In 1710, philosopher George Berkeley posited on whether or not a sound was produced by a falling tree if nobody was around to hear it. This paradoxical question shone a light on the role perception plays in shaping one’s reality. It is an argument that permeates all walks of life, so why then should Cub fandom be any different? How does perception play into a Chicago Cubs fan’s psyche?
It should come as no surprise to anyone to hear someone claim that a large portion of the Cubs fan base is deeply affected by “suggestion”. Billy goats, Bartman, Brant Brown, Leon Durham…ours is a fan base that has had good reason to believe in the boogie man over the years.