I'm from Chicago...well the suburbs actually. I believe I was a Cubs fan since birth. When I was young I remember watching the games on WGN with Jack Brickhouse announcing (Harry Carrey would come to Wrigley later). I couldn't tell you how many wins or losses they had. I loved watching the games, that was all. I loved Rick Monday, Billy Williams, Don Kessinger, Jose Cardinal (with his wild afro sticking out both sides of his cap), Randy Hundley, Ron Santos. These were my Cubs as a child.
I didn't really know a lot about the World Series at that time, I just loved baseball, I loved the Cubs. Hated the White Sox because you couldn't like both teams. Living in the south suburbs, most of the neighbor kids liked the"south side hitmen", not me, I loved the Cubs. I never realized that the Cubs hadn't won a World Series in a long time. I didn't realize that my dad wasn't even alive the last time they won a world series. I just knew they were my Cubs, and I had to root for them.
And I loved Wrigley Field. I loved the vines on the outfield wall, the old clock on the score board. I loved watching the people sitting in lawn chairs on the roof of the buildings just beyond the outfield...there's actually bleachers there now. I remember Dad taking a day off work to take the family to see the Cubs; and as the older kids moved on, got married or went to college, it was just dad and me. I remember when Uncle Doug came for a visit and the three of us went to a game. It was magical. I think that was my last Cubs game at Wrigley. I've been to two or three Cubs games at Dodgers Stadium since moving to California, but it just isn't the same.
As I grew older I became aware of the Cubs' reputation as the "lovable losers" and I began to realize the meaning of "there's always next year". Still I cheered for the Cubs. I held out hope that one day the Cubs would in fact win the World Series. Last season was particularly exciting for me. The Cubs had the best record in the National league for most of the season. I was sure they would make it all the way. I was ready to print up bumper stickers reading " This is 'Next Year'". But alas it was not meant to be, and to make things worse, they were swept in the playoff by the LA Dodgers (my lovely wife's team).
My Dad is 81 and has never seen the Cubs win a world series, yet he still cheers for them. I'm not sure if any living Cubs fan remembers the 1908 World Series...I kinda doubt it. I don't know if my dad has conceded the fact that he will probably not see the Cubs win a World Series in his lifetime. When I set out to write this blog post, I was planning to tell you that last seasons disastrous finish had led me to concede that fact, concede that I would never see the Cubs win a World Series. But in writing this, I find I still have hope, beyond all rational thought, and despite 101 years of evidence to the contrary, that some day I will cheer my Cubbies to a World Series win. ...Maybe Next Year!
I didn't really know a lot about the World Series at that time, I just loved baseball, I loved the Cubs. Hated the White Sox because you couldn't like both teams. Living in the south suburbs, most of the neighbor kids liked the"south side hitmen", not me, I loved the Cubs. I never realized that the Cubs hadn't won a World Series in a long time. I didn't realize that my dad wasn't even alive the last time they won a world series. I just knew they were my Cubs, and I had to root for them.
And I loved Wrigley Field. I loved the vines on the outfield wall, the old clock on the score board. I loved watching the people sitting in lawn chairs on the roof of the buildings just beyond the outfield...there's actually bleachers there now. I remember Dad taking a day off work to take the family to see the Cubs; and as the older kids moved on, got married or went to college, it was just dad and me. I remember when Uncle Doug came for a visit and the three of us went to a game. It was magical. I think that was my last Cubs game at Wrigley. I've been to two or three Cubs games at Dodgers Stadium since moving to California, but it just isn't the same.
As I grew older I became aware of the Cubs' reputation as the "lovable losers" and I began to realize the meaning of "there's always next year". Still I cheered for the Cubs. I held out hope that one day the Cubs would in fact win the World Series. Last season was particularly exciting for me. The Cubs had the best record in the National league for most of the season. I was sure they would make it all the way. I was ready to print up bumper stickers reading " This is 'Next Year'". But alas it was not meant to be, and to make things worse, they were swept in the playoff by the LA Dodgers (my lovely wife's team).
My Dad is 81 and has never seen the Cubs win a world series, yet he still cheers for them. I'm not sure if any living Cubs fan remembers the 1908 World Series...I kinda doubt it. I don't know if my dad has conceded the fact that he will probably not see the Cubs win a World Series in his lifetime. When I set out to write this blog post, I was planning to tell you that last seasons disastrous finish had led me to concede that fact, concede that I would never see the Cubs win a World Series. But in writing this, I find I still have hope, beyond all rational thought, and despite 101 years of evidence to the contrary, that some day I will cheer my Cubbies to a World Series win. ...Maybe Next Year!
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