Dazed and Confused

OK, its here. I'll admit I am very nervous. My back problem has gotten worse, so we'll see how this goes.... I just have to beat the cleanup bus!

26.2 miles and three BIG hills. 5 New York boroughs, the Verrazanno narrows and Queensborough bridges.

Why do I do this stuff to myself??

Chicago celebrates White Sox's World Series victory
By Tara Burghart, The Associated Press
CHICAGO — The Chicago White Sox triumphantly rode into the heart of the city Friday to celebrate the team's first World Series victory since 1917 with tens of thousands of fans who turned downtown into a giant block party.

White Sox players travel in buses through a blinding ticker-tape parade in downtown Chicago Friday afternoon.
By Charles Rex Arbogast, AP

"Chicago, second city no more," Paul Konerko, the team's first basemen, said to the crowd after players, coaches and others rode from U.S. Cellular Field on double-decker buses through several neighborhoods, cheered all the way by fans who lined the route leading to the Loop.

Fans, many of whom had waited for hours and were streaming into downtown even as the players were appearing on the Oprah Winfrey Show early Friday, roared with every player's brief speech.

Wearing black, white and silver White Sox hats, jerseys and jackets, they packed the downtown area. Many waved team flags, black and white balloons, white roses or white socks; several carried brooms to signal the team's sweep of the Astros.

Some fans clamored onto light poles and utility boxes for a better view of the ceremony, while dozens stood perched on the oversized windowsills of City Hall along the parade route.

Children with faces painted black and white — many skipping school — stood shoulder to shoulder with officer workers in suits and ties taking long lunches, straining for a glimpse of the players.

"We all decided to use a sick day today for Sox fever," said Rodolfo Durand, 35, who brought his three daughters, wife, mother and brother to cheer the players.

"Chicago has never celebrated a baseball victory like this. Baseball wise, the city has been starved for a while," said Marco Velasquez, 35.

Across the Chicago River, hundreds of fans lined the top level of a parking garage for a view of the action. Above the crowd, office workers looked on from high rises, some pressing White Sox signs to their windows. And above them, F-16s flew over as part of the tribute to the team.

Throughout the victory celebration, there were both raucous and touching moments.

Konerko brought team owner Jerry Reinsdorf to tears when he presented him the ball he caught for the last out of the fourth game of the series to complete a four-game sweep of the Houston Astros.

"Getting this ball from Paul Konerko is the most emotional moment of my life," Reinsdorf told the crowd.

General manager Kenny Williams made a special point of introducing Frank Thomas, for years the team's best player but who missed much of the season and all the playoffs with an injury.

"Chicago should really appreciate this and understand what this is all about," said Thomas, who was handed the World Series trophy by Williams. "This is the pinnacle."

Mayor Richard Daley, a lifelong White Sox fan who grew up just blocks from the team's stadium, clearly agreed.

"I am pleased to say 2005 world champs, the Chicago White Sox," he shouted to the crowd.

Throughout the ceremony, the players made special mention of the fans.

"We couldn't have done it without [your] support this year,' said third baseman Joe Crede.

Manager Ozzie Guillen, a flag from his native Venezuela draped over his shoulders, also expressed his appreciation for the fans.

"This is the best fans I ever seen on the streets today in Chicago," said Guillen, who prompted one of the biggest cheers of the day when he announced that he would return next season to manage the team.

One after another, fans said they weren't about to let school or jobs get in the way of a once-in-a-lifetime event.

"We all woke up at 6 a.m. and we painted our faces and we came down here," said Jimmy Aguayo, 16, of Streamwood, who skipped school with four friends to attend the rally. "We got a spot against the rail, we saw our favorite players, we took pictures and it was just fantastic."

Andy Wilson, like many in the throng, was playing hooky from work to take part in a celebration of a championship that he still doesn't quite believe really happened.

Exhausted from staying up late into the night to watch the games on television — something that didn't even exist the last time the White Sox won the World Series — Wilson said it may be this winter when the White Sox victory sinks in.

"When I'm at a bar enjoying a beer, saying 'our world champion Chicago White Sox,' that's when it's really going to hit me."

Steve Perry, who co-wrote the song the White Sox took as their theme, "Don't Stop Believin," was also on hand and led the team in a rendition of the song.

"They've always believed," Perry said of the team.

Konerko talked about how many didn't think the team could do what it did and said that he thought about how the players might be able to win over doubters.

"The only thing I could come up with is maybe we'll have to do this one more time next year," he said.