Everyone hates their rivals. It's understandable. It's a natural byproduct of cheering for your own team; if you stand in the way of my team's success, and you do so on a regular basis, I'm probably going to hate you. Fine. But who knew Marty Brennaman had these sorts of issues with Chicago Cubs fans? After a weird, impromptu throwback fest last night (HT to my buddy Josh) -- which was funny until about the 10th ball made its way back on to the field -- Brennaman absolutely snapped. The Chicago Tribune has the audio, or you can jump for a transcript. Go on, listen. It's really choice stuff.
Back? Cool. In case you're still reeling, Brennaman just said what you thought he did: Cubs fans are the most obnoxious fans in Major League Baseball. They deserve to be rooted against. The actions of a few fans are in fact "typical" of the entire fan base, and, the clincher: The Cubs won't win the division this year because they're the Cubs, and they'll find a way to screw things up.
There are a variety of problems here, which I'll try to elucidate rationally even though am I a Cubs fan.
One: A bunch of fans throwing anything is always a minority, and doesn't reflect much about the fan base at large. If you want to get all outraged about something like this, aim your sights a more efficiently. Two: Rooting against anyone is an inherently petty thing to do. Fun as hell. But also petty, and probably not something you want to admit if you're a professional broadcaster. Three: If I'm not mistaken, the Cubs won this very same division no more than seven months ago. So either that theory about them screwing the whole thing up is about the World Series -- and really, taking the field against one team is such a brave point of view -- or Brennaman only follows baseball one season at a time. Something doesn't add up!
If Brennaman sought to make all Reds fans look like petty, stupid cranks, he sure did his damndest. Fortunately for the fine denizens of Cincinnati, no reasonable person would stoop so low as to actually associate other Reds fans with this preening idiot.
TRANSCRIPT: "This is what makes you want to see this Chicago Cubs team lose. Among all baseball fans -- I can't attest to the Yankees and Red Sox because we don't see them with any degree of regularity unless it's interleague play -- but far and away the most obnoxious fans in baseball in this league are those who follow this team right here. Throwing 15 or 18 balls on the field, there's absolutely no excuse for that and that is so typical of Chicago Cub fans. It's unbelievable."
"Throwing the ball back, that's great, that's a Chicago Cub tradition that other teams have picked up on, and that's fine."
"It's ridiculous, it really is ... You simply root against them. I've said all winter, people talk about this team winning the division, and my comment is they won't win it because at the end of the day, they're still the Chicago Cubs and they will figure out a way to screw this whole thing up.
Brantley: "And then they'll have no one to boo but themselves.
Brennaman: "Well, they never blame themselves."
Brantley: "They'll blame that old billy goat."
Brennaman: "Yep."
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Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 2)
1. There is a little bit of truth to Tom Brennaman's comments. I have watched the Cubs play for almost 50 years, and there's no doubt in my mind that the "average Cub fan" of today is not the "lovable loser" his grandfather was. I hate to put another load on Dusty Baker's shoulders, but I think the change is due to increased expectations for winning, and it was during Bakers regime that the change occured. Sure, the '69 Cubs had the Bleacher Bums, an incredibly moronic bunch who quite likely WERE the most obnoxious fans of their day, but now-a-days 39,000 "Bleacher Bums" fill Wrigley for every game. It's one thing to root for your team; quite another to treat a trip to the ballpark as an opportunity to slam a dozen beers and then act in ways you never would in any other public place. Most obnoxious? No, but certainly a different breed of Cub fan.
Posted at 6:08AM on Apr 18th 2008 by GB
2. I HAVE BEEN GOING TO REDS GAMES--AND GAMES IN A LOT OF OTHER PARKS WHEN I TRAVEL--AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT THE ONLY TIME I SEE FIGHTS IN AND OUTSIDE THE STANDS, WHEN THE AIR IS LACED WITH PROFANITY EVEN AROUND CHILDREN, AND WHEN POLICE ARE ESCORTING PEOPLE OUT ALMOST EVERY INNING, IS WHEN THE CUBS ARE IN TOWN. I ADMIRE THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE SUCH A LEGION OF LOYAL FANS, BUT WHAT IS ALWAYS A FAMILY EVENT AT A REDS GAME TURNS INTO AN NFL-TYPE CROWD WHEN THE CUBS FAITHFUL ARE INVOLVED. I KNOW THE OBNOXIOUS ONES REPRESENT A MINORITY, BUT IT IS A VERY LARGE MINORITY IF YOU PARDON THE EXPRESSION. I WAS AT A CUBS BREWERS GAME IN WRIGLEY LAST YEAR, AND I FELT LIKE I WAS IN THE DOGPOUND AT A 1988 BROWNS-STEELERS GAME. YOU DON'T BELIVE ME, GO TO YOUTUBE AND PUT "DRUNK CUBS FAN" INTO THE SEARCH ENGINE. WAY TOO MUCH IMMATURE AND CONFRONTATIONAL BEHAVIOR. AND YES MANY PEOPLE ROOT AGAINST THE CUBS JUST AS THEY DO THE STEELERS--BECAUSE OF THE BEHAVIOR OF THEIR FANS.
