Cubs and White Sox to Merge???

April 01, 2011

As a stout follower of all things happening in and around the Windy City of Chicago, and more importantly, as a lover of Chicago Cubs baseball, I really don't know what to make of this. There is a story out of the two major Chicago newspapers (Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun Times) reporting that the owners of the Chicago Cubs are looking to merge the team with the Chicago White Sox.

Anyone familiar with the Cubs and the family that owns them knows that money has been tight in recent years when Sam Zell was at the helm and the Tribune Company circling the drain.

But I'm not sure anything gets solved by combining the two franchises. One thing is a sure result: Angry Fans.

Here's the story the Tribune is running, trying to put a positive spin on this debacle:

YOUR CHANCE TO NAME CHICAGO'S NEW MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL TEAM!

After more than a century of futility, coupled with the hardship of a struggling economy, the Chicago Cubs are doing the unthinkable and merging with their long time cross town rivals the Chicago White Sox. The Sox have also taken a financial hit, despite their 2005 World Series Championship. The move is expected to help both teams by cutting in half the immense overhead of having two teams’ players’ salaries.

The move will probably come as huge surprise and may cause some outrage, to the loyal fans of both teams, who will be wondering where will the teams play and who will they be rooting for.

Where to play: The teams have agreed to alternate home games between the legendary vine encrusted walls of Wrigley Field and US Cellular Field. This will keep some sense of normalcy for fans who may already be having heart palpitations, thinking of having to cross town and sit in the hated stands of the other team and it will also allow the new team to keep intact the 20 year, $68-million dollar naming deal the White Sox signed with US Cellular in 2003.

Who will the fans be rooting: In effort to mollify angry fans from both teams, the Cubs and White Sox ownership, with the approval of the MLB, have agreed to allow the fans to name the new team.

Here's your once a lifetime opportunity to play 'owner' of a professional sports franchise; pick the right name and you gain instant sports immortality.

For one lucky fan, this could mean a lot the next time some says, "Stop saying they're your team, you are not a player” they could respond, "They are my team, I named them."