I guess I never really expressed myself clearly. Here's the scenario I'm thinking.
It's 2003 and Sammy's career is exactly like it is except it was in a Sox uniform. The steroid suspicions, the home run chase, the corked bat, everything happened in a Sox uniform.
It's the final weekend of the season. The Sox are battling for a playoff spot. It's in the late innings and Sammy comes to the plate. I contend Sox fans are cheering every step from the on deck circle to the batters box. We've rationalized he made a mistake and served his suspension.
Now I am also certain that a lot of sox fans on this board would not be 100% happy but we wouldn't be booing. Remember there are probably 1,000 Sox fans rabid enough to be discussing Uribe for hours. The other 500,000 occassional fans would be doing the Sammy hop in Sox black.
Would Sox fans have embraced him as much as Cub fans? I hope not. I know the hardcore won't. As I believe someone else pointed out, we would have more casual fans who do come out to see him. Since they would be wearing Sox hats and coming to games, we would have to consider them Sox fans.
cw, sorry if I was confusing in all this. I hope this is clearer.
I don't think trading Sammy for any of our All-Stars would have made a difference.