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Hey, Cub fans…

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Illinois

I enjoy ribbing y’all, but, wow. Can’t your team at least make it interesting?

Discuss the humiliation.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 7:50 am

Comments

Here we go again. Cubs fans are starting the mourning process. The Governor and the Cubs fans don’t have anyone to blame this time(Bartman). What a bunch of losers.

Comment by Lula May Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 7:56 am
There is a place in heaven for Cub fans.

Comment by Joe Schmoe Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 7:56 am
Speaking as a Cub fan — who really cares? The big news was that Celtic beat AC Milan. The Cubs can lose every game as long as Celtic keeps winning.

Comment by Skeeter Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 7:57 am
A confession: I think I may be enjoying the Cubs sorry showing almost as much as I enjoyed the Cardinals winning the Series last year. I’ll admit that I actually feel badly that I’m deriving pleasure from their failure, so I may have to go to confession before next mass. However, our priest is a Cardinal fan too, so the penance, if any, should be light.

Comment by Remorseful Cardinal Fan Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 8:02 am
Im a Cubs fan and I’m embarrased.

Comment by Anon Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 8:14 am
It is like Lucy holding the football for Charlie Brown you go to kick it and she pulls it away. The Cubs show you the football, and pull it away BEFORE the approach to kick.

Its over.

Comment by He Makes Ryan Look Like a Saint Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 8:14 am
[hijack]
Skeeter, are you watching Champions League on TV? If so, what network?

[/end hijack]

But Zambrano will be ready for game four. I’m just not sure what year they’ll make it to a game four, however.

Comment by God's Country Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 8:15 am
Cardinal World series: 10

Cubs World Series: Who cares

Comment by Cards Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 8:15 am
All is not lost. Rich Hill and Zambrano to come in Chicago.

Even so, remember that when the Bulls were on the way up they did not win it all the first year. The Cubbies have got to get used to the feeling of expecting to win. They are not there yet.

A Chicago Sports fan

Comment by Truthful James Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 8:16 am
The horror…the horror…the horror…

Comment by Col. Kurtz Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 8:18 am
Skeeter, Celtic cannot hold Arsenal’s jock.
As for the Cubs…I anjoy looking at my replica 2005 World Series ring.

Comment by Fire Ron Guenther Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 8:21 am
Hey, this is only the 99th year! We are waiting until next year and will do it on the 100th!

Comment by die-hard Fan Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 8:30 am
It’s all about the drama peeps. They’ll be fine once they get home.

Comment by hollyringo Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 8:30 am
no more soccer discussions, this is America people. Unless it is little Bobby or little Susie’s little league, don’t discuss it! Of course, I am joking.

As for the Cubs, It is still only a game. Win or lose, there will still not be a state budget.

Comment by Wumpus Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 8:33 am
Let’s see…high hopes for the possibilities; bad management decisions; complete (almost) failure; and an another embarassment for Illinois - oh, are we talking about baseball?

Comment by Hu's on first? Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 8:34 am
Zambrano needs to be in the line up - to hit. Surely, major leaguers can play more than one position.

I know they will win tomorrow, at home.

Comment by Shelbyville Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 8:35 am
Lula May - Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 7:56 am:

Here we go again. Cubs fans are starting the mourning process. The Governor and the Cubs fans don’t have anyone to blame this time(Bartman). What a bunch of losers.

See this is why i hate Cardinal fans (which i am sure you are, even if you deny that). We made the playoffs, and won our division. Let it go. It aint over yet, GO CUBBIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Comment by Moderate REpub Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 8:39 am
I’m so depressed.

My favorite team hasn’t won a World Series in 23 months. lol

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 8:39 am
Thank you Lou!!!!!!!!!

Comment by Bartman Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 8:42 am
[re-hijack to a far more important topic]

God’s Country — If it is televised, it is not available to me. I have considered paying for the online version of the channel, but since the games are played during our day, it would be tough to justify.

That being said, celticfc.net does a decent play by play of most of the games.

For some reason, I haven’t seen any coverage of Celtic (or even the hated Rangers for that matter) on the Fox soccer channel available in the Chicago area.

It is too bad, since it was a great game. 40 years later? The Lions once again? Could this be the year?

[end hijack from far more important matter]

Now back to your discussion of the recent failings on the North side.

