The Cubs are currently one game away from winning the World Series after being down 2-1 to the Cleveland Indians and the city is still buzzing with excitement. It has been a long time coming and there are generations of people who have been waiting a lifetime to see this. Cubs fans embody the idea of being a fanatic. They love their team whether they win or lose. We spoke with a few of these individuals about why and what it means to be a Cubs fan.

Name: Portia Hall

Profession: Paralegal

How long have they waited for Cubs World Series: 33 years

What does it mean to you to be a Cubs fan? 

Being a Cubs fan for me means loyalty! I have been a Cubs fan for over 30 years and I have been waiting for a long time for the Cubs to reach the World Series. My very first professional sporting event was a Cubs game when I was 3 years old and I have been a fan ever since.

Why are you a Cubs fan?

I’m a Cubs fan because I lived on the North Side of Chicago when I was a kid and that’s all that I saw. My Uncle also used to live with us when I was a little girl he’s a Cubs fan. He took my sister and I to our very first Cubs game in 1983.

What were your feelings when they won the pennant? 

I was absolutely elated! I cried that night and was very overwhelmed at the notion of it even happening. It was something that I had never seen in my lifetime and I was completely overjoyed!

Who is your favorite African American Cubs player of all time and why? 

My favorite African American Cubs player is Andre Dawson. He was just so cool to me and represented us well.

How will you celebrate if they win the World Series?

I will definitely be at any parade that the city will have for them, and the night they win I’ll probably do a lot of screaming and crying.

Name: Erik Coleman

Profession: Banking Center Manger

How long they have been waiting for a Cubs World Series: 40 years

What does it mean to you to be a Cubs fan? 
Dedication, loyalty and patience are what it means to be a Cubs fan.

Why are you a Cubs fan?
I grew in the inner South Side of the city surrounded by Sox fans. I became a Cubs in 1984 when I was a member of the Jackie Robinson West Cubs little league team.

What were your feelings when they won the pennant? 

I was very elated and felt satisfied with the results.

Who is your favorite African American Cubs player of all time and why? 
Andre Dawson is my favorite African American Cubs player. He played with intensity and had an awesome swing!

How will you celebrate if they win the World Series?
First, I will probably cry tears of joy, after that, I plan on going to the parade.

Name: Cory Daniels, aka Headline

Profession: Barber, Emcee
How long have they waited for a Cubs World Series: 40years

What does it mean to you to be a Cubs fan?
Being a Cubs fan means having pure dedication through thick and thin, good and bad times.

Why are you a Cubs fan?
I’m a Cubs fan because when my grandparents were living in New Orleans there was no team to watch on television. WGN was everywhere so they got hooked. When they moved to Chicago it never changed I would come home from school while moms and pops were at work and I was not allowed to touch the TV while the Cubs were on. So I became hooked and it’s been that way ever since.

What were your feelings when they won the pennant?
When the Cubs won the pennant, I had so many emotions. I thought of my grandparents my aunt and uncle who have all passed away. They were true blue Cubs fans.

Who is your favorite African American Cubs player of all time and why? 
My favorite African American Cubs player was and always will be Shawn Dunston because of his passion for the game.

How will you celebrate if they win the World Series?
I will celebrate with plenty of Jack Daniels mixed with tears as I stand outside of Wrigley Field.

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