August 2000
Jinxing us…
I am a Cubs fan. I’ve been one my whole life. I grew up 1 mile west of the Wrigley Field. It’s old hat to me, but every time I walk into that park I still get excited. I’ve been to more games than I could count, but I know in just my junior year of high school I missed 69 afternoons of school because I went to every single home game. I was also at the 1st ever night game in 88 when it was rained out. So you can say I’ve seen it all. Well not all...
The Cubs haven’t won a pennant in my lifetime. They haven’t won a pennant in most Cubs fans lifetimes. However, it doesn’t bother us that much. We have a great time watching them – win or lose. Of course, we’d love a pennant, but it’s not a necessity.
In 1984 the Cubs NL East title. I remember my neighborhood was up for grabs. All my friends and I were out in front, banging pots and pans and screaming about going to the “Series”. (Big difference between Cubs and Sox fans, we bang pots and pans – they shoot guns. Sorry, couldn’t resist.) But we lost. We didn’t get past the playoffs. We won the title again in 89, but didn’t get past the playoffs. We did it again in 98’ winning the Wild Card Title. Again, didn’t get past the playoffs.
Does all that heart-wrenching disappointment deter us from being fans? Of course not. We love them, no matter how good or how bad they play. How else do you explain sellouts for almost every game?
We’re in first place. This isn’t the first time we’ve been in 1st place, but it is August and we haven’t been in 1st place then. Our first place run usually ends by the end of April. The Cubbies are playing strong – both offensively and defensively.
So guess what’s happening? People are talking about it. They’re commenting on how the Cubs are going all the way.
They’re jinxing us. I wish people would just shut up. Stop talking about it. Stop writing about it. Stop making a big deal about it.
Let us just play.
Then when we go to the World Series and win – then everyone can talk about it.
If we don't go to the Series - no big worries - we'll still have fun. Don't we always?