Posted at 8:14AM on Apr 18th 2008 by MARK S
3. Come on now no one is even mentioning the Philly fans give them their due. They should be in the discussion for most obnoxious. I mean 18 baseball is pretty good but in Philly they throw D cell batteries
Posted at 9:28AM on Apr 18th 2008 by Huh?
4. I think Chubby fans are cute.
Wrigley Field (bleachers) is nothing more than a place to be seen, with your friends who can't spell E.R.A. These bleacher creatures are NOT the bums of the late '60s, nor early 70s. Or even the 80s - see Lee Elia's postgame rant.
ALL teams have their bad apple fans, just as any organization does. It is a shame children in any ballpark have to be exposed and a greater shame some ballparks now have "family sections."
Posted at 9:32AM on Apr 18th 2008 by Ross Rayner
5. Why are we even talking about the Cubs anyway? They may have won the division last year, which is very impressive, but the division stinks. How many World Series titles do the "lowly" Reds have since Chicago won one? Finally, Marty Brennaman is in the Baseball Hall Of Fame, so say what you want about him, but there is a vast array of people who think he's pretty darn good.
Posted at 10:05AM on Apr 18th 2008 by Andy
6. Lee Elia was right! (remember what he said?)
Tom Praska
Posted at 10:40AM on Apr 18th 2008 by Tom Praska
7. Im a Yankee fan and yes we are obnoxious. But then again we have a right to be. Our team plays in the GRATEST city in the world. And who else can be considered the GREATEST baseball team of ALL TIME? I mean no one is even close to us in World Series wins. We expect nothing less. And now that our Giants won the SUPERBOWL how could NYC not be considered the Capital of the WORLD? Now can you see why are considered the most obnoxious and rightfully so.
Posted at 11:18AM on Apr 18th 2008 by Bigblue
8. Marty is cranky and opinionated, and that's why he is beloved. As to the veracity of the Cubs fans statement, well, it is tough to have a ballclub that draws fairly poorly. And then when the Cubs come to town, the Cub Nation (either traveling or those who live in your town) does sort of take over your ballpark. Happens in Cincy and Milwaukee and Pittsburgh. But in Cincy, Browns and Steelers fans used to fill Bengals games. And Cubs fans don't fill St. Louis Cardinal games (actually, there are always quite a few Cards fans in Wrigley). Obnoxious is the flip side of the coin of passionate.
Posted at 11:34AM on Apr 18th 2008 by OldCleat
9. I've been a Cubs fan for 30 years, since I was a kid. I can't compare Cubs fans to other teams' fans (except I was at Fenway once eight years and they as a group seemed clearly more interested in the game), but I do believe that there is a large, vocal minority comprised of white men in their 20s and 30s who act like morons in and around Wrigley Field.
Butt-heads -- these guys are butt-heads. Typical look in the summer: flip-flops, cargo pants, a ratty T-shirt of their alma mater (usually a -- gag -- Big Ten school) and, of course, to top it all off (literally and figuratively): a baseball hat worn BACKWARD just to confirm, in case the casual observor had any doubts, that he is indeed an idiot who will say and do whatever primal urge pops into his puny, intoxicated brain.
Optional: sunglasses: Not optional: Placing and/or receiving at least one phone call per inning on his cell phone because, after all, the game is secondary and making plans for after the game and/or waving to your friend six sections over is of primary importance.
This Cubs Moron also tends to get up a lot during the game, inordinately inconveniencing everyone between him and the aisle who is trying to actually watch the game. Butt-head gets up so often either because of a weak bladder or because of his childish impatience that prevents him from waiting for the beer vendor to walk up his aisle (and so he must go downstairs for another "brewski").
Do they realize that they all look the same, like they've all been squeezed out of a giant Play-Doh machine? Do they care?
Posted at 11:52AM on Apr 18th 2008 by Carlos Umbero
10. I have to say, i went to a Giants/Eagles game in Philly. I must say by far the worst fans i have ever seen. by far. now i know why they have there own little police station and lockup right there in the stadium. just insane
Posted at 11:53AM on Apr 18th 2008 by Bigblue
11. I'm not making this up, trying to paint Marty as a bigger villain or anything like that. I like him, always have; and even as a Chicago native, agree with the man. Cubs fans can be douche'y, yuppie turds. Take it from someone who had to take the #22 Clark bus to work after Cubs games for years.
But he flipped me off once. When I was 11. Seriously.
