Cursing...Swearing...Aren't they the same thing?/ Andy 2004-10-17 16:48:44
Here ya go, Rich.
In the 80's the Cubs broke my heart twice, but I was never without my loyal fandom.
In the years leading up to 1998 I'd always remained a true baseball fan, but became something of a guarded Cubs fan, knowing not to get my hopes up.
In 1998 I thought there really was some sort of magic there that could bring us to a World Series. I was even more into the games than ever before. That is until I had my moment of clarity and Brant Brown dropped the ball in left field against the Brewers during a game that could have clinched a playoff berth.
It all hit me: All that time, I was watching...THE C U B S ! This is the worst team in all of baseball history. A team that hadn't been to a WS since 1945 nor won one since 1908. I didn't care if they did make the Playoffs or not in 1998 because I knew there was no hope.
In fact, in 1998 they needed an extra game to get into the Playoffs via Wild Card. That meant they needed 163 games to prove that they were the best SECOND PLACE TEAM in the National League. Big fucking deal! They got into the Playoffs and blew it almost immediately. I was never the same.
They teased their way back into my psyche a little bit in 2001, but proved their eternal Cubdom again. By 2003 I was a fully cured man.
I now pay only a passing interest in Cubs games, meaning I'll listen to them if on the radio or watch if they're on the TV, but I don't waste any time checking stats, reading box scores, listening to trade rumors - NOTHING! I KNOW that they will never win in my lifetime and I simply don't care about the games.
More importantly, I now have Minor League & Independent baseball to feed my baseball need. The Cubs are a thing of my past. I've also slowly brought a few friends to my way of thinking and I believe their lives are better for it.
Haha... good story, though. Baseball misadventures./ Rich 2004-10-14 02:40:39
"started swearing them off in 1998" ?
C'mon Martello. Were you cursing the team out, or giving up on them? Make up your mind!
