It's the last dance
I don't want to belabor the obvious, so here goes: After a three-year run, I've decided to end Exile in Wrigleyville. Of course, I wouldn't complain if someone cracks that my blog ended about the same time that the playoff hopes for the 2006 White Sox died. That's basically true, but now I'm making it official.
When I started Exile in January 2004, the Cubs were ascendant, and I felt a bit helpless as the team that I loved was largely forgotten amid the Cubs-are-going-to-the-Series-this-time hype. I thought that I could combat those feelings by writing about the Sox.
Of course, subsequent events have removed those feelings of helplessness. I didn't think of it consciously as I worked on Exile, but those feelings were at the root of my determination to keep writing the blog. I think I made it through last year because the 2006 season seemed like a continuation of 2005: Could the Sox repeat? Could they dispel some of the doubt about the 2005 team by making the playoffs? Once that opportunity was gone, my well of motivation ran dry.
At this point, I also feel like I don't have much original to say. I can interpret statistical analysis, but I am not skilled enough to do anything but very basic research myself. So that's one avenue of providing interesting, original content that isn't open to me. Another is to make interesting observations, but to do that, one has to be completely engaged, seeking out material from far and wide. I don't have the motivation or the time to do that anymore. I used to do a lot of commentary on the media coverage of the Sox, but I grew bored with that (although the idea of a running critique of Chicago sports media in general sounds like a good idea for a blog, and one that I may even be willing to participate in).
Moreover, there are plenty of good Sox blogs out there, starting right here with Sox Machine. South Side Sox is the other blog with which I'm most familiar, and it's going strong, too.
The only thing that I have been eager to write about lately -- as one reader noted with disdain in the comment section -- is English football, so I'm starting a new blog on my favorite football team, West Ham United:
The Pride of the East End. The Pride of the East End is a slogan on the West Ham scarf that TMG's sister and brother-in-law gave to me as a gift when we visited them in London in February. English football teams play only once or twice a week, for the most part, so maybe that will be the right speed for me. Plus, I'm still in that discovery phase about football, so that makes me more inclined to work on it. I've always enjoyed new challenges.
Jim, the highly capable writer and designer behind Sox Machine, has invited me to occasionally write about the Sox here as I please, and I hope to take him up on that offer from time to time, starting with a State of the Sox recap of Sunday's game.
To all those who have followed this blog around the four URLs that it called home, I thank you for reading. Your feedback -- whether praise or scorn -- helped me as a blogger and let me know that it was a worthwhile endeavor. I wish that I could continue to reward your loyalty by continuing to write Exile, but it's been six months since I was worthy of your attention. It's time to put an end to Exile and make a new beginning elsewhere.