I'M TOO SENSITIVE ANYMORE

I grew up (well, that's really not true). For a long time, I've disliked the Chicago Cubs, Bulls, Bears, Blackhawks, and city. The White Sox were less an object of disdain simply because they were a non-entity. I didn't know any Sox fans and have never much cared for the junior circuit. Even last year when they won the World Series, you just knew that it wasn't Chicago. Because Chicago belongs to the Cubs.

And just before a big series with my beloved Cardinals, star first baseman Derrek Lee goes on the DL with broken bones in his wrist. It was like I'd lost a player on my rotisseerie baseball team. That's serious stuff. While I've never rooted for an injury or even felt that someone deserved it, I've never really felt bad for them or the team if it was one I didn't like.

Not with Lee though. It may be that I recently talked to a friend and his teenage son, a special needs young man who loves the Cubs. I thought to myself at the time, how can I be so adamantly opposed to the Cubs when there are guys and girls just like him who really love their team, too. Sure there are jerks in Chicago--probably more than their share. But what about St. Louis fans who boo Izzy and Encarnacion and hassle bleacher fans who catch an opposing home run and don't throw it back on the field? Yup, even in baseball's best city there are jerks.

So what to do? Ignore the ignorant, as another friend of mine says. Don't let dislike (read hate) get hold of you. Forgive. And forget. If you can, say a prayer for Derrek Lee to heal quickly and get back on that field. I did. It felt good.