Go Sox!!
 

How terrific for Chicago to have a championship team....to help showcase what a champion city Chicago is..

If someone other than Red Sox had to win, I am glad it was the White Sox.

Congratulations!

CONGRATS! My kind of a town!

What gail said.

Congrats, White Sox!

We in Chicago and especially the South Side, South, Southwest suburban Chicagoland, NE Indiana burb are too happy to put into words. Not only with our Championship but with the most down to earth team players any city or organization has ever had the pleasure to hire. They have had fun, even in the down times- and are like boys on the block in the good times. Aaron Rowland is singing with Jerry from Journey this morning. Buerhle is going to be on the Wheaties box. I think it should have been the whole team- like they did with the women's soccer team.

Fireworks/firecrackers going off everywhere last night and I'm 23 miles from the City. And we didn't have one nasty incident either. Hope rational celebrating continues through the parade etc. I'll be there, of course.

I got 5 phone calls after 11:30pm. The last one was from my youngest son celebrating in Beverly to thank me for making him a White Sox fan. One was from an old gentleman bowling buddy from years again who is 73 and called me crying that he lived to see the day. I hadn't heard from him in 5 years but he said he knew I would understand how he felt.

Well, it feels GREAT!

Now sign Paulie and get us some left handed hitting, Kenny.

Well JJ5, congrats! Glad it was the "other color socks" to win, and do so vehemently!

Oh I forgot, to keep this travel related- this weekend there was a planned event (before the Sox win) to have bands playing all weekend in both major airports. Now with this happening the travel arenas are going to be "interesting" with much added activities in the airports, train stations and many public places in the city. Tomorrow Grant Park is going to be PACKED.

WOO HOO !!! Absolutely amazing. I also thank my dad too for bringing me up in Comisky Park watching the Sox as a little girl. Sis and I were the sons he never had. This is the best day!! >:D< How can we express the joy!?! I love that the team describes themselves as "all pulling the same rope". We have truly witnessed a beautiful thing... teamwork, tenacity, talent, determination, humility... it's just brilliant!!

Thanks EVERYONE for the great support. Chicago is elated today! Actually, Sox fans, esp. those like our lovely JJ5 have been elated the entire baseball season. This is something very special!

Whhhoooo whhhoooo! White Sox =D> =D> =D>

Come to the party tomorrow, makai1- going to be in Grant Park, I think. And thank you for your lovely compliment. :D

I haven't been in a ticker tape since the 1985 Bears.

WHWOWOOWOWOWOWOWOWO!

Could this be the thing to push the Sox past the Cubs in popularity in chicago?

Thank you St. Denis for giving me White Sox tickets every year for perfect attendance. It still hasn't sunk in yet that the Chicago White Sox have won the World Series but I never doubted it. What a great group of guys! Congratulations Chicago White Sox and thanks for doing it for the City of Chicago!

This is really one of the most amazing things I have ever seen happen in sports. First the Red Sox (my life long fave) and now the White Sox!!! Who would ever have thought it was possible? What I have been thinking is that even if Cubs fans didn't have the Chicago connection to prompt them to root for the White Sox, they should anyway. It has to be their turn soon, if these things can happen. Both Sox teams had a lot of talent, but there was an undeniable amount of karma involved in both playoff runs. Maybe the key is for the Cubs to add Sox somewhere in the name.

Closest sweep I've ever seen!
Good baseball!!!

Party in Chi-Town!!!!

NanoPalos, you just made my heart go clink! ST DENIS- I got all my free tickets growing up from St Tommy More. My mom and dad are still at 84th& Francisco and my brother is active in the parish and all his kids went to St. Denis. He still lives there as well, he is a retired cop, newly home from Iraq.
I was Chicago Ridge for 22 years and now have been Tinley park for almost as long in several different locations. Do we have a lot to talk about at the GTG!!!

And I just found a delightful Chicago quiz we could take there- short and fun for everyone- young and old.
Don't forget to bring your wonderful Catholic school girl self. I'm also Mother McAuley, class of '65. I still know how to roll a mean skirt.

My kids are taking me to Grant Park tomorrow. Oldest is closing his business; sick- I know.

ahhnold, there are about a 3 to 1 margin of Cubs fans to Sox fans in Chicago. The national coverage across the country makes that about 20 to one nationally. There are people I love and have known my whole life that haven't cracked a smile over this. REALLY!

