Singing the Chicago Blues

By Ronit Bezalel

So, I'm a die-hard White Sox fan. Been going to opening day since I moved to Chicago in 1995. Got my hopes up when they made the playoffs in 2000, and then, like the rest of Chicago, I was stunned when they won the World Series this year.

Now, where was I during the World Series? In Canada. See, I had just moved up north when the Sox made the Series. Pretty bad timing, eh?

So, now the Series is over, I'm living in Canada and really homesick for Chicago. I miss the city. It's a working class town, proud and humble at the same time. It's known for it's lovely architecture, the strong lake wind, and perhaps Vienna beef hotdogs. And, as a sports town, Chicago is second to none.

That doesn't mean that our teams win.

Until the Sox swept the series, Chicago's teams didn't do much after a man named Jordan left town. But, the fans are incredibly knowledgeable and passionate. Chicago lore is passed from generation to generation. Like Scottie Pippin's 1.8 seconds, or the Cubs 1969 collapse. Say these phrases to a Chicagoan, and they'll tell ya exactly what happened. Scottie Pippin refused to enter the last 1.8 seconds of a playoff game against the Knicks. Toni Kukoc ended up making the shot. And the 1969 Cubs blew an 8 game lead that could have possibly put them in the World Series. Ask Steve Bartman how he feels about that one.

In Chicago, the sports radio is also amazing. On the weekends, you can find all four of the major AM stations devoted to sports. And there are two competing 24 hour sports radio stations (WSCR) and (ESPN). Both stations try to feature as much local programming as possible. The hosts, for the most part, are funny, knowledgeable, and biting when they have to be. My favorite show is the Mac (all around loud-mouth), Jurko (former football player), and Harry (the non-athlete comedian of the bunch) show. Mac and Jurko pick on Harry, and on each other, and it works. Their chemistry is wonderful, and I'd encourage you to check 'em out on the 'net (ESPN Radio 1000).

The best thing about Chicago sports radio is the fans. From football to minor league hockey, you can find fans calling up, waxing poetic and passionate diatribes about their teams. The listening is especially priceless during baseball's inter-league play when the Cubs vs. Sox rivalries heat up.

In fact, when I moved to Chicago, I listened to the Cubs vs. Sox rivalries on WSCR and decided to root for the Sox. Maybe it was because the team really did have a better brand of baseball than the Cubs. Maybe it's because I related to the hard-working folks on the South Side. Maybe it was because I just liked Frank Thomas' smile. Who knows?

All I know that I now live in Vancouver. I haven't found a comparable sports radio station. From my brief perusal of the airwaves, the Canadian announcers and callers are way too polite. I long to hear some anger, some fire in the belly. I need to hear that Chicago grit once again.

Singing the Chicago Blues.

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