My Mom, brother, and sister had happened upon free Reds tickets. My Dad came into town late, thought "screw it," and decided to buy a box seat right in back of home plate. He caught up with us, gave me the box seat ticket, and took my seat with the rest of the fam.
I went to the box seat, marveled at Marge Schott's son working the radar gun, and noticed that I could see Marty after looking straight up into the press box.
In between innings, I looked up, he was looking down, and he caught my eye. I waived, and he flipped me off.
Even back then, I thought it was kind of cool. I'm laughing about it as I type right now -- I mean, who flips off a kid who just finished fifth grade?
Posted at 12:23PM on Apr 18th 2008 by KD
12. I think he was right. But what do I know. I go to Joe Robbie a few times a year for baseball & football. As a Jets(Mets) fan who has been in FL for 20 years I can say I have never been in one fight down here. It's all about sportsmanship, common courtsey and respect to the opposing team and fellow fans. Hell, I've gotten Dolphans kicked out of their own stadium for being drunken idiots., And the rest of the sefction I was sitting in High fived me for it!!
Posted at 12:24PM on Apr 18th 2008 by jshanahan
13. THose guys were ignorant, but so is making such a broad and generic statement. Marty should know better. I have seen some pickup trucks, chewing tobacco and drunk folk with mullets at Reds games, but to call the entire fan base hillbillies would be pretty much tantamount to the same exaggeration that he made. I have seen idiots at almost every sporting event i have been to, so this is ridiculous.
Posted at 12:49PM on Apr 18th 2008 by Bojim
14. I find Mr. Brenneman's characterization of Cub fans to be offensive. Every team has its bad apple fans, be they fans who throw baseball and garbage on the field, curse in the stands, throw batteries, cell phones, bottles, CHAIRS, and other detritus at players, but you cannot hold an entire fan base responsible for the actions of the few. I'm a huge Cub fan and have attended games at Wrigley and in Milwaukee and have observed both good and reprehensible behavior from both sets of fans. My wife and I had a good time with some of the Brewer fans in the section we sat in, but then she was called lewd names by other Brewer fans as we left the ball park. I choose to believe most Brewer fans are like the first group we encountered. I know there will always be the perception of Wrigley Field as a giant frat party, but I think most of that is in the bleachers. My wife and I have attended many games where we've been surrounded by intelligent fans who watch the game rather than the beer vendor. For those of you have had bad experiences, I hope you please consider that Cub fans are just like any other kind of people. There are going to be good and bad Cub fans. Try not to judge too harshly when you see a guy wearing Cubs gear before he ever opens his mouth.
Posted at 3:02PM on Apr 18th 2008 by LoserPoet
15. Everyone does have bad fans. I'm a Brewers fan who went to a game in St. Louis this week and we sat in front of some guys who were irritated my wife and I came in Brewers stuff, and were as loud and vulgar as they could possibly be the whole night. But by-in-large Cards fans are great.
But whenever I've gone to a Cubs-Brewers game at Miller Park, I'm astounded by the level of jack-assery Cubs fans stoop to. It may be a minority of Cubs fans, but it's a groups that's large enough that you can't ignore or dismiss it as such.
When you see stuff like the "Howry Kow" shirts for Fukudome it just reinforces people's negative perceptions.
Posted at 3:41PM on Apr 18th 2008 by Nick
16. Three words - HALL OF FAME! Marty happens to be in basball's. To KD, Marge Schott never had any children or even any step children - I'm calling B.S. on your story.
Posted at 4:07PM on Apr 18th 2008 by rwinterod
17. What? Chicago Cubs Fans? Now, It's likely that they aren't the nicest fans in the world, but you want to tell me that they are the most obnoxious. Have you met a NY Yankees fan? See Commenter #7 "Bigblue"above..need I say more? However, Bigblue is right about one thing, although Yankees fans may be cocky, they are not nearly as bad as Philadelphia. They don't have one brotherly thing about them when it comes to sports. I'm going to a Cubs game at Wrigley this summer, I'll be sure to be on the lookout for those "rowdy mid-westerners."
Posted at 8:20PM on Apr 18th 2008 by dani0602
18. Anybody who takes a damn game so serious, and idolizes the ball players like they were heros, is an idiot to begin with. those players are nothing but a bunch of druggies and steroid users. Get a damn life and get real heros. SCIENTIST, ASTRONAUTS, EXPLORERS, MEDICAL PERSONNEL. Anything but these bums. You people are immature little boys.
Posted at 8:32PM on Apr 18th 2008 by Richard
19. since when does being in the HOF mean you're not a jerk? and since when does having "obnoxious fans" translate into the cubs not deserving to win anything? i hope the reds go down hard, because apparently we associate a few jerkoffs with the whole team
Posted at 8:33PM on Apr 18th 2008 by HK
20. Cubs fans complain a lot but not as much as demanding, snobby Yankee fans.
Posted at 8:37PM on Apr 18th 2008 by Rik