I would say about 1/2 the Cubs fans have been good sports. We don't want to be negative about the other 1/2 today of all days.

But it just ain't going to happen. There is a persona that we are all and this is a quote from a radio call in show yesterday "a bunch of idiot Irish Democratics who........." We are not all Democrats, we are not all Irish, we are not poor, we are not all rappers, we are all "of" Chicago. The only demographic that is true is that we often have at least one parent or grandparent as a member of the trades, heavy industry, public service, or factory.

Yes Dan, we did have karma. We also had FUN. This year at the ball park was such a blast even during the losing streak, that I wish I could bottle it up and send it to everyone.

LOL... what a HOOT Dan! Cub'o'Sox? Rock'em Sox'em Cubs? Can't imagine that even ONE Cubs fan would ever consider it. :D Too much pride in Chicago "fanship". Fun to think of tho.

JJ, I'll be THERE!! I'm workin' on gettin Dad there. I don't know if I'll be able to twist his arm hard enough. He's pretty stubborn about things like that... I wanted to get him to a World Series game, but he preferred his spot on the sofa instead. Diff' strokes. BUT a parade like this... oh, the joy!

We'll see. WOO HOO White Sox! JJ will you go to Midway this afternoon?? **==

JJ5 - We certainly do have a lot to talk about at the Chi GTG. I am a Queen of Peace girl - please don't hold it against me (Class of '82). I always loved St. Thomas More by the way and I have many friends from that Parish.

Michael the bartender at The Ritz Carlton must be one happy man!
Longtime Sox fan...even had the line ups of the GoGo Sox and Hitless Wonders in his wallet.

Someone drop by and buy him a drink from the Big Guy from Nor Cal!

Kal, I writing that down and will, really!

I'm going to be downtown for 3 days in December. We can remember together.

I would NEVER hold Queen of Peace against you. My sister, who is 9 years younger than I am, is a Queen of Peace graduate. Another myth ripped asunder- we McAuley girls are not snobby! LOL!

Didn't see your latest post, makai1. No, I can't go to Midway this afternoon but my youngest is representing all of us there because WE ARE ALL GOING TOMORROW.

My oldest is pulling three out of school. HE bad. But what can you say- you need to see history in the making.

My Dad wouldn't budge either. He's 86 and not only tired in his body but in his mind. Well- we are going to have FUN. If you haven't been to a ticker tape- you are in for a treat.

JJ,
One of the few b'tenders I didn't get my pic taken.
Nice gentleman...poured a good Bloody Mary that even makai1 would be proud of and Sox talk.

Even knew what a Bloody Maria was!

It was raining out so the rain was coming down over the plexiglass covering and the top on Big John was barely visible.

Great city....great people.

Cubs next?!?!?!?!

Actually I would LOVE the Cubs to win the NL pennant. But not the World Series.

:D :))

I imagine this will make Cubs fans very bitter and jealous.

My Sox won last year and this is way to hard to fathom that the Pale Hose win this year. Great for baseball.

Congratulations White Sox fans! As a life long Red Sox fan and having experienced what you are experiencing now, enjoy! Being World Series Champions after a long drought of disappointment makes it all that much sweeter. Savor every moment for it truly is special!

This former south-suburanite and fixture at the South Side Irish parade (who has defected to the north-side) is one VERY happy camper.

And one of my greatest travel baseball days was at Fenway. We like Boston and they have fans who know baseball.

St. Louis has terrific baseball population and they are such good sports as well. I can't help think that they have to pull it off one of these times because they are always SO good.

Hi JJ5, I thought of you this morning because our local Vacaville newspaper had a big announcement that Jermaine Dye who received Most Valuable Player Award is from Vacaville and a graduate of the Will C. Woods HS here!

Vittrad, high five ya!

We are all transplants transplanted! LOL!

Transplanted this time into baseball heaven! Shoeless Joe, wonder if you're looking down on this.

JJ5,
Keep us up on the celebrations. I'm pretending I'm in Chicago enjoying every minute of it! Congrats!!!

It's a little late to relate these details but they may give you some sense, Orcas of the White Sox organization. My youngest son's oldest friend was a White Sox intern (we used to call him George Costanza, same kind of job like his on Seinfeld with the Yankees). He left after about a year and changed jobs last winter. Well, the White Sox organization decided to ship free of charge 8 busloads of employees and former employees to the Houston Games 3 & 4. Everyone (Vinnie also) got to go and bring one person plus got tickets to both Houston World Series games. The airfare/buses etc. were all free. I'm not sure about the hotel, but I think it was.

