On the Side | Brad Hicks

I don’t even know where to start with this week’s rant, so, I’ll just start.

The Cubs

My father and my brother are both huge Chicago Cubs fans. I know my dad is one because when he was a kid, one of the stations they could pull in on the radio featured the Cubs. So, for a kid who loved ball, he chose to cheer for the team he could follow. As for my brother, well, I don’t know why he loves the Cubs, but he does. Some of his friends gave him a “W” flag last week and he gushed over it on Facebook like someone who just got a new cat.

I don’t dislike the Cubs. I cheer for them enough, but I have always known better than to give away my heart. The north side’s loveable losers – until this year – always managed to either play or talk themselves out of a National League title and a World Series berth.

So when someone asked me the other day what I thought about the Cubs, my answer was probably a little too succinct: “Oh, just let them win already,  so we can all get past this talk of curses and 1908.”

Rigged elections

Jeepers, the major media sure lost its collective mind when Donald Trump indicated he might not accept the results of the election.

“Oh no!” they all gasped. “He said he might not accept the results!”

Well, what does that mean, and what does it matter? Do the folks at CBS, NBC, CNN and others think he’s going to launch an attempted coup?

Al Gore still hasn’t accepted the results of the 2000 election. How did that work out for him? 

And as for everyone being concerned about rigged elections, let’s get one thing straight. Some elections have been tainted. There are dead people on voter rolls in lots of states. There are people who have moved away and remain registered. There are places where you don’t have to show an ID to vote. 

A lot of people think the Democratic primaries were rigged – because the outcomes really didn’t matter. Hillary had the nomination in the bag with her predisposed super delegates. If you bother to read some of the emails that were published regarding the activities of Democratic operatives hellbent on getting her elected, you can probably come to the conclusion that was rigged. I can tell you I know two Bernie Sanders supporters who are in their 20s – on the path to being longtime Democrats – who won’t vote for Hillary, and they are now likely lifelong libertarians.

So, to the so-and-so’s on the sets after last week’s debate who just can’t stand the thought of The Donald not accepting The Results should he lose to The Preference, cheer up. He’s going to be decades worth of fodder about which you can mock outrage and fear. 

Really good chili

The Express held its annual chili cook-off last Friday. The results are elsewhere in this section. 

First, to those who entered and shared their efforts, thank you. I tried every single chili – which won’t make my doctor very happy, probably (honest, it was just a taste or two) – and was so glad I wasn’t a judge. I really liked them all. I never would have been able to choose the best one.

Second, to the firefighters, thanks for your help in running that event. It wouldn’t happen without you.

Finally, the STEM Booster Club is a good idea. Math and science instruction are critical for the future, and whether you have students who are brilliant or ones who struggle, the programs are important to all. Hopefully, the booster club becomes a great asset that the school district uses to its advantage.

And...

I had a lot more, but I’m out of space. Maybe next week, you’ll hear about...

Brad Hicks is publisher and editor of The Express. Reach him at publisher@redoakexpress.com.