Comment by Skeeter Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 8:43 am
One should never get too excited about the Cubs. I We’ve all seen it happen over the years, they look good and seem to play well, but then the swoon comes. Doesn’t seem to matter when, but the swoon always comes. You know what Dennis Miller says:
“When the little bear from the windy place takes the flag the end is nigh.” It’s in Revalations, look it up.

Comment by Hidell Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 8:46 am
By the way, Wumpus, just be glad that I didn’t try and hijack this discussion to a topic that I care about even more than Celtic — The chance for BWM Sauber to win in China this weekend [Formula One].

I am shocked that Rich hasn’t posted anything about it. Guess he’s too bogged down covering Springfield or something to cover the stories that really matter.

Comment by Skeeter Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 8:46 am
Go Red Sox Go!

Comment by Samuel Adams Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 8:48 am
…what would Rod do?

Comment by Lou Piniella Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 8:50 am
What’s up with that goofy bar behind home plate in Arizona? Man, did I get tired of watching those drunks last night - not that I saw more than a few innings, mind you. I got the gist of the game pretty quick. Maybe Zorn should write a column about this. What an awful distraction.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 8:51 am
Well I didn’t keep my hopes up at least. The good thing about this is that I’m not going to be able to watch the meltdown. Ah well it was still great that they made the playoffs and maybe the new owners might build a better team.

This is almost starting to remind of me of that time the Cubs won the wild card.

Comment by Levois Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 8:52 am
Moderate Repub–
Of course, Cubs fans all joined in unison last year to cheer on the Redbirds, right? And oh yeah, they all hopped aboard the White Sox train the year before that, remember?

Maybe next year!

Comment by Liberal Cards Fan Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 8:52 am
Working his magic with the CUBBIES.
Thank you Governor Blagojevich

Comment by Wacker Drive Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 8:52 am
If John Kass says that they are going to win, so they will.

And we will have barbecued billy goat on the mound after Game 7 of the World Series.

Comment by Truthful James Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 8:55 am
> You know who has the MOST passion and concern about whether the CUbs lose or win…

… Cards and WSox fans!?

Most “true” Cubs fans understand that the curse is VERY real and don’t feed into all of the media hype about them going to the WS.

To be a Cubs fan you gotta understand that:
1.) Cards fans will throw the WS Championships in your face at any moment.
2.) Although WSox got “the monkey” off their back a couple of years ago, but were no better than the Cubs before and now after the fact, they will hate on the Cubs for any reason as well.
3.)You gotta understand that the CURSE is real. And to do anything but be overly HUMBLE is a “slap in the face” of the powers that be.

I was just happy that we added another division title. Anything else is icing on the cake.

Go Cubs!

Comment by YouNeverSawMe Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 8:57 am
Over? Did you say “over”? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!

And it ain’t over now. ‘Cause when the goin’ gets tough… the tough get goin’! Who’s with me? Let’s go!

Comment by Bluto Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 9:04 am
Maybe they could just extend the series indefinitely like the Governor runs the legislature.
Or maybe Governor Blagojevich will sing in the seventh inning on Saturday.
Or Governor Blagojevich could issue another one of his goofy proclamations.

Comment by The Midas Touch Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 9:09 am
===You gotta understand that the CURSE is real.===

Belief in a magical goat curse is further evidence of permanent loserdom. Just sayin

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 9:10 am
From the article linked on the front page post…

===Seven teams in baseball history have overcome 0-2 deficits to win a best-of-5 affair. Some Cubs fans may remember one of those teams being San Diego over the North Siders in 1984. The last team to do it was Boston over Oakland in 2003.===

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 9:13 am
A Cubs win = More Beer Sales!

Go Cubs Go!

Comment by Bob Myers Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 9:14 am
The governor’s crack legal team are crafting a new lawsuit that would sue the Cubs if they should lose this series.

Comment by Just In Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 9:14 am
Who cares? If you don’t have Cable-TV or a dish, you can’t watch it anyhow, and the games are airing far too late for young fans to care about it anyhow (assuming any are left).

Comment by fedup dem Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 9:20 am
Who doesn’t have cable? A dish? or something other than rabbit ears?
It’s 2007. Put down the Mastadon leg, venture out of the tarpit and join society.

Comment by Michelle Flaherty Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 9:33 am
Rich, has it really been 23 months, or is that just the number of games behind the Sox were this year?

