Chicago sports fans, take notice: The White Sox are for real, and it’s time to jump on the bandwagon.

Whether you like the Sox or not, their success this season is a breath of fresh air to the Chicago sports scene. Successful sports seasons have been few and far between for the denizens of the Windy City.

The Blackhawks have made the playoffs exactly once since 1997. They haven’t won the Stanley Cup since 1961. The Bears have just one winning season since 1996 and only 13 since 1963. The Bulls appear to be headed in the right direction, but their 47-35 record last season was the first winning ledger since No. 23 retired for the second time.

The Cubs have given new definition to the term “choke.” Soon it will have been 100 years since they won the World Series. They have losing records in 24 of the last 33 seasons.

So the moral of the story is to enjoy this Sox run while it lasts. Not only is it a rare treat for Chicago sports fans, but the White Sox play the game the right way and have fun doing so all year. They don’t wait for the three-run home run like the Cubs did in 2004, and they had been doing in previous years. Their pitchers actually cover first base on ground balls to the first baseman. They know how to execute the suicide squeeze. Their pitcher’s arms aren’t falling off from overuse.

Not only do the Sox play fundamental baseball, they’re fun to follow. Unlike the ornery Dusty Baker on the North Side, Sox manager Ozzie Guillen knows how to have a good time. He also gets on his players when they don’t get runners over or run out routine fly balls. He doesn’t let problems foster the way Baker does. Not to be left out is Sox general manager Kenny Williams, who has made some wonderful moves, including trading for speedy leadoff man Scott Podsednik and signing Japanese import Tadahito Iguchi.

But that’s enough with the accolades. That’s not our mission. Our mission is to get you to take notice of the men in black.

They kick off the American League Championship Series Tuesday at U.S. Cellular Field. Let’s do all we can to support our diamond heroes. Who knows the next time a Chicago sports team will be in a situation like this. The Bears of the mid-1980s were supposed to be a dynasty. Look where that went.

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www.northernstar.info.