I've gotten a surprising amount of hate mail over the last days. Not surprisingly, it's all from Cubs fans.

On Wednesday, I wrote a slightly factitious blog called "I hate Cubs fans." It wasn't a hard-hitting journalistic expose -- just an opinion piece (yes, that's what a blog is) about my experiences with some rude Cubs fans who treated Miller Park like a toilet with a retractable roof.

Understandably, Cubs fans went straight through that retractable roof, but several colleagues in the business privately told me that they wished they could've written this blog, themselves. Someone within the Brewers organization told me that he agrees with my assessment wholeheartedly, espcially comparing the behavior of Cubs and Cardinals fans.

Some dude even posted a point-by-point rebuttal to my piece on his fan blog, ganking my photo and calling me a loser. Unfortunately, his own counter says he has only eight subscribers, so I'll do him a favor and send him some traffic.

Now, a little bit of playful exaggeration is what gets readers and engaged and interested. It's the formula for talk radio, too. Don't think for a second that guys like Charlie Sykes and Mark Belling feel as strongly about their positions as they portray them on the air.

Yes, I do bleed Brewers' pinstripes, and yes, the Cubs fans I saw this week were obscenely obnoxious, but no, I don't categorically "hate" Cubs fans, as people. I'm sure even the "drunkest douchebag" (believe me, I thought long and hard about dropping the D-bomb) might be a nice person outside of Miller Park.

I don't write for shock value, but a punchy headline sucks people in. And thought it would be a little wordy if I wrote a headline like "I hate Cubs fans who swear in front of children while they're sweeping our crappy Brewers, but maybe they might be nice people when they're around their family back in Chicago."

Remember that this smack talk goes both ways, too. Lets not forget Jay Mariotti's Chicago Sun Times column from July 8:

"But then, the frumpy hamlet to the north goes out and shocks us. Milwaukee finally splurges on more than a Friday fish fry and trades for one Carsten Charles Sabathia, which gives the Brewers a major-market payroll -- $90 million? -- and causes commissioner Bud Selig to upchuck his frozen custard. So momentous was the acquisition of the renowned pitching ace, Sabathia used his news conference Monday evening to delete the periods from his initials, meaning he'll be known as CC instead of C.C. ..."

Granted, I'd hardly call the Sun Times a bastion of journalistic excellence, but I digress.

Finally, yes, I generalized Cubs fans (though I said that up front), but I'm the first to generalize Brewers fans, too. If it makes you feel better, Chicago, I'll declare that the typical Brewers fan is "fat, shirtless, hairy-backed, mustachioed and drunk on Miller Lite."

I, personally, only make up three-fifths of that profile.

Anyway, when I was the editorial editor of my college newspaper -- and I also learned this in my semester of editorial writing class -- I was taught it's the job of the writer to resist the urge to have the last word. I'm happy to clarify my position, namely because I don't want to be lynched next time I visit Chicago.

I have replied to the thoughtful and intelligent e-mails I've received, even if they were quite critical. I have not replied to the 68 Talkbacks (and counting) to the blog -- both positive and negative -- because that's our policy.

And I certainly have not responded to the following e-mails, which I'll call the best of the best ... and I don't intend to. But Brewers fans, please go right ahead. I left the typos in and specious grammar as is, so as to not edit these "thoughtful" comments. Talkbackers, you may have the last word:

"Let's be real. You admitted it yourself the Cubs fans who come to Wrigley are PAYING customers. They are not welcome guests as you so claim As a paying customer one has the right to cheer yell boo or chant in anyway they see fit. Personally I feel that your article is just sour grapes because of the Brewers sub par performance in this particular series. Also, a $118 million payroll guarantees nothing. If you had taken 2 seconds to research you would know the both the Yankees and Tigers have payrolls that exceed that of the Cubs and are both in 3rd place. In addition you claim that Wrigley Field is a dump, when in actuality it is regarded as one of the most beautiful and historic ballparks in the country. Basically your article is filled with generalizations and little to no research. Maybe this explains why you write in a "city" like Milwaukee and not somewhere like New York, Chicago or Los Angeles." -- Chris Kay

"First off, You and the rest of Milwaukee can keep crying about getting swept by the first place Chicago Cubs. Even after you guys pick up C.C. Sabathia, he gets outpitched by TED LILY, our 4th pitcher. That is kind of pathetic. You are just one of those typical sore losers that has to complain about getting beat. Keep finding excuses on why you don't like other people. You might want to realize that when the Cubs play the Brewers in Milwaukee and those 2 cities are only 100 miles apart roughly, odds are more Cubs fan will be at the game instead of when the Cardianls play the Brewers in Milwaukee. Also, you must be kidding when you say that Cubs fans are the only fans that heckle other teams. Whenever you mix alcohol and compeition, there will always be fights! You also don't realize that the Chicago White Sox started having lots of fans after they won the world series. You must also forget that the Cubs have the most fans throughout the country. Cubs fans have been the most loyal and respectful out there, and since we have more fans than any other team out there, that will mean that we will have more disrespectful fans than any other baseball team. An idiotic editorial like yourself fails to recognize this though. Before you write an editorial on how much you hate Cubs fan, you might want to think before you type and sound like a moron, because people like you make everyone else dumber!" -- Michael Lichtman

"As a cubs fan that has relocated to Denver along with many other die-hard Cubs fans, your recent diatribe about Cubs fans reeks of being a poor sport. The perspective or generalizations as you call them, illustrate your command of the English language. I am sure your English teacher from the 4thgrade (Mrs. Cheese head) would be so proud with the way you eloquently use the word douchbag to describe cubs fans. Your other references to welcomed guests should be translated into paying customers. I have a question for you. Do you sit or stand at a concert.......Ohh that's right I am sure you are in the press box not having to pay for a ticket or have to be in the mix with the "real fans". Let's take that one step further, I am sure your "work ethic" and long days of having to worry about what meal they are going to serve or how many cokes you can pound down your gullet in the press box translates into sympathy for the "blue collar white sox fans". These poor White Sox fans that haven't earned the respect that they so richly deserve. As a hard working blue collar journalist that gets to "be real with the fans" from the comfort of your press box the disingenuous of your opinion is pathetic. How fans "treat your stadium" and "treat your fans" are two different scenarios that correlate back to the fact that your team did not play as well as you thought they should, would or could. Adding insult to your injury is today's score which translates into a sweep. Obviously you have not been to a Cubs vs. Cardinals game in St. Louis. I respectfully submit that the hostility you described in your article is out of touch of a real rivalry. Ohh that right - the Brewers have only been in the NL for how long...I wouldn't know that because I am a drunk and disorderly Cubs fan that can't count the number of years that our ballclub has existed compared to the "Seattle Pilots". Anyway, enough about you. In summary ,there is a distinction between winners and losers. Fans on either side of the fence should not be subject to the levels of censorship you advocate in a public forum. Look in the mirror..it called freedom of speech...Right back at ya douchbag!" --Matthew Mitchell