Today's Chicago Cubs thread, Wednesday 10/15

[Seneca]

Buck up folks! You all know the old Yogi Berra saying, "It ain't over 'til it's over." There is a Game 7, and Kerry Wood is pitching. I can't think of a better or more exciting way for the Cubs to win the pennant than at venerable Wrigley Field in a must-in situation with their star pitcher.

And for all you people who publicly declared your hatred, blame, or wilingness to put me on ignore just because of my enthusiasm yesterday, PLEASE SEEK HELP. :-) It is after all, just a game, and if you can't have fun with it, what's the point? Plus, superstitions about curses or counting chickens is just plain silly.

So what if last night was a big disappointment? Baseball, which is ultimately trivial, is full of them. Life, which is not trivial, is too. Be glad it was just a baseball game that caused all the wailing and moaning last night, and not your personal situation. :-)

If any more of you decide to put me on ignore just because I post supportive threads about a ball team, please ask yourself why you would even bother to inform me. I am pretty sure it won't break my heart. ;-) It is kind of amusing to witness some of you melt down before my eyes, but I don't need the update of your status with me. :evilgrin: (I think it is hilarious when ANYONE tells someone "I'm putting you on ignore!"). Harrumph! That will show 'em!

Now then, GO CUBBIES! :D

[MaineDem]

1. Good luck, Cubs

I share your pain. :)

And your optimism.

[Resistance]

34. I am worried about the game tonight, BUT

But I have to admit, there isn't any pitcher in the league I would choose over Kerry Wood for tonight's game. He is ice cold when he's at work.

[darknemus]

2. Umm, lets go Marlins :)

Sorry, I'm a Native South Floridian - I really don't have a choice in the matter.

Should be a great game, though. If the Marlins pull it off, people (yes, even the major league bandwagon jumpers) are gonna go crazy down here.

-darknemus

[kanrok]

14. I'm a native Chicagoan

A White Sox fan, to boot. I get a kick out of the Cub fans blaming the loss last night on a couple of guys trying to catch a foul ball. Some knuckleheaded Cub "fan" tried to goad one of the guys into a fight: "wanna step outside?" he was reported to have said. Dude, YOU ARE OUTSIDE. I can't wait to hear sports radio this morning on the drive to work. Oh, the wailing and the gnashing of teeth. Placing the blame on a couple of guys who WERE WATCHING THE BALL and NOT MOISES ALOU! Also, no one but an ignorant Cub fan would suggest that they would somehow have reacted any differently if placed in the same position. Even Alou said he didn't blame those guys for going after the ball. He's a class act, after all. Dusty Baker, however, had the temerity to place blame on those guys, saying: "I just don't understand what's going through their minds." Whata Douchebag. Also a great line this morning from Jeremiah Joyce, the Fire Commisioner. Last time (the Sox) won (I believe it was the league championship series) the fire sirens in Chicago were activated to mark the event. Joyce (a Sox fan, bless his heart) said: no chance of that happening now, it might excite the Cub fans so much they might spill their Chardonnay." CUBS SUCK. GO MARLINS!

[greatauntoftriplets]

18. If it were the White Sox in the race rather than the Cubs,

I would be for them. Sour grapes suck.

[chiburb]

30. Sour grapes?

Nah...
Just as many Cub fans are brainwashed from birth, so are Sox fans. This isn't as much sour grapes as it is a hatred of all things Cubs. Sox fans realize that the Cubs getting this far only makes the crash and heartbreak that much sweeter!
I get your response all the time: "It's Chicago, you should pull for a Chicago team." Well, that kind of feels like "my country right or wrong" which I dismissed in the '60s. I don't like the Cubs period. Why should I start liking them now?
(Please note that other than the 1st day of the Atlanta series (I think) I haven't bashed the Cubs or their fans. This post isn't meant as a bash either, just defending a fellow Sox fan. I hope you see the difference...)

[greatauntoftriplets]

36. No, I don't see the difference. Nor do I care to.

And you (and others) are making me intensely dislike the White Sox. Some of them are now on my ignore list, which previously was nonexistent. Happy?

GO CUBS!!!!

