It's a Cubs-Indians World Series, and all sorts of famous fans are choosing sides
The Cubs did it. With their 5-0 victory over the Dodgers in Game 6 of the NLCS on Saturday night, Chicago won its first National League pennant in 71 years -- and set up a World Series showdown with the Indians, who are working on a significant title drought of their own.
But this is much more than a winner-take-all battle between two absurdly talented teams. It's also a winner-take-all battle between two fan bases that have waited a long, long time for this. And now that the stage is set, some very famous fans are choosing sides (though we already know where Bill Murray stands).
Like, for example, legendary comedian Bob Newhart:
I'm in Seattle with my grandkids. I forgot my W flag, so my grandkids made me one. Isn't it beautiful! #GoCubsGo #FlyTheW pic.twitter.com/SyhTCz1de4
— Bob Newhart (@BobNewhart) October 23, 2016
And legendary Jumanji conqueror Bonnie Hunt:
Theo: "You smile, soak it all in...and then get back to work to win 4 more." @Cubs #FlyTheW #GoCubsGo #TheoEpstein pic.twitter.com/37UPMVYPUn
— Bonnie Hunt (@BonnieHunt_real) October 23, 2016
Presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton, too:
That look when you cap off a day on the trail by watching the @Cubs cement their trip to the #WorldSeries. #FlyTheW pic.twitter.com/94KMWpKHwe
— Nick Merrill (@NickMerrill) October 23, 2016
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who portrays a politician on TV, was also pretty stoked:
Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! #GoCubsGo @Cubs https://t.co/8dyy15FpBC
— Julia Louis-Dreyfus (@OfficialJLD) October 23, 2016
Zooey Deschanel's "New Girl" co-star Jake Johnson was also pleased:
As for those actually at Wrigley Field, Pearl Jam frontman and well-established Cub fanatic Eddie Vedder spent much of the evening with Theo Epstein, the Cubs' president of baseball operations:
... until the game ended, that is. Then it was time to engage in some total revelry with the players in the clubhouse:
That's Eddie Vedder on somebody's shoulders in Cubs clubhouse. Gonzo time. pic.twitter.com/RCtjXWov8g
— Michael Silverman (@MikeSilvermanBB) October 23, 2016
John Cusack was also in attendance, and he documented some of the excitement as the "will the Cubs finish this?" drama inched its way toward its gleeful resolution:
3 outs from glory Cubs fans
— John Cusack (@johncusack) October 23, 2016
And then, it was all done:
It's. Done . pic.twitter.com/r75FALBo9W
— John Cusack (@johncusack) October 23, 2016
Amazingly, Cusack even managed to snag a photo with Cubs icon Kerry Wood during the final few moments of the game:
Me and the great Kerry wood moments before it happened- and IT happened pic.twitter.com/rymLwH8mAC
— John Cusack (@johncusack) October 23, 2016
The 2014-15 Stanley Cup Final-winning Blackhawks, who know a thing or two about quality postseason performances, also extended their well-wishes:
Congrats, @Cubs! Good luck in the #WorldSeries! Chicago is ready to #FlyTheW! pic.twitter.com/Dzp5FtQON0
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) October 23, 2016
As did the White Sox:
Congrats to the NL Champs pic.twitter.com/sbHuSJjtxX
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) October 23, 2016
How can the Tribe respond to all that star power? LeBron James himself isn't a bad place to start -- and don't worry, he's already got a bet going with Chicago native and former teammate Dwyane Wade.
Absolutely!! We're placing a nice bet and more on this one my friend! #WorldSeries #RallyTogether
— LeBron James (@KingJames) October 23, 2016
Even the Cavs chimed in too, although they have their own reasons to be excited for World Series Game 1 on Tuesday:
.@Indians is it Tuesday yet?
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) October 23, 2016
Asking for a friend.
Drew Carey, a man who is acutely aware of just how much Cleveland rocks, provided some celebrity reinforcement:
Bring on the #Cubs #GoIndians
— 🅳🆁🅴🆆 🅲🅰🆁🅴🆈 (@DrewFromTV) October 23, 2016
As did Cleveland native Arsenio Hall:
Yeeeeeeeeeah! ⚾️ https://t.co/sRfdUl8lfG
— Arsenio Hall (@ArsenioHall) October 23, 2016
Chef Michael Symon's repping his hometown as well -- and he once put beef cheek inside a pierogi, so you should probably listen to him.
Let's get the rally caps on kids!....goooooootribbbbbe @Indians
— michael symon (@chefsymon) October 18, 2016
Browns All-Pro cornerback Joe Haden has a football season to worry about, but he still took the time to shout out the Indians:
So DOPE! 🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽 https://t.co/U53HeGmNjT
— Joe Haden (@joehaden23) October 20, 2016
Ohio State's marching band had made its allegiances clear, but head football coach and Ohio native Urban Meyer decided to give an official endorsement, too:
🏈🗣@OSUCoachMeyer on @cavs & @indians: This is a such a great time to be from the state of Ohio. #GoBucks @971thefan pic.twitter.com/VBM1Dm1ych
— Ohio State Buckeyes (@OhioStAthletics) October 20, 2016
The battle lines have been drawn. The choice is clear. There's only one thing left to do: Tune in to Game 1 of the Fall Classic on Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET on FOX to see who comes out on top.