Take that, Sox "fans"

USA Today recently proclaimed the Boston Red Sox America's team in a front-page article about their rabid fan base and national following.

Whether Red Sox Nation is bigger or more fervent than Cubs Nation is a debate that could draw some heated arguments.

Cubs reliever Bob Howry, who played in Boston in 2002-03, says there's no comparison, because Cubs fans are there in good times and bad.

"Their fans wouldn't show up if they were losing like we were last year," he said, referring to the 3.12 million attendance figure for a 96-loss Cubs team.

The Cubs had an average road attendance of 36,780 through Saturday, third in the majors to the Yankees (38,106) and Red Sox (38,664).

Rich Hill, who grew up near Boston and still makes his off-season home there, said Red Sox and Cubs fans are very similar.

"If you do well, they love you" he said. "If you don't, they're not there. That's the way it is… It's a tough environment to play in, especially guys like Nomar [Garciaparra]. He'd go 4-for-4 one night, and then 0-for-4 the next night and get booed.

"In Boston, like in any other city that wants to win, it's what have you done for me lately."

Of course, Cubs fans also have been known to boo on a whim, which Hill understands.

"They're hungry for a championship, so that's the other side of it," he said.

"They haven't done it in a while, and they're tired of waiting around for it." article

Even as I direct all of my negative energy towards the Chub$ these days, I have to tip my Reds cap to Howry for saying this. Not only is he giving props to his team's fans, but he's just saying what needs to be said to all of those people who bought Red Sox caps in 2004.
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