and links section that I am a tried and true Chicago Cubs baseball fan. Overall I’ve been a Chicago sports fan since I was a very young, supporting all the Chicago major sports teams. That is all but one. The Chicago White Sox.

For those not from this area or not a sports fan, the reason I cannot be a White Sox fan is, well… I’m a Cubs fan, you can’t be both! Now comes the dilemma: Sunday night the White Sox won the American League Championship for the first time in 46 years, advancing to the World Series. This is a big deal because no Chicago baseball team has been to the World Series since the Sox were last there, and neither have not won it since 1917. Needless to say its long overdue for either Chicago baseball club.

Amidst all of the hoopla, I found myself happy that a Chicago team is going to the World Series, but at the same time, not wanting them to win it all. Crazy? Selfish? I suppose. If there were only one baseball team here, there would be no dilemma. But I’m loyal to the Cubbies and will not jump on a bandwagon just because the Sox could make history. In the end, if the Sox win the World Series, I will be happy a Chicago team finally won. However I certainly wish it were the Cubs instead.

Calvin and Hobbes is in my top three of my all time favorite comic strips. It’s too bad that Bill Watterson decided to stop drawing it 10 years ago at the height of its popularity.

This past Tuesday, The Complete Calvin and Hobbes was released. Every Calvin and Hobbes strip ever printed is included, along with it comes days of laughter.

The other day, The Washington Post had a great review and retrospect on the strip and its “normal guy” author Watterson.

“People still remember because it was never worse than good, and was often simply brilliant. It parodied the issues of the day, the materialism, the greed-is-good cynicism, the pointlessness of television, the rampaging egos, the growing crassness of public intercourse, the bad behavior, our infinitesimal place in the universe. There was also time for snacks and a bedtime story.” ‘Calvin and Hobbes’ is probably one of the last great American comic strips,” says Dirk Deppey, editor of the Comics Journal.”

I miss reading new stories of Calvin’s favorite cereal Chocolate Frosted Sugar Bombs and his day dreaming escape from math class via alter-ego’s Captain Napalm, Stupendous Man and Spaceman Spiff. Hopefully someday Watterson will decide to bring it back. It’s fun to dream.

Picture credit: (Bill Watterson/Universal Press Syndicate)

Time for a change of pace since the last few weeks has been all about the hurricanes in my blog.

Using Tivo, I watch fewer network TV shows these days. Only specific programs that I have setup for a Season Pass. The one show I became hooked on last year was “Lost” on ABC.

My first thought before I began watching last season was this show won’t last. How can a TV series last about people stranded on an island? Hmmmmm… Lets see… seems the last one was Gilligan’s Island. But this is a drama not a comedy. Well my initial thoughts have been proven completely wrong and it deservingly won an Emmy.

I enjoy how the show keeps me on the edge of my seat with the twists and turns the plot takes. Less predicable than most. I especially like the under currents of absolute truth and lessons learned. Right from wrong is clearly defined and treated as such. The current situations or backstories display subtle or sometimes very clear parable-like qualities.

The character development is well done and pieced together in a refreshingly different formula than standard TV shows. They give brief glimpses into the past of characters that have some correlation to what is happening in the show currently or explains why they act a certain way.

Ultimately, it is a high quality, unique show in a sea of junk TV.