Baseball (Chicago Cubs) Interlude

In May, 1908, the Chicago Cubs were riding high. They were the defending World Champions, having beaten the Detroit Tigers in 1907’s World Series 4 games to 0 - there was one tie, a game called on account of darkness. It has been 100 years of suffering for Chicago Cubs diehard fans, like myself. We’ve not won a series; and worse, we’ve not even BEEN to the series since 1945 - and then the Curse of the Billy Goat was placed upon the team.

They beat Arizona today behind Ted Lilly’s hot pitching. The Cubbies are 20-15, and a mere 1.5 games behind the evil St. Louis Cardinals. As defending 2007 Central Division Champs, the Cubs are poised to do, I dunno, what they’ve done all my life: fold in August. I hope not, but I am a pessimist. I was raised to say “Wait til next year.” What the hell, as a Jewish kid, we end each holiday saying “Next Year in Jerusalem” - much the same thing, I think, as waiting for a World Series to come to the Cubs.

In Chicago, you are either a Cubs fan or a White Sox fan. You cannot be both. Really, it’s just not possible to be both. I mean, the American League doesn’t even play real baseball, what with that designated hitter bullshit. I am a Cubs fan. My children are Cubs fans. My granddaughter (she’s 3) is a Cubs fan. My brother is a Cubs fan.

And I am spending the season with one hand over my eyes, peeking through my fingers. I can’t watch, and I can’t not watch. May has been exciting so far. If they remain in the hunt all season, if there is a glimmer of hope, you will see me floating on cloud nine. But I am a pessemist. My first words were “Wait til next year.”

But, please, keep your fingers crossed on our behalf. Throw bones, consult the oracle, do what you can to help the Cubs go to the series. I would be forever grateful for your support.