The World Now Changed Forever

Is this blockbuster trade between the White Sox and The Chicago National League Ball Club the start of a whole new relationship for baseball fans in Chicago? Will Sox fans start hating the North Siders less? Will North Side National League fans finally acknowledge there is another Major League ball club in between Addison Street and St. Louis? Will South Siders start flying the W flag? Will North Siders start saying things like, "He Gone!" Will Jason Benetti keep saying the word "Number" way too many times in a broadcast (yes he WILL).

Will Steve Stone make peace with the North Side brass he quarreled with? Will North Siders finally decide to ride the "L" south of Madison Street once in a while to catch a ball game when their beloved are not playing? Will all South Siders root for Quintana when he’s pitching against everyone except the White Sox? Will North Siders develop a taste for the great smoked fish you can get on 95th Street? Is this the greatest cultural event since Ronald Reagan sought detente with the Soviet Union? Who do you like better, Ginger or Mary Ann (no, forget that question).

Something seems different now. The Sox have their 2005 title. The North Siders finally won one. The monkey is off all our backs. Now we can just have fun. We don’t have to treat each other like smelly animal waste any more. Will we all join hands and live forever in peace and harmony? God, I hope not. But things have changed for the better. Chicago has so many challenges right now, it needs something to feel good about and bring folks together. I don’t know if two baseball teams can do that, but it’s a step in the right direction. Now we can finally get the City Subway World Series we all want. How about 2019?

And by the way, the right answer is Mary Ann.