The Chicago Cubs and the Cleveland Indians face off in the 2016 World Series, which began Tuesday in Cleveland with an Indians win in Game 1. The Cubs haven’t been to a World Series since the early days of the Truman Administration and haven’t won it all in something like 637 years. The Indians, meanwhile, appeared in the series as recently as 1997, but haven’t won since the ’40s.
Barring some sort of divine intervention, tear in the space-time continuum, or total obliteration of our planet due to a power failure in the computer lab of the alien running the humanity simulation—all of which seem almost as likely as one of these teams actually winning a World Series—at least one extended sports drought will end and one long-suffering fan base will rejoice.
Really, both teams present varying degrees of feel-good, underdog stories. It’s easy to root for either, but for non-baseball fans, perhaps hard to choose.
We’re here to help.
There is plenty of between-the-lines analysis of this best-of-7 series, so let’s look at some other key factors to consider when picking a winner:
TEAM NICKNAME
Chicago: Cubs
Cleveland: Indians
Edge: Tie. It’s hard not to adore a cute little bear, and it’s equally as challenging to feel all that great about the “Indian” nickname, but in an honest fight between the two, the cubbie might be in trouble.
SPORTS GOAT
Chicago: Steve Bartman—and, you know, an actual goat
Cleveland: Art Modelland LeBron James
Edge: Chicago. (C’mon, it’s a goat!)
SPORTS CURSE
Chicago: See aforementioned goat
Cleveland: The Curse of Rocky Colavito
Edge: Chicago. The goat curse is among the GOAT curses. And while the Colavito curse is baseball specific, Cleveland also suffered from the “Cleveland Curse,” pertaining to Cleveland sports as a whole. Then came LeBron James. Well, he came, then he left. But he came back.
HOME STADIUMS
Chicago: Wrigley Field
Cleveland: Progressive Field
Edge: Chicago. The former “Jake by the Lake” in Cleveland is great, but it ain’t Wrigley. And being named after chewing gum is cooler than taking your name from an insurance company. Plus, Wrigley’s got ivy!
FOOD
Chicago: Deep-dish pizza, sausages, Italian beef, Cracker Jack, Chicago-style hot dog
Cleveland: Polish Boy sandwich, pierogies, chili, ribs, pork chops
Edge: New York. Better pizza. Though finding a surprise in your Cracker Jacks is far preferable to finding one in any of these other food options.
CULTURAL SPOTS
Chicago: Millennium Park, the Art Institute of Chicago, Wrigley Field, The Field Museum, Navy Pier, Willis Tower, Adler Planetarium
Cleveland: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Cleveland Museum of Art, West Side Market, Progressive Field, Lake View Cemetery, USS Cod Submarine Memorial, Cleveland Botanical Garden
Edge: Tie (largely thanks to the wise words of Alan Freed)
BANDS/MUSICIANS
Chicago: Kanye West, Smashing Pumpkins, Chicago, Sam Cooke, Jennifer Hudson, Muddy Waters, Earth, Wind & Fire, Wilco
Cleveland: The Pretenders, Nine Inch Nails, Joe Walsh, The O’Jays, Dean Martin, The James Gang, Tracy Chapman, Jim Brickman
Edge: Cleveland. Chicago loses points for Kanye, and Joe Walsh is just that cool. Plus, rock and roll!
NOTABLE CELEBRITIES
Chicago: Oprah, Harrison Ford, Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama, Robin Williams, Mr. T, Ernest Hemingway, Al Capone
Cleveland: Paul Newman, Bob Hope, Halle Berry, Dean Martin, Tom Hanks, Toni Morrison, James Garfield
Edge: Oprah. Even if she’s an import from Mississippi, among other places. She was Chicago’s best acquisition since Fergie Jenkins in 1966—though Cleveland should get credit for importing Howard the Duck. Actually, no it shouldn’t.
CITY NICKNAMES
Chicago: The Windy City, My Kind of Town, Chi-Town, Second City
Cleveland: The Mistake on the Lake, The Rock and Roll Capital of the World, Sixth City, Forest City
Edge: Chicago – unless one counts “Mistake on the Lake” as a positive moniker.
FICTIONAL SPORTS HEROES
Chicago: Henry Rowengartner, Saturday Night Live’s Bill Swerski Super fans
Cleveland: Ricky “Wild Thing” Vaughn, Harry Doyle
Edge: Cleveland. #winning
MAJOR SPORTS TITLES
Chicago: 29
Cleveland: 13
Edge: Michael Jordan
NEARBY BODY OF WATER
Chicago: Lake Michigan
Cleveland: Lake Erie
Edge: Cleveland. Erie has a cooler name, and Chicago isn’t even in Michigan!
So there you have it. Chicago has more going for it in its World Series matchup with Cleveland—which, of course, gives the Indians even more “under” status in the battle of underdogs. So if you want to buck (a greater amount of) history and back the team with more intangibles, don your Cubs gear. But if you want to stick with the long shot, support Planet Cleveland.
And if you want a good slice of cheese, go to Manhattan.
Wiman hiding her face behind a bunch of cashCanva
A mansion and its reflection in the swimming poolCanva
Salzburg at nightCanva
Fancy homeCanva
Happy volunteersCanva
Parents of young children get more time with them if they work from home.Photo credit: Canva
Juicy subject matter
Giphy from The Blacklist.
We could start a rumor.
Grieving couple comforting each other
This response to someone grieving a friend might be the best internet comment ever
When someone is hit with the sudden loss of a friend or loved one, words rarely feel like enough. Yet, more than a decade ago, a wise Redditor named GSnow shared thoughts so profound they still bring comfort to grieving hearts today.
Originally posted around 2011, the now-famous reply was rediscovered when Upvoted, an official Reddit publication, featured it again to remind everyone of its enduring truth. It began as a simple plea for help: “My friend just died. I don't know what to do.”
What followed was a piece of writing that many consider one of the internet’s best comments of all time. It remains shared across social media, grief forums, and personal messages to this day because its honesty and metaphor speak to the raw reality of loss and the slow, irregular path toward healing.
Below is GSnow’s full reply, unchanged, in all its gentle, wave-crashing beauty:
Why this advice still matters
Mental health professionals and grief counselors often describe bereavement in stages or phases, but GSnow’s “wave theory” gives an image more relatable for many. Rather than a linear process, grief surges and retreats—sometimes triggered by a song, a place, or a simple morning cup of coffee.
In recent years, this metaphor has found renewed relevance. Communities on Reddit, TikTok, and grief support groups frequently reshare it to help explain the unpredictable nature of mourning.
Many readers say this analogy helps them feel less alone, giving them permission to ride each wave of grief rather than fight it.
Finding comfort in shared wisdom
Since this comment first surfaced, countless people have posted their own stories underneath it, thanking GSnow and passing the words to others facing fresh heartbreak. It’s proof that sometimes, the internet can feel like a global support group—strangers linked by shared loss and hope.
For those searching for more support today, organizations like The Dougy Center, GriefShare, and local bereavement groups offer compassionate resources. If you or someone you know is struggling with intense grief, please reach out to mental health professionals who can help navigate these deep waters.
When grief comes crashing like the ocean, remember these words—and hang on. There is life between the waves.
This article originally appeared four years ago.