Now that baseball season is here, and I’m planted deep in the middle of central IL, the baseball smack talk is in full effect.

I root for the Cardinals, but I’m surrounded by a majority of Cubs fans in our neck of the woods.  I consider the Cubs vs Cards to be the best rivalry in all of baseball, and the rivalry talk runs high; even on opening day.

Of course, opening day was very kind to the Cardinals today with a big win over Cincinnati.  However, it wasn’t as kind to the Cubs today.  And, in the good spirit of the rivalry, Cardinals and Cubs fans have already started the verbal sparring amongst one another; myself included.

Recently, I’ve been hearing the call for sympathy from more and more Cubs fans.  “Why don’t you leave us alone”, “worry about your own team”, “why do you care”, etc, etc.  I have even heard such ridiculous statements as “Cub fans don’t dog Cardinal fans all the time”, etc, etc.

Seriously? Well, maybe Cub fans would have something to talk about if their team would win something more frequently than every 100 years or so.  Harsh, I know, but it’s the truth.  Imagine the day the Cubs actually win the World Series…Cub fans will berate every Cardinal fan within earshot.  Of course, I’m sure they’ll have an excuse too since they’ve had to put up with Cardinal fans for so long.  Give me a break.  Who knows, maybe back in 1908 Cub fans started the whole back and forth exchange.  Personally, I think it is all good natured fun and the people whining, are just that…whiners.

Also, I don’t know a single Cub fan who isn’t sure to point out ANY success they have ever had over the Cardinals.  There have been seasons where the Cubs are done in June and the Cardinals win the division; but the Cubs actually win the season head-to-head.  Guess what, Cub fans still talk garbage.  In fact, many Cub fans treat a playoff appearance like it IS the World Series and are glad to point out when they make it and we don’t.

Oh, and for the “why do you care”, “worry about your own team” crowd…You know why I care? Cause the Cubs are in our damn division! Sure, I know a lot about your team for a variety of reasons:

1. We play each other about 15 times a season.
2. You’re one of two teams who are capable of challenging us for the division every year.  Ask a Red Sox fan about the Yankees and I bet he’ll be able to ramble off a few stats or nuggets of information about their rival.  Hell, ask Wal-Mart what Target stores sell, etc, etc.  In any successful business, no matter what industry (sports included), you always know what your most direct competitors are up to; that’s the nature of the game.
3. The majority of my best friends are Cub fans and I like to talk sports with those people.
4. I’ve probably watched more Cub games than I’d care to admit. My great grandfather was a die-hard and I used to watch games with him when I was in grade school.  Plus, for the longest time, there was no way to watch Cardinal games on television regularly; WGN was always there though.  Thanks to DirecTV, this is no longer a problem for me, and I can watch all the Cardinal baseball I want these days.

Still don’t understand? Sorry, I can’t help you then.  Do you want any more reasons? Yeah, I didn’t think so.

So, what’s my point with all of this?  I guess my point is this…we all talk smack to one another, some for different reasons than others.

Honestly, if I’m talking a little baseball trash to a Cub fan, I probably like that person.  Hell, most of my friends are Cub fans.  Plus, I joke around with ALL the people I consider friends; that’s just my nature.  Me and my friends tease each other all the time about one thing or another.  We make fun of each other for being whipped by our wives, drinking too much, etc, etc.  Heck, me and my wife make fun of each other all the time!  And, even if I don’t know you, I’m probably joking around and having a good time; no malice intended.

I like to laugh and have a good time, even if it is at my expense.  What’s wrong with that?

I talk baseball smack because I LOVE baseball and I love talking sports with my friends.  So, if I post a little Facebook smack, don’t take it personal; it’s just good natured fun amongst friends.  If you’re one of those people who dishes it out, but can’t take it, then just move on cause it obviously wasn’t meant for you.  And, please, please stop portraying every Cub fan as some innocent bystander who gets mistreated by every Cardinal fan on the planet.

We all know that isn’t true, and we all know we’ll be caught talkin’ smack at some point or another.  Why not have fun at the same time?