All these people are coming back with the team to Midway this afternoon. Our channel 12 (Fox) is just straight Sox now for the most part. And channel 9 (WGN) is fairly heavy as well. Some people are VERY angry about this.

Last night there were lots of sound (fireworks) after the game ended but the festivities were centered more right around United Center, the Cell and certain bar or nightlife areas like Beverly, Merrionette Pk, all the sports bars in Orland/Tinley/Palos/Oak Lawn and in Chicago proper etc.

The big party will be at the parade because the Mayor is a big White Sox fan.

One other aside that may seem strange. There are many famous and also not famous graves being decorated with White Sox Championship banners etc. Mayor Richard J. Daley Sr. is one.

I'm not sure about that, but I guess the spirit is meant well.

I'll post about what I witness in Grant Park and let you know what it feels like, if I can.

Today's ticker tape parade was amazing, perfect weather and a wonderful atmosphere, I happily picked bits of paper out of my hair for the rest of the day.

Here in Houston, we are somewhat less happy about the Sox winning the series, but ya gotta admit . . . Those guys are good!

Rich

Hey Rich... you're one <i> classy guy! </i> **==

The city of Chicago played <b> HOOKY TODAY!! </b> Aahhhh Vittrad where were YOU?!? We were right at the start of the parade at the corner of LaSalle and Jackson right in front of the Board of Trade Building. They were DUMPING TONS of shredded paper out of the building as well as from the rooftop. I mean they were coming down in 2' diameter clumps. It was CRAZY!! :D

The cool thing was watching the players faces when they rounded the corner on LaSalle and saw the crowds lining the street as far as the eye could see with the confetti filling every inch of space between the buildings. Many of them just shouted out &quot;OH MY GOODNESS!!&quot; It was glorious!

We were pretty close, so I got some amazing shots of some of the players. Buehrle had a megaphone and was shouting back at us. It was all surreal. I wouldn't have missed this for the world. ((H))

We took the train down from 50 miles north of the city, and halfway to Union Station they decided to bring up another (Metra) train right behind us to do all of our stops so we could express right into the city. They disembarked the regular riders and gave us the train! That's how full we were with <b> SOX FANS! &gt;:D&lt; WOO HOO! </b>

We ran into 2 families we knew from home at Union Station... Sox fans really are spread out! All is well!

Considering there was no way we were gonna get anywhere near the rally after the parade because of the crowds, we walked a few blocks down to the Billy Goat Tavern for some famous &quot;CHEEZEBUGER CHEEZEBUGER&quot; and some ((B)) beers. We were able to catch some of the rally on the monitors here.

((#)) <b> Great day! Chicago Rocks! White Sox Rock! </b>

BTW Kal, Mr. Mak stirred up some mean bloodys for the ride down... warmed the balls of your feet. :D

JJ, looking to hear from you about the rally... **==

To Orcas, makai, Vittrad and all:

WOWOWOWOWOW! I'm still paying the price (3 days later, what can I tell you)- my back is breaking, it hurts, I overdid it physically. Spirit is willing, flesh is weak. Trip report to follow.

Friday was a day I will never forget. I took the Metra with my youngest son who lives 10 blocks from me. We parked in Tinley (80th Ave. Station) and took the 8:22am just to be safe. WOWOWOWOWOW! We have two stations in Tinley Park (it's a huge area- bigger than SF I read) and I am so glad we went very early. By the time we got to the second Tinley Park station we were about 40 acquaintances/friends just in our car, including my entire son's (10 years ago) high school ice hockey team. This had not been pre-arranged. The train had about 9 cars and by the Oak Forest stop the conductor announced that he didn't know where he was going to put the people- so we had to move all strollers backpacks into under seat areas. The conductors didn't even take our tickets, it was so packed.

