South Siders Suceed

Congrats to the Chicago White Sox, team of my youth, and proud American League Central Rival. Back when I was in junior high we got free white sox tickets for straight a's and perfect attendance - I had to get my straight a's (perfect attendance was never an option). But the funny thing in retrospect is that they basically did have to give tickets away to get people to the game. The white sox have always been the poor stepchild of CHicago sports... and its about time they get respect. Every ten years or so they get it together and make a run, this year's squad has something that those earlier teams didn't have - veterans from those earlier runs. Joey COra at the third base from the early nineties and manager Ozzie Guillen and bench coad Harold Baines from the eighties. And the WHite SOx are in the world series for the first time since 1959.

I am totally biased, but I have to give credit where its due. Everyone can't stop talking about chicago's pitching, but you have to notice that all those starting pitchers (that all just threw complete games) were in CHicago last year. Did they all just get magically better? How did that happen? The catcher's name is A.J. Pierzynski. Before he called the best series in american league championship history from behind the plate, A.J. was the starting catcher for the MInnesota Twins and chicago fans hated him. He always hit well in Comiskey, and guided hacks like Kyle Lohse to shut out the WHite Sox. THen, fast forward two years later and he finds himself a white sox. And in the middle of every controversy in the playoffs. WHy does that happen? Because he never quits. He runs out every out, argues every call and plays like its the most important ame of his life. And he is the unsung hero of this squad (although I have to say that I've heard Ozzie Guillen give him a lot of credit).

So congratulations Chicago White Sox, and A.J. Good luck in the World Series, where the White Sox haven't won since 1917 - a drought two years longer than last year's much celebrated Red Sox.