This small nation is crazy about the Cubs

The Belizean love affair with the Cubs began back in 1981. Television came to the nation in the early 1980s and a local entrepreneurial couple, Arthur and Marie Hoare, formed their own station. The only problem was that they forgot to buy programming.

So, they figured out how to pirate and broadcast WGN, the local Chicago station that airs the Bulls, a few soap operas and, most importantly, Chicago Cubs games. For many years, it was the only channel that was available in homes, bars and restaurants around the country. All 162 North Sider games were there for Belize’s watching.

“As [WGN’s] signal was relayed into Belize City by the Hoares, ‘world and country’ were glued to their television sets to see the mighty Cubs win or lose (mostly lose),” wrote local politician Michael Finnegan back in 2013.

Nobody’s too sure why WGN was chosen. At the time, Chicago residents believed it was because of a sizable Belizean population in the city and the fact that the two regions shared the same time zone. WGN also probably proved one of the easier channels to steal. Either way, the fan base grew, even during losing seasons in the early ‘80s. They had favorite players, they waved flags and they, of course, fell in love with Harry Caray.