By Beverly, people were on top of each other. We briskly got off at LaSalle and I followed one of my son's friend's parents into their &quot;place&quot; out the back way of LaSalle Street station (much appreciated future use of this egress/access is anticipated)into a place called Alcocks. It's a bar that sells pizza by the slice etc. at One Financial Place Plaze (in the alley area of Board of Trade). We drank coffee etc. for an hour. Then Tom and I took off with about 10 of his friends (2 are like adopted sons as I took them to Sox games when they were 9 or 10 et.al.)who I haven't seen for about 4 years as they are far flung. Anyway we walked down LaSalle all the way to Wacker where the stage was set up (no easy task). There was a brief stop on Randolph for me to go about 50 ft out of my way to buy my HairSpray tickets for Dec.- I got great seats.

On the way we had our pictures taken by various people and the boys (men now 26 and 27 years old LOL!)on the trucks and flats being decorated with the signs/banners etc.

We ended up getting shoved sideways trying to get into the turn on Wacker and found a great bar on Lake (Monk's) to wait. We had a drink and a decent beef sandwich. NOW I KNOW WHERE TO GET ONE DOWNTOWN. Monk's- Lake St. right off of LaSalle- and they put it on garlic bread too.

After eating we got back into the crowd to do the telephone thing to try to find the rest of my family. We did after some discussions about where the tv boom was. Of course oldest son had curb spots with wife and all three kids and their gear. We shimmied over to where they were. No easy task. I actually found a girl with three very small children to follow me and we got her a spot to sit on the curb by a tree.
This tree will become legend in my tale-sorry this is long. It is worth it.
Post two will be coming.

Very exciting JJ! True... unforgetable.

I just wrote a long post and it got lost. WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE!

The hard part was waiting but then the guys were here. Rowand, Crede, Blum were on the front of the first double decker and waved and sang. Contreras and El Ducque had cigars and waved at us standing up. Ozzie was so close that he went to shake hands but the stupid tree branch was in the way and I couldn't grab it.

We saw Pod up close and he had his stocking cap on. Buerhle was jumping up and down and pointing to his shirt. A girl who was one of Tom's friend's sisters climbed the tree and showed him her sign, &quot;Buerhle, show me your t--ts.&quot; And he did. He stopped jumping and pulled his shirt all the way up.

We saw almost all the team members. Jermaine Dye was close and waved to us. We didn't see Paulie or Uribe as they were on the other side of the double decker. Stupid tree was in the way again. But we got to say thanks and the kids got one of the baseballs thrown by the crew in front of the buses. The bagpipes were good too.

The ticker tape was coming down before they showed but by then you could hardly see. They used shredded Sun Times and blew it out of cannons as well as dumping it from bags from all the floors and the tops of buildings. The wind was blowing sideways and it was like a horizonital storm that was not cold. It went on for at least 45 minutes.

When they all got the stage the barricades were removed at the intersection and a couple thousand people ran in and we got pushed back. My older kids stayed but I and my youngest son went to find a teletron to watch it on. More later.

The fighter jets flew over, and the ticker tape let up a bit. The girl with the three little kids by us buried the baby with just her head showing and took pictures, while we stopped people from walking there. The ticker was over your ankles and hard to walk through all the way back to the station. A girl in the crowd had a stuffed mascot from the '70's (they were strange animals) and my son said to her, &quot;Hey, my Mom has a couple of those in her house but one has a pink trunk.&quot; She came over to find out what it looked like. I have both and NO ONE is getting them.

We saw flags from all eras including the '50s that had such an old look and different fabric texture. All kinds of face makeup and different Sox attire everywhere, even in the business suit crowd. They were hanging out of windows and you could see the people piled up in the office cornor windows all the way up.

We listened to part of the ceremony but after Paulie gave Jerry R. the game ball from the last out, we worked our way South. It took some time to get to the station, but we got the 1:30 out and got a seat, JUST. I looked up once and there was a person's face that last I saw about 53 years ago when I was his Math &quot;partner&quot; in 1st grade. (That meant there was 62 kids in the room and I had to teach someone else what I knew.) He remembered me. I said, &quot;Hi, Billy.&quot; He had white hair that was hardly there. It was a sureal experience. Faces/faces so many from so many other times- or maybe their kids- but you KNOW them.

There were reasons for work that I had to get home, so I did. But I saw a lot more than ALL of my friends. And I have been to other rallies in Grant Park that were much easier for crowd access than at Wacker and LaSalle, but I heard that the prep was not good for Grant- too much construction going on and things occurring already etc.

I do know that all the office first floors, streets, curbs, entries etc. for over that one mile had not one inch of space, not taken by a body. And the ticker, the crowd joy, the players enthusiasm etc. It was just unforgettable.