Indians Star Conflicted as He Faces Favorite Team in World Series: Report

It’s been a long time coming for Chicago Cubs fans as they’ve endured a 71-year wait to see their team back in the World Series, but one of those fans just so happens to be playing against the team when the Fall Classic begins on Tuesday.

That player is Cleveland Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis, who grew up just a half hour away from Wrigley Field. Kipnis grew up a Cubs fan, and when he realized the Cubs would be battling his team in the World Series, he had a very understandable reaction.

“The 10-year-old boy in me is saying, ‘Why does it have to be the Cubs,’” he said in an interview over the weekend.

Despite his rooting interest as a child, Kipnis understandably is hoping that his team can continue the Cubs’ championship drought for at least another year. While he was originally freaked out by the idea, he has come to embrace it in the hours and days since the Cubs clinched a berth in the series.

“It’s intimidating a little bit, the idea,” he said. “You dream about it and you’re always excited, but then when it comes to fruition, you’re like, ‘Holy crap, this is actually going to happen.’ You start to think about it more positively, like, I could win a World Series in front of everyone I know.”

According to Cleveland.com, Kipnis has numerous friends that own Cubs season tickets, but that they will be rooting for the Indians when the series shifts to Wrigley Field for Friday’s Game 3.

“Without me having to say anything, they reaffirmed that, ‘Hey, we’re on the Indians’ side. The curse can wait one more year.’”

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