Comment by OldStyle Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 9:35 am
It was over when….Sweet Lou took Zambrano out after 85 pitches.

20/21 teams have won the series after a 2-0 lead…the only comeback to win a best of 5 series after being down 0-2, the 2001 Yanks.

Doesn’t look good, BUT it can be done. Win the two at home and then fight like hell in game 5, although it will be tough to beat Webb.

And yes, I’m really tired of the scene behind home plate…its ridiculous.

Comment by scoot Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 9:41 am
There are some Cardinal fans hoping for a Central division winner. Even if it is the Cubs. I have lived in both St. Louis and Chicago. Fans and franchises are different. Chicago has traditions that they stick to. Playing at Wrigley 50 years too long and choking in the clutch. So why does anyone expect this year to be different. The Red Sox ended their slump with talent. That would be a tradition worth trying in Chicago. The world is tired of the 99 years of excuses. Please win so we can end the drama.

Comment by Southern Right Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 9:48 am
there’s no crying in baseball!

ain’t no use frettin’ they can win at home

Comment by Pollyanna Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 9:50 am
The best way to avoid the depression that comes which watching the Cubs blow the post season was to go to the Genesis concert.

Comment by Garp Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 9:52 am
Two indelible images from last night to go along with Bartman, the 1969 black cat, and the Leon Durham error: Lilly throwing his glove down in disgust; and Soriano, the $100 million dollar man, missing that fly ball to let in two runs! Oy vey!

Comment by Legaleagle Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 10:06 am
Can feel it? That special feeling in the air?

Can you smell it? That smell of failure?

Can you see it? That sight of Cubdom’s hearts breaking?

Oh yeah, one more loss and we get to root for ONE CENTURY of absolute futility from the northsiders.

Oh, I’m lovin this one!

Comment by jerry 101 Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 10:07 am
Oooooo! This can’t be good for the Sale Price.

Comment by A Citizen Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 10:30 am
The better team is winning, just like in 2003 against the Marlins.
It’s as if Cubs fans expect 99 years of suffering will get them sympathy on the field. Like MLB is going to say, “OK, they’ve suffered enough, let’s let the Cubs win it all.”
They’ve been out hit, out pitched, out hustled and roundly out played. As a result, they lost. And they’ll keep losing if they don’t play better.
This shouldn’t be a surprise. The Diamondbacks were the better team going in.
They won 90 games in the West. The Cubs won 85 in the Central (which would have been good enough for 4th place in the West).
But that gets tossed out the window because people want to see the Cubs win. “Oh, wouldn’t it be nice if they were in the World Series.”
Yes, as a Cubs fan, it would be very nice. But nice, happy thoughts don’t get the runner moved over to third, and the Cubs have had problems all year being consistent in doing the little things needed to win.
Remember, the Cubs won the Central by beating up on other Central teams. More than half their wins (45) came against the weakest division in baseball. Hey, that’s what you’ve gotta do to win your division. But the 15-21 record against the East and 17-18 record against the West didn’t bode well for success in the playoffs. How’s that get overlooked by fans?
You get the feeling the guy in the movie Momento was a Cubs fan. He has no short-term memory. All he can remember is that it’s been 99 years since they won a World Series. He doesn’t remember that a few days ago this team was getting swept by a youthful Marlin’s squad. Or that the Cubs backed into the playoffs by managing to lose fewer games than the Brewers. Or that just a year ago this team finished dead last and was among the worst in baseball.
Nope, wipe it all away.
Go Cubs.
This is our year.

Comment by Seersucker Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 10:31 am
Michelle Flaherty - *I* don’t have cable or satellite, partly because cable is not available where I live, but mostly because I don’t feel the need to pay $50+/month just to sit there and watch hundreds of channels of crap when I can watch crap for free. It has nothing to do with mastedon legs and everything to do with value for the money.

That aside, part of the appeal of the Cubs losing is that they do it in dramatic fashion, they get their fans’ hopes up only to cruelly dash them later. So if they get swept, they will fail to even give their fans the satisfaction of playing woulda/coulda/shoula and just go straight to the “wait until next year.” Brilliant!

Comment by n9ds Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 10:40 am
I’m not crazy - I didn’t expect a different outcome!
I’m not crazy - I didn’t expect a different outcome!
I’m not crazy - I didn’t expect a different outcome!

