The Solipsist Rides Again: Sports Edition

(For The Solipsist's previous works, see A PSA for aspiring Nobel Laureates)

So as you may or may not know, the Chicago Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup.

Hooray!!!

You may or may not also know that they previously won the cup in 2010 (and at the time we also said hooray!). What you may or may not know, however, is that prior to that, they had not won the cup since 1961. Perhaps you may or may not recall that about a decade ago ESPN dubbed them the "worst franchise in professional sports".

(At this point, as you begin sketching out a rough timeline, it may be useful to note that we moved to Chicago in the fall of 2002.)

I'm going to assume that you are aware that the Chicago White Sox won the World Series in 2005 (it was a super awesome 4 game sweep that I hope you watched). I am going to also assume that through your culture of choice - sports, cinema, literature, or gambling - you are aware of the whole Black Sox Scandal of 1919, the subsequent curse, and thus a very very long losing streak.

(Again, if you have yet to, please note we were residing in Chicago at that time - and to be more precise, on the South Side.)

Now the Bears didn't win the Super Bowl, but they did actually play in the Super Bowl in 2006 - a thing they had not done since 1985 - and considering they were essentially playing sans quarterback, I think it's fair to put it in our "win" column as well.

(Fun Fact: Future Hall of Famer Brian Urlacher retired a couple months ago. He told the Chicago Tribune, "I don't have a desire to play" ...we are leaving Chicago and moving to DC before the 2013 season will begin.)

How 'bout them Cubs? Well, as with the Bears, I think we should get some credit for their 2003 postseason series win - it was their first since 1908. But man, that NLCS was a sad debacle.

(And before you naysayers start furiously scribbling your rebuttal hinging on the Cubs continued poor performance, I'd like to refer you to your notes - we live on the South Side, and if push comes to shove, we are Sox fans.)

Finally, having come of age in the age of Michael Jordan, it is hard to put the Bulls in the same beleaguered category that the rest of Chicago's professional sports teams languished in prior to our arrival. Nevertheless, they had some disappointing years post Jordan, and it wasn't until 2004 that they starting making the playoffs with some regularity, and they got close in 2011.

(Thinking about it now, I realize it is possible that I have had an unconscious grudge against the Bulls, particularly John Paxson - Bull's GM 2003-09 and a current VP, for that last second three pointer and consequent victory over the Phoenix Suns in 1993 ...so, my apologies Derrick Rose.)

I guess that covers our residency from 2002-present. Pretty impressive, huh? No need to thank me Chicagoans; it was a pleasure.

(Chicago also has a professional soccer team, but they're not really on my radar - and if you're not on a solipsist's radar, well...)

Tune in next time to see The Solipsist dabble in politics. Sneak Peek: In 2008 the Presidential candidates were a) a man who lived a couple blocks away and b) a man from my home state; In 2012 the candidates were a) again a man whose home is a couple blocks away and b) a Mormon.

A PSA for aspiring Nobel Laureates (I'm looking at you, Cormac McCarthy)

About a week ago the Nobel Foundation announced the 2010 recipients, and the Nobel Prize in Literature happened to be awarded to Mario Vargas Llosa. He happens to be the first Peruvian to be awarded this award. I happen to have been reading his book Conversation in the Cathedral.

"That's very nice. He's a great author. But what are you getting at - that this has something to do with you? A Latin American author hasn't won the award since 1990 (Octavio Paz); it was time," you say. But a Peruvian? in the one year I happen to be living in Peru? and reading his book?

Let's continue.

About 7 years ago we were closing in on our first year in Chicago when the Nobel Prize in Literature happened to be awarded to John M. Coetzee. He just happened to be a professor at the University of Chicago at the time - the university just blocks from our apartment and the one to whom we had recently bequeathed our souls.

"Yes, but the University of Chicago can claim more Nobel Laureates than any other university." I know. It's awesome.

Now obviously I'm not the only factor considered by the committees in Stockholm. Nevertheless, we will likely be living somewhere new in the next year or so, and that seems to be a trigger of sorts. So, amass some frequent flyer miles and keep an eye on our profile - I'll try to keep it up-to-date.

And if you're still dubious: about a month ago I happened upon a short story entitled "The Solipsist" by Fredric Brown.