NO APOLOGIES

The Preakness came and went. Having the race nearly perfectly handicapped, I felt confident as the race unfolded just as I expected. Street Sense then streaked by Curlin and company at the quarter pole....he's on his way.....WAIT. HANG ON! OH NO! The finish literally brought me to my knees. How could this happen? You don't ever see a horse get passed at the quarter pole and then out of nowhere come back and win. It just doesn't happen. This kind of luck is what I have become accustomed to in my fascination of poker, gambling, and the sports world. I can sum it up in the following statement: I'm a die-hard Cubs fan.

People who are not Cubs fans simply cannot know what it's like to be one. For those who truly want to have some idea, HBO did a 1 hour special called "Wait Til Next Year". Basically, it's a brief history of the Chicago Cubs and the fans that have seen it all. The documentary, like many Cubs games over the years, left me in tears.

The idea that the Cubs have not been to a World Series since 1945, and that they have not won a World Series since 1908, makes Cubs fans some of the best and most loyal fans in any sport. What other franchise has endured so many hardships over the years, yet not lost it's fan base? I can't name one. A team like the Boston Red Sox, perhaps, could stake a claim to this. However, Boston has now won a championship and tries every year to outspend the Yankees. As time goes on, they will no longer fit into this category. The Red Sox fans paid their dues, and good for them. But now, they are just like the Yanks...but more likable.

Growing up in St. Louis, my father tried to raise me right. He taught me about the Cardinals and how great they were to cheer for. I watched intensely as they blew the Series in 85 to the Royals and in 87 to the Twins. I was 6, and 8 years old respectively. How could it be that they lost? All the people I knew said they would win? All the kids at my school blamed the umpires, so I did too. It was the only thing that could make sense. After 1987, the Cardinals went through a slumbering period that lasted until the mid 1990s. Ugly, stale Busch Stadium, smaller crowds, and a mediocre team made baseball not that fun. During the same time period, I started to have a mind of my own. It was during this period of time I made a life altering decision. I was now a Cubs fan. Why?

There are several reasons why it was more fun to cheer for the Cubbies, but I'll just name a few. For starters, majestic Wrigley Field. My family had friends in Chicago whom we would go visit on occasion. I believe it was 1991 when I made my first trip to Wrigley. It was a mid-May game and the Cubs were in last place. To my amazement, the people at Wrigley genuinely thought they were watching a team that was in 1st. It made no sense to my little mind. I was taught that the "Cubs suck". Most of the time, those people are probably right, but how could this many people be so drawn to a lousy team? I was intrigued. The game was a classic Cubs game. The wind blowing was out to right, and as normal, it was a high scoring game. The Cubs hit a couple of long balls and life was good. Then the pitching, and the dreaded Cubs bullpen came to the rescue. Whoever it is the Cubs played that day..Philly maybe? took the lead and held it for good. But wait! The Cubs had the tying and winning runs on base in the bottom of the ninth and only one out! We're going to win! Well, not exactly, but they made it exciting! And that is the classic Cubs game. I cannot begin to imagine how many I've seen over the years. Cubs fall behind, usually an error or a botched play involved, Cubs rally...and then fall short in the end. Like sadistic poetry.

After the trip to Wrigley, I found myself turning on WGN after school or on summer vacation to watch the Cubs out of sheer curiosity. It was perfect! Sit inside in the air conditioning on a hot, humid St. Louis summer day and watch the Cubs game or go sweat to death playing outside with my friends? I was not a dumb kid! As I watched a few games, I learned to appreciate Harry Caray's personality and the way he called a baseball game. He really did make the game more exciting! I'll give Harry his props in another blog posting, but essentially he was a fan with a microphone. He was not afraid to say what was on his mind. Sadly, in today's politically correct world, he is now an extinct breed. If a player made a great play, he was the first to congratulate him. Conversely, if a player made a bad play he would be the first to criticize. I miss Harry and in my opinion, there will never be an announcer of any sport that can make the game as exciting as he made it.

Not only did Harry make the games more exciting, but in the early 90's, the Cubs games were actually very entertaining. Sandberg, Grace, Dawson, Maddux. These players became my favorite athletes. During this time period, the Cubs were normally better than my hometown Cardinals and had much more allure. Several visits to Wrigley, reinforced my love for the Chicago Cubs. By the time the Cardinals became good again, I was already hooked onto the Cubbies. Once you are a Cubs fan, I don't think it's possible to ever change back. You are hooked. Cubs fans simply do not ever give up hope. If our team isn't good in the current year, then wait until next year!

So for those main reasons, I make no apologies for being a Cubs fan being born and raised in St. Louis. The Cards won a championship last year, and good for them. I'm happy for them and their fans. I won't go into the fact that at 83 wins, they are probably the worst ever World Champion...but still a World Champion nonetheless. All that I know is, when the Cardinals players and fans celebrated their championship last year, it will not be 1/10th of the celebration that Cubs players and fans are going to have WHEN we win it all. And perhaps maybe this year is next year! The collective hoping against hope will someday burst into utter jubilation and euphoria. Children will shout and grown men will cry. Soon thereafter, the world may come to an abrupt end. Sadistic poetry, but poetry nonetheless.

Rich Kim