Comment by A Citizen Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 11:05 am
- Rich Miller - Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 8:51 am:

What’s up with that goofy bar behind home plate in Arizona? Man, did I get tired of watching those drunks last night - not that I saw more than a few innings, mind you. I got the gist of the game pretty quick. Maybe Zorn should write a column about this. What an awful distraction.

I know, i hear you on that. Did you see the guy on Wed. night with the CUBS beer light? We were watching him all night. About the first half of the game that guy was facing his back to the game and trying to hit on some blond chick, it was DRIVING ME CRAZY!!! Don’t get me wrong, i have been known to get distracted my self, but your a cubs fan (supposedly) you have behind home plate seats in their fist playoff game and you turn your back on the game? YOU SUCK DUDE!!!!

Comment by Moderate REpub Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 11:21 am
Maybe the Governor can call a special session to debate legislation proclaiming the Cubs as the World Series Champions.

Comment by The Blogger Formerly Known As Anonymous Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 12:40 pm
We went to Arizona and ran out of luck.
I hope we win one at Wrigley or even I’ll believe we really do suck.

Comment by Ernie Banks Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 1:13 pm
As a White Sox fan, I just can’t help but wonder. When the carnage is over, who will get the most blame. The goat, the “bartman”, the manager or some new villian. It is easier just to win that find all these others to blame, just ask any White Sox fan. (Ozzie would have NEVER pulled his ace out after only 85 pitches).

Comment by Leigh Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 1:21 pm
Rich,

Belief in “The Curse” is just a way for TRUE Cub fans to remain humbled when things are seeming to be all aligned for us. For us to not put the cart before the horse. Don’t believe all the hype that sports writers, ESPN analysts, and Vegas give you.

Most baseball fans jump ship to the winning side at the crack of a whip…

… Ask the Mayor!

Go Cubs!

Comment by YouNeverSawMe Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 1:28 pm
For all of the cubs fans declaring “Go Cubs”, just be patient, they are about Gone!

Comment by A Citizen Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 1:40 pm
Oof.

Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 1:40 pm
laughing @ Rich

You should have saw my face when I saw the pic of him in the paper!? hat and all! I was like, “Whaaaa???”

Comment by YouNeverSawMe Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 2:18 pm
“ain’t no use frettin’ they can win at home”

Uh…Polyanna….you do realize that in order to move on they HAVE to win one on the road?

Bye Bye Scrubbies.

Comment by Fear the Goat Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 2:33 pm
yeah the Cards have won the series recently, but fans have to live (near) in St. Louis–I’ll stay a losin’ Cub fan in da great city of Chicago–no problem…

Comment by Loop Lady Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 2:43 pm
My advice to Cubs fans: Buy all the “2007 Central Division Champion” merchandise you can find, ’cause that’s as far as you’re going.

Comment by The Mad Hatter Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 2:47 pm
Regarding the “curse”:

For the Cubs, 1984 and 2003 had the feeling of a “curse”. A team on a roll, just needing one more win, a few more outs, whatever, to do it…and one incredulous gaffe after another denies them the prize.

This feels a lot more like 1998, when they backed into the playoffs as a WC and were summarily dismissed by the Braves. No curse, just outplayed by the other guys.

Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 3:19 pm
That was incredibly mean Mad Hatter. Did someone knock the broom out of your hand today at work or something?

Comment by Wow Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 3:29 pm
Sorry, just cranky from staying up late last night.

Comment by The Mad Hatter Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 4:15 pm
Interestingly, the last column Mike Royko wrote before his death was about his beloved Cubbies.

“It was Wrigley, Not Some Goat, Who Cursed the Cubs.” Not his best column, but an interesting take on the franchise.

Of course, the Tribune has carried on Wrigley’s mismanagement over the last three decades.

Their very first move was to attempt to rebrand the Cubs to increase their t.v. market share and boost WGN’s national market.

It was the Tribune Corp. that coined the phrase “Lovable Losers” to sell the team. “Hey, they may not win many games, but atleast their nice guys.”

Yep.

Also the Tribune that brought Harry Caray to the friendly confines. Great character, questionable ability to recall sports facts - or even the names of players on the field - in the late innings.

Gradually, Wrigley Field became more about singing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” than actually being at the ballgame.

But hey, at least Cubs fans had something to look forward to for 7 1/2 innings.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Friday, Oct 5, 07 @ 5:16 pm