Today begins the first of six games between your Chicago White Sox and the Chicago Cubs.  Whoo hoo.

I said earlier this week that this series really has lost a lot of meaning for me.  For the Chicago papers, it's just beginning to get stupid.  How stupid, you ask?  This stupid.

How stupid.  Mariotti stupid.  First of all Jay, this weekend isn't as "special" as you seem to think it is.  Second, once again you use your newly re-signed poison pen to continue to rip the Sox.  World Series talk stupid.  And, if all else fails, get Ozzie to say something bad about the Cubs stupid.

If I've seen one pattern in the blog world about this series, it's that Sox bloggers know that winning another championship is more important than beating the Cubs.  Contrary to what you may think, especially if you don't have a dog in the hunt, most Sox fans self-esteem is not tied to this series.

Besides, the Tigers have won eight out of their last ten, so if this series means anything to Sox fans it's just to keep winning whether it's the Cubs, the Pirates or the Royals.  The Twins are also playing well and are only 4½ games behind the Sox.  It's not beating the Cubs, it's controlling your own destiny.  I'm sure the Cub fans will be keeping an eye on the struggling Cardinals and the resurgent Brewers too.

The fact that these two teams are in first place just adds to the hype.  They are not in the same division or even the same league.  They don't even play with the same set of rules (DH).  So, except for bragging rights of the fans,
I will admit that I do derive special pleasure from the Sox beating the Cubs, probably the same special pleasure I get when  the Bears beat the Packers. Just knowing that Cub fan (and during football season Packer fans) have to drink a the big cup of STFU makes me smile. 

Fans of both teams need to understand there is far more at stake than who is the best team in your neighborhood.