There's even more to this picture than people outside Chicago might realize. The Cubbies---short for the "Chicago Cubs Baseball Team"---are almost always in last place in national competitions every year. It is a kind of national joke that despite how poorly the team does, the fans always have hope and good spirits. So while the little ball has no hope of being able to "wear" the American flag nearby, the cubbie ball's optimism never fails. Many Chicagoans see the Cubs Team as a symbol of never giving up, despite the awful odds.
