Okay so I wanted to do a post about why Cubs fans go crazy for the “W” flag. Grabbed my notebook yesterday morning and headed to Wrigleyville before the game. Stood outside Murphy’s Bleachers with cheap coffee, just watching people roll in.
First thing I noticed was how everyone’s eyes automatically snapped to that flag pole the second they turned onto Addison Street. Like moths to a damn lightbulb. Started scribbling notes about reactions:
- Dudes in jerseys actually slowing down their walk to stare up there
- Old guys patting their buddies’ backs when they spotted it flying
- This one lady made her whole group stop so she could take a selfie with the flag in the background
Then I did what always works best – started chatting up randoms near the hot dog stands. Asked this guy in a Santo jersey why the flag makes him grin like an idiot. He goes: “Man, 2016 changed everything. That flag ain’t cloth, it’s a freakin time machine.” Wrote that down word for word.
Made these five connections while piecing things together later at my kitchen table:
- Seeing the “W” means you don’t have to check your phone for scores
- It’s instant bragging rights against White Sox fans
- Gives people permission to high-five strangers
- Reminds everyone of that 108-year curse getting smashed
- Turns the whole neighborhood into one big block party
Almost scrapped the whole thing when I realized I had six reasons, not five. Spilled coffee on my draft notes trying to cut one. Ended up merging the “high-fiving strangers” and “block party” points after rereading my Murphy’s Bleachers observations.
Finished around midnight, slapped the headline on top, and hit publish before I could overthink it. Woke up to three buddies texting the same thing: “Yep – you nailed why my throat’s sore today.” Guess that rusty pole by the marquee means more than I thought.