[chiburb]

37. Then I'm sorry you won't see this...

At least if you're learning to "intensely dislike the White Sox", you're becoming a REAL Cubs fan! I respect those types...
Nice attitude by the way...

[greatauntoftriplets]

40. I never said I had you on ignore.

Speaking of "nice attitude".

[kanrok]

46. Now yer talkin'

Can't be a true Cub fan without hating the White Sox. I H A T E the Cubs, always have, always will. When the inevitable happens (and it just might tonight!) I will have a great big smile on my face. Should the Cubs win :puke: I'll be a gentleman and congratulate you and the rest of the Cubs fans.

[ikojo]

39. This is the same thing I hear in St Louis

The natives cannot understand why I don't like the Cardinals...well I am a Cubs fan in the great Cubs fan diaspora.

Just because you live in an area with a pro sports team does not mean you are required to show that team any sort of allegiance.

That being said


GO CUBS!

[chiburb]

41. Nice point! n/t

.

[kanrok]

48. I'm sure there sre similar feelings in NYC

Mets fans versus Yankees. Geez, what if it's Cubs and Yankees in the WS? I don't know who I hate more. Let me think...hmmmm....boy this is a tough one....hmmmm.....oh, yeah, I HATE THE CUBS MORE!!!!!

[HuckleB]

20. Chill, dude.

I'd be rooting for the White Sox, if the situation were reversed. And don't try to tell me that Sox fans wouldn't have reacted to the guy in the same way. You and I both know things would have been ugly there, too.

[kanrok]

47. Nah...I don't think I'll "chill" at all

Glad to see you'ld root for the Sox. Sorry, but I just cannot root for the Cubs. Truth be told, I initially would react to the guy similarly, but after I had a chance to cool off I would be in the same place I am now, i.e., leave the guy alone. The Cubs folded like a cheap suit after that happened. If they can't handle the heat, get outa da kitchen. The Cubs are L O S E R S!!!!! Go Marlins.

[ikojo]

50. Kanrok, I understand...if the Cardinals were in the world series

against the Yankees I would root for the Yankees....absolutely cannot root for the Cardinals under any circumstances.


GO CUBS!!!

[trogdor]

42. They serve chardonnay at Wrigley?

I'd never have guessed. Last I heard, Wrigley was all about the 'bleacher bums.'

[Scurrilous]

38. Go Marlins !

South Floridians aren't the best sports fans out there, but we sure love a winner. Go Fish!

[Junkdrawer]

3. Did they put that poor 12 yr. old kid who "interferred" in the 8th...

into protective custody? Several minutes after he "prevented" the critical 2nd out, I saw several stadium cops surrounding the kid with walkie-talkies.


On Edit: Seems he was 26 yrs old (TV had him at 12 last night), and yes they did:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2003/baseball/mlb/specials/postseason/2003/10/15/bc.bbn.cubs.foiledagain.ap/

[Seneca]

5. the fan had an escort out

Although it appeared that the guy who got the blame was an adult, and not that kid.

Believe me, my little lecture above is aimed at the fans at games as much as the ones on here. I understand the pent-up emotions and frustrations of the crowd, but I hope in the morning, they realized how foolish it was to wish any more harm or ill-will towards their fellow traveler.

Besides, I blame Gonzales muffing that play, AND Prior for his sudden collapse, not some overenthusiastic fan.

[boilerbabe]

17. I hear they put out "Wanted" posters of the guy that snagged that ball n/t

[Junkdrawer]

27. Were I him, I'd be praying HARD the Cubbies win tonight...

Otherwise, witness relocation may not be out of the question. And I say that with all sympathy for his situation, I mean, go to a game and get marked for life.

[Birthmark]

4. I won't watch.

I have watched four (and only four) post season baseball games in the last three decades: Bucky Dent's homer, the Buckner moment, the Earthquake game in SF, and last night. I am afraid that baseball and I make for some weird chemistry.

Ok, so I don't really believe that, but it's odd.

GO Cubs!

[kmla]

6. Well, for Pete's sake, don't tune in tonight!

Please! For us Cub fans!

[Birthmark]

22. I won't.

As a fanatical NY Giants fan through the 60s and 70s, I know what it feels like to go decades without a championship. I guess that's not much compared to the Cubs' drought, but I have some idea of how it feels.

