I was initiated with the South side Hitmen as a kid. I was there when they were winning ugly (even keeping quiet about those uniforms!) I stuck with the Sox for all the ups and downs over the years, even when I was the only kid in my class who wasn’t a Cubs fan. I went out of my way to get tickets for games, even befriending an ex boyfriend because he had tickets to a game. I own more Sox t-shirts than any sane person probably should. I argued and signed petitions to let Joe Jackson into the Hall when most of my friends didn’t even know who he was. I was a 3rd generation fan! Then came what should have been my dream season. The Sox were storming through games. They had the best record in baseball. There was no doubt they would win the division, we even talked World Series! And then the bats fell silent. Greed accomplished what 2 World Wars, a flu epidemic, and a Depression never did. Not only did we lose the rest of the season, we never saw our World Series. The division championship will always carry the asterisk next to it in the record book. I felt betrayed by players and owners alike and vowed never to watch baseball again. This year I found myself peeking at box scores, and eventually watching games on TV. I even started wearing my Sox t-shirts again! But every time I thought about buying tickets, part of me would remember that anger and disappointment that’s only 6 years gone. I guess I haven’t quite forgiven baseball yet. And that’s why I haven’t been to Comisky Park. But if we finally get that World Series, I’ll be at one of the bars on 35th wearing the “who are these guys?” t-shirt (in honor of the Hawk & Wimpy days!). I’ll be the one with tears in my eyes and laryngitis.