Go Cubs Go!

I am not a big sports fan, but I have had a fondness for the Chicago Cubs for the past quarter century.  I fondly recall, my Dad taking me and my sister to Philadelphia Phillies games in the 1970's.  I don't know who we played, but one of those outings was free wrist bands day.  I still recall watching the 1980 World Series on a tiny black and white television after I was supposed to have gone to bed.

When we moved to Memphis, we did not have a team.  I think most people rooted for either the Atlanta Braves or St. Louis Cardinals.  I was a Cardinals fan as our local farm team the Memphis Chicks (now the Memphis Redbirds) were a farm team for the Cardinals.

I got hooked on the Cubs when I was at Northwestern University the summer of 1994.  I went down with a colleague of mine on the opening day of ticket sales and we bought a block of 4 seats for 4 different games.  The friendly confines of Wrigley Field, the Wrigleyville neighborhood and Old Style beer sucked me in.

I did see the Baltimore Orioles play the summer on 1996, but nothing compared to Wrigley.

When I moved to Colorado, I had the opportunity to watch the Colorado Rockies.  It is always nice to enjoy a relaxing day at the ballpark.  I would try to catch the Cubs or Phillies when they came to town.  One year a friend of mine even got us tickets when the Yankees were in town.

While I do not follow baseball, I did get sucked into the post season last year, when they beat St. Louis to win the division and then lost to the New York Mets in the NLCS.  I don't remember the heartache of 2003, 1989 or 1984, although ESPN's 30 for 30 did a fine job of reliving 2003.

This year was a thrilling postseason for the Cubs.  I didn't watch the division games against the San Francisco Giants, but was tuned in for the NLCS against the Los Angeles Dodgers which went to 6 games.  Then the World Series against the Cleveland Indians was just thrilling to watch.

Kluber pitching great to cost the Cubs games 1 & 4.  Splitting games 1 & 2 on the road in Cleveland.  Dropping 2 in Wrigley to be behind 3-1 and then battling back to win games 5, 6 and 7.  Game 7 being tied in the 8th and then going to extra inning and then a rain delay.  It is great for the game of baseball and great for the Cubs organization and fan base.  It stings for the Cleveland Indians, but they had a great season, postseason and made sure the World Series was one to remember.