Since I truly want the Cubs to win, I won't watch. The Bosox, OTOH...I don't like 'em. If they're ahead at any point I'll tune in and work my magic. :)

[seaglass]

7. Could I politely ask you to NOT watch the Red Sox game

today?

just kidding:-)

I'm extremely superstitious because I know everything in the universe revolves around me. This was proven again to me last night when I turned on my first ever Cubs game in the eighth inning with a score of 3-0. I accept responsibility, it's all my fault:-(

Go Cubs!

Go Red Sox!

[Seneca]

8. Whew!

I don't blame you, but thanks for taking up the sacrifice! Last night I was called out in a THREAD, lol. If I had THAT much power, Bush would have been impeached long ago. :-)

Welcome to DU! :hi:

[demsrule4life]

12. No, I was the cause of the loss

At work during the game, I made the comment in the 7th that Marlins have a nasty habit of scoring alot of runs in the shortest time. Came back to the tv 15 minutes later......The other guys at work said more then once it was my falt they lost.

[Birthmark]

21. But I'm a Yankees fan.

<evil grin> Muwhahahahaha!

[HuckleB]

23. ?

A Yankees fan who has only watched one Yankee post-season game in three decades? Hmm.

[Birthmark]

26. I didn't say that I was a very good one.

I'm not a big fan of baseball, anyway. I've only been to a couple of major league games in my life and hate watching on TV. Both of those were interesting and enjoyable (I got to slap Reggie Jackson "five" after a 3 run homer!). Baseball is much better at the stadium than it is on the tube.

I'm mainly a Yankees fan because I grew up in Albany, NY. It was the Mets (HA!) or the Yankees.

I'm a maniac about football, though.

[HuckleB]

10. See, Seneca! Silly Superstition Is The Rule In Baseball.

[Seneca]

11. that's fine

But don't come crying to me when things go awry! :-)

[HuckleB]

15. I know that, if I need to point a finger, you're going to be here!

That is consolation enough!

;)

[HuckleB]

9. Baseball is all about silly superstitions.

There is no breaking ranks on silly superstitions in BASEBALL!

Take your logic, and enjoy a fine world-class chess tournament. It has no place in baseball!

None.

Go Cubs!

Mr. Wood is da man!

[HuckleB]

13. Seneca,

Please remember that the great and useful thing about fandom is its innate ability to allow adults to show emotion, to purge themselves of the frustrations fogging up the more important parts of their lives. Whether that emotion be sadness and anger or jubilation, the purging of it serves a good purporse, for most.

There is little doubt that it can go too far, and that, combined with too much to drink, it does go too far in some. I don't think that purging it on a board such as this is going too far, however. Don't take people so seriously, even if they are taking themselves too seriously.

Besides, I've yet to understand most cases of people putting others on ignore around here. You're right that logic plays no part in those decisions, most of the tiime.

Anyway, Cheers!

GO CUBS!

[SaveElmer]

16. Good Luck...but the Cubs are doomed

Curses aren't broken that easily.

As a long suffering Vikings fan...I know what I am talking about!

[HuckleB]

19. There's a Vikings curse?

I didn't know that. Does it have something to do with the Dome?

[SaveElmer]

28. Yes there is a curse

It doesn't have an identity like "The curse of the Bambino," or the "Billy Goat curse." There is just an innate sense among Vikings fans that they will never win the big one. They have had innumerable chances and blown it each time. Four Super Bowl losses. In 1998 they were poised to make the Super Bowl again, when their placekicker, who had not missed one field goal ALL SEASON, chooses that game to miss a chipshot and give the game to the Falcons. Oh there is a curse !!! I imagine Buffalo Bills fans feel the same way.

[frylock]

24. 1984..

nuff said!!

[HuckleB]

25. Gee, thanks.

Actually, this would be worse. The Cubs didn't have a Prior and Wood combo going in games four and five -- as they do in games six and seven now -- back then.

[bluestateguy]

29. Prediction: Cubs will get destroyed tonight

I hope I'm wrong, but I believe in momentum and path dependency. I don't thing the Cubs can recover from last night's devastating defeat. They will be too demoralized to step up for today's game, while Florida's morale will be very high. I don't even think the game will be close.

