Monday, May 11, 2009

Is raising your child to be a Cubs fan bad parenting?

As I made my way into Miller Park with my 13 year old brother at my side I thought one thing, "I really hope the Brewers win today." As of two years ago my little brother had no interest in the Brewers, or sports in general. That was until he attended his first game. He got Prince Fielder, the one player he had heard of at the time, to sign his baseball. That moment right there, a kind gesture by Prince, created a baseball fan for life. The Brewers just beat Chicago two days in a row, and I knew it was going to be hard to win a third. I hope for a Brewers victory every game I go to, but when my little brothers along I want it a little more. The excitement in his eyes when they capture a "W" is definitely worth the $15 to park, the $40 of tickets, the $7.50 beer, and the $6 lemonade(let me tell you that the lemonade does come with a "collectors" cup.)
After a hard fought game, and missed opportunities the Brewers fell two runs short. We were both a little bummed, but we had a good time.
This got me thinking, I have spent about 15 years of my life watching a team struggle to even make the playoffs, with a World Series not even in question. Then I thought, Cubs fans have waited over 100 years to be able to call themselves Champions of Baseball.
As we exited Miller Park and saw enough Cubs fans to make you feel sick to your stomach, I wondered how many of those little kids with their Sorriano jerseys on had no choice but to be a Cubs fan. Their parents raised them that way, and they don't know any better. They probably are not aware that their parents never saw them win a Championship, and their grandparents probably haven't either. Bad parenting? I think so. You wouldn't let your children play with fire, no of course not, they might burn themselves. You wouldn't let your children play near water without supervision, of course not, they may drown. You wouldn't let your children cheer for a baseball team that hasn't won a World Series in over 100 years, of course not... why would you wish decades of disappointment on your children?

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