Dearest Mr. Reinsdorf,

First I would like to acknowledge the fact that I am now a minority, I am a White Sox fan. Let me also add that Iam a very faithful White Sox fan. For years I have found myself agonizing over the continuous trend that leads to disastrous seasons. I await opening day every winter in hopes that “this will be the season.” I get my chance in 1994 and what happened? A strike. Go figure. The fact that we few-and-far-between south side fans still pay to see this team play is very puzzling. After millions of arguments and endless debates on who the better team is in Chicago, I now know the true answer. Don’t get too cocky North Siders, it’s only been one good year in many long seasons.

I hate to admit this to you, but you’ve failed as a baseball owner. Your success as a basketball owner also deserves little recognition. The man who you should spend the rest of your life kissing his feet-No. 23. Do you really believe, even if the NBA comes to terms with the players union, that a guy by the name of Tim Floyd is going to be able to lead a group of guys that would probably fair much better without a head coach? The answer is quite obvious. The only thing you’ve got going for you is that the shortened season might actually benefit this older team in the long run. Once again, this is all based on the assumption that you would re-sign Mr. Jordan and his sidekick, Scottie Pippen. Why Scottie would come back is beyond imaginable. But I guarantee you this, it wouldn’t be for you. I’d be for the commitment and friendship he has with his colleagues and his good buddy, Michael.

Enough about that. I’d like to get back to the purpose of this letter. I’m not one to go off into tangents, but how can you not when you’re dealing with Chicago’s Three Stooges: Mo (Reinsdorf), Larry (Jerry Krause, General Manager of the Bulls), and Curly (Ron Schueler, the GM of the White Sox). Let me cut to the chase-HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND!!! Did it occur to you that the White Sox posted the second best record in the American League after the All-Star break? After the trades of Roberto Hernandez and Wilson Alvarez late last season, many thought what you were doing was crazy and down-right moronic.

The truth is, despite being three games behind the Cleveland Indians at the time, it was a good move. You took the chance on some young prospects, and it appeared to pay off. Unlike most Chicagoians who moaned and whined, I realized what you were doing and actually supported this decision. But now you turn your back on what’s left of the White Sox players and what remains of the “South Side Faithful.”

The second half of the season last year started to show signs of a team coming together. Head Coach Jerry Manuel had finally found a nucleus that he could base the rest of the team around. The combination of prospering youth mixed with experienced talent appeared to be a threat to the inconsistent Tribe on the Lake. But then came the wrecking ball.

Bye Bye, Albert Belle. After numerous attempts of Belle contacting Reinsdorf to voice his desire to stay in Chicago, he was denied. After being the hottest hitter in baseball in the second half of the season last year, his services were no longer needed. He has been relieved of duty to be replaced by Jeff Abbott. Abbott might be up-and-coming, but the Belle was ringing. However, you would rather think not. Let’s free up some of that money for more prospects and just treat this franchise as one that would much rather rebuild every season. Why not? We’re are good at that. Every time we appear to be heading in the right direction, we hit a roadblock. That roadblock is you, Sheriff Reinsdorf, and your Barney Fife-like deputies.

Let me also add my resentment to this “organization” for letting Robin Ventura go unsigned. This, of all monstrous actions, definitely takes the cake. As if Mr. Ventura never showed any loyalty to this city. After, what appeared to be a career-threatening injury, Ventura came back in style. His batting statistics might not have been what most would expect, but his Gold Glove down at third, and his presence and leadership in the clubhouse was always felt. So now we find Robin Ventura departing to the New York Mets. Hopefully, he will be greeted with open arms whereas, here in Chicago he was treated with constant choke-holds.

Never once did you give hope to the possibility of keeping this team together. They were never given a chance to show what they could do. It was nothing more than a self-beneficial act on your part. We were two pitchers away frombeing a serious World Series contender. Now we’re numerous years away from being a wild card team. If you had any business sense, you would have invested in the Sox, because you’re about to go broke with the Bulls. It’s time to move on to the things that really matter in life, like badminton, luge, and water polo. At least the disappointment factor in these sports is a lot easier to deal with.

Yours Truly,

I. Wasafan