[Nailzberg]

32. It would take a damn good manager to make a team forget last night

Luckily WE HAVE ONE!!!

GO CUBS

[HuckleB]

33. Had it been a double-header, they would have been sunk.

But they've had time to recover. It's just one game. And there's still one more game. Further, each game in this series has been very different from all of the others, without any apparent flow of momentum from past games.

Tonight's game is a one game playoff for the NL title. It's a 50/50 affair, with any edge going to the Cubs with Wood on the mound.

[HuckleB]

31. GO CUBS!

CUBBIES!

Still one to go! And this one is all yours.

GO CUBS!

[KharmaTrain]

35. My Wife Yells "God Must Be A Sox Fan"

There's another side of Chicago quietly watching here. Personally, I have no annimosity against the Cubs...only the very obnoxious, fair-weather fans (and REAL Cub fans know what I mean). But, it hasn't been easy here on the North Side. We're a family of 4...all born Chicago North (or Nort) side...and I'm a lifelong Sox fans. This is especially the case of my wife...a former Cub fan who had her teenage heart broken when they got rid of Rick Monday...oh well, she never forgets.

It was bad enough that the Sox did a '69 Cubs x 10 fold in September (my wife had to hold me back from impaling the now ex-manager) because my real hope was to have the Sox & Cubs in the Series (so the Sox could beat them in 4...LOL...) and I'm convinced it WILL happen in my life (I checked an actuary...the odds HAVE to be in our favor).

My late parents lived their 80 plus years as loyal Cub fans...my father went to the series in the 30's and in '45 (he had just come back from WWII), so there was some sentiment that it was time for the Billy Goat curse end (my wife thinks it was my father showing up at the series) and there should be joy in Wrigleyville.

Even better, I hope that a Cubs series victory would light a fire under the ownership of the White Sox, who have just as strong a loyal (and very frustrated) fan base to spend the $$$ and get us a Series, too!

All of us pay little attention to the series...my daughter purposely goes shopping during Cub games. I'm usually the one who will pop on the tube to check the score, and just happened to tune in during the 8th inning (there is virtually no local news around here except Cubs anyway) and sat in stunned silence. My wife wasn't quite so stoic...yelling "God Must Be A Sox Fan", when the Marlins scored the go-ahead runs.

Personally, I would hate the season to end in a "Buckner/Merkle" like "lowlight" like we saw last night, so I'm hoping the Cubs regroup and take the series tonight...cause I just don't think I could take all the moaning and belly-aching...and my wife's gloating for months and years to come.

Cheers and chin-up from the other half...the suffering Chicago fans whose season ended in Minnesota in September.

[TopesJunkie]

43. It's all good! It's all a part of the story!

All right Cubbies, tonight is the right time to make good with Wood!

CUBS! CUBS! CUBS! CUBS! CUBS! CUBS! CUBS! CUBS! CUBS! CUBS! CUBS! CUBS! CUBS! CUBS! CUBS! CUBS! CUBS! CUBS! CUBS! CUBS! CUBS! CUBS! CUBS! CUBS! CUBS! CUBS! CUBS! CUBS! CUBS! CUBS! CUBS! CUBS! CUBS! CUBS! CUBS! CUBS! CUBS! CUBS! CUBS! CUBS! CUBS! CUBS! CUBS! CUBS! CUBS! CUBS! CUBS! CUBS! CUBS! CUBS! CUBS! CUBS! CUBS! CUBS! CUBS! CUBS! CUBS!

[TopesJunkie]

44. Get back on up there, now!

The goat has been kidnapped and will not be released until the Cubs win the World Series. I will say no more.

Cubs must win! Cubs must win! Cubs must win!

[TopesJunkie]

45. Pregame Party!

It's game seven! Let's get it on!

GO CUBBIES!

[Seneca]

49. Pregame BUMP!

WE ARE GOING TO DO IT.

[Seneca]

51. fuck

Early in the game, but damn what a bad start.

[Seneca]

52. today's first, and best Cubs thread is right here!

So keep kickin' it. :P