The 2016 MLB season will end on Wednesday night with Game 7 of the World Series between the Cubs and Indians. At the end of the game, one of the fan bases will watch their team end a massive title drought, while the other will likely get depressed, stop shaving for a month, and drown their sorrows in a mountain of alcohol. Or something.
Chicago's very own Common was on Late Night With Seth Meyers on Tuesday night to talk about what watching the World Series has been like for him since he's a White Sox fan. Seth Meyers asked him if he's allowed to cheer for the Cubs as they try and end their 108-year title drought or not. "Can a White Sox fan root for the Cubs in a time like this?" Meyers asked.
"Yes, a White Sox fan has to root for the Cubs," Common said, even though he quickly admitted that he realizes not all White Sox fans feel the same way he does. "Even though there's some hardcore White Sox fans who will not root for the Cubs and root against them."
Common went on to say that he's bridging this gap because he's "about unity" in the city. "I'm from Chicago," he said. "I want to see the Cubs win. [They haven't won in more than] 100 years!" He also invoked the name Steve Bartman and hoped that a Cubs title will finally get him off the hook.
From there, the two men transitioned to talking about Common's preteen days as a Bulls ballboy, which coincidentally started during Michael Jordan's rookie year in 1984. The 44-year-old rapper explained that it wasn't as glamorous as it looks on TV by describing one of the tougher requirements of the position. "[You're] picking up jockstraps also," he said. "That's not glamour. Especially old sweaty ones after the game." He added that one of the perks of the job was acquiring sneakers from MJ, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and Isiah Thomas so he could trade them with his teachers to get out of trouble.
I have no opinion on the Jordan story. However, as a diehard—though admittedly far less rich and far less important—White Sox fan myself, I wholeheartedly disagree with the stuff Common said about White Sox fans cheering for the Cubs. F*ck the Cubs. Go Indians.
