After every Chicago Cubs victory at Wrigley Field, Steve Goodman’s song “Go Cubs Go” plays on the PA system throughout the stadium. Tens of thousands of fans stick around after the final out to sing the entire song, whether they know all the words or not. You may think it’s corny, but I can tell you that when you hear the song after the Cubbies win, you can’t help but sing along.
Eddie Vedder, the lead singer of Pearl Jam, is also a die-hard Cubs fan. He recently recorded a song, “All the Way,” which is playing everywhere in Chicago. The song captures the dreams of all Cubs fans — that elusive World Series title — with the line “Someday we’ll go all the way.” This is another song that gives us Cubs fans hope (and maybe chills).
But even those two songs don’t have the best lyrics around the North Side: Soriano, Theriot, Lee, Ramirez, Edmonds, DeRosa, Soto, Fukudome, Zambrano ... now that’s music to my ears.
Every year I hear the same thing from all the haters. “Wait ‘til next year,” they say. Well — dare I say it? — this is the year. If the Cubs were ever going to have a legitimate shot at a World Series title in my lifetime, it would be in 2008. This is the best Cubs team assembled in my 20 years on this planet, and with home field advantage throughout the National League playoffs, the Cubs are bound to win the pennant and beyond ... right?
Right. The Cubs went 55-26 at “The Friendly Confines” this year, by far the best home record in the National League. And, call it a Cubs’ fan bias, but I think the Cubs pitching staff was the best in baseball this year and is in great shape for the playoffs. Ryan Dempster and Ted Lilly each won 17 games. Staff ace Carlos Zambrano recorded a 14-6 record, and midseason acquisition Rich Harden went 5-1 with a 1.77 ERA in 12 starts. Not to mention the Cubs have a great bullpen, with young studs like Carlos Marmol and Jeff Samardzija, and veteran Kerry Wood holding down the fort with games on the line.
The offense had a tremendous regular season: The Cubs hit into the top 5 in the National League in batting average, runs, RBIs, on base percentage, slugging percentage and home runs. Based on all stats known to man, the Cubs are the best offensive team in the playoffs this season, having out-produced the other seven postseason contenders. Also, the Cubbies have a great manager in Lou Piniella. Nothing spells doom for this team, unlike in previous years, so yeah, I’m going to be downright optimistic this October.
When asked earlier this year about the fact it has been 100 years since the Cubs last won a World Series, Piniella said he told his players not to hold themselves accountable for the last 99 years but only for this season. This was a brilliant line, and most people really don’t understand just how important that statement was. Sure, it makes for fun conversation and Cub-fan heckling that the franchise hasn’t ordered championship rings since 1908 (if they even did back then), but how can Soriano and Co. be forced to bear the burden of 100 years? The 2008 Cubs didn’t fail to win a title in 1909, 1910, 1911, and so on. So, Cubs fans, don’t freak out about the 100-year thing. It really doesn’t matter.
I’ve waited more than a year to write a column on my beloved Cubs, but I can wait no more. When the Cubs take on the Dodgers in the first round of the playoffs, I ask that you keep your curse jokes to yourself and let me and the rest of the Cubs fans enjoy the rest of the ride. For better or for worse, I’ve been a Cubs fan for 20 years, and this just might be the year that I can celebrate.
But, if I had to ask the Cubs players to win as a favor, it wouldn’t be for me. I’d ask them to win for Ernie Banks, “Mr. Cub” himself, who never had the chance to play in the postseason in spite of his Hall of Fame career and genuine enthusiasm for the game. I’d ask them to win for legendary broadcaster Harry Caray, who entertained the Wrigley faithful for years without tasting a championship. And, I’d ask them to win for Cubs fans who have been with the team since well before I was born, who deserve to see a championship in their lifetimes.
As Vedder sings, “There’s magic in the ivy and the old scoreboard.” In 2008, there just might be enough magic to end the drought and bring joy back to Wrigleyville. And, you better believe I’ll be singing along with the Bleacher Bums (from Charlottesville) when they play “Go Cubs Go” at Wrigley.
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