Saturday, October 18, 2003
So, the Cubs lost. They really blew it, having positioned themselves as well as they possibly could have to win one of the last three games in the series and losing badly in all of them. And as sportswriter Bill Simmons teaches us, there are different levels of losing. For a Cubs fan, Game 6 was clearly a Stomach Punch game, while Game 7 was a Dead Man Walking affair. I still. Can't. Believe. Prior lost that game.
Here, though, I'd like to address talk of the blasted Curse, and that Steve Bartman or whomever was to blame for the loss. The only Curse visited on Cubs can be found in the history of their management. The Wrigleys and the Tribune Company are exemplary owners from the standpoint that they exploit their business climate to maximum effectiveness. The Wrigleys ran the Cubs, in a tradition continued by the Trib, as a moneymaking venture. The goal of the Chicago National League Ball Club is to make money, which it assuredly does, year after year. Secondary is the goal of winning championships. As long as this continues to be the Cubs' ethic, they will continue to fail to deliver a championship to the most faithful and ardent fans in any sport.
In fact, it is their very zealousness that helps prolong Cubs fans' disappointment. Cubs fans will show up regardless of the product on the field; given this, it's easy to see why the Cubs' management has never felt the need to field a true winner, which generally requires the expenditure of a lot of money. Think about it: how long has it been since the Cubs truly fielded the best team in baseball, without question? The answer is 95 years, which drought is inexplicable given the resources of both the Wrigleys and the Tribune Company, and the Cubs' prominent standing in the national media. Inexplicable, that is, except for the fact that the Cubs don't have to field a winner to make money. In virtually every other market, there is pressure on sports teams to produce a quality product in order to entice fans to see games. Not so the Cubs, which is an irony so comic it's tragic. Regardless of whether or not they build it, we will come.
I probably sound bitter, but I think I'm entitled to a little bitterness. I will continue to support the Cubs--you'd have be delusional to support this team based on their record of success (or lack thereof). But baseball's playoffs show us most clearly the sports truism that renders luck as the residue of design. The Cubs, as long as I've been following them, have never truly been designed to win. This moderates my enjoyment of them slightly, but it still would have been so sweet to look forward to watching Game 1 tomorrow night. Alas, I will not be watching Marlins-Yankees. A ratings disaster for Fox, I'm afraid. Pity.
When you're a Cubs fan, even if you don't know the meaning of the word Schadenfreude, you learn very quickly to practice it whenever you can.
Here, though, I'd like to address talk of the blasted Curse, and that Steve Bartman or whomever was to blame for the loss. The only Curse visited on Cubs can be found in the history of their management. The Wrigleys and the Tribune Company are exemplary owners from the standpoint that they exploit their business climate to maximum effectiveness. The Wrigleys ran the Cubs, in a tradition continued by the Trib, as a moneymaking venture. The goal of the Chicago National League Ball Club is to make money, which it assuredly does, year after year. Secondary is the goal of winning championships. As long as this continues to be the Cubs' ethic, they will continue to fail to deliver a championship to the most faithful and ardent fans in any sport.
In fact, it is their very zealousness that helps prolong Cubs fans' disappointment. Cubs fans will show up regardless of the product on the field; given this, it's easy to see why the Cubs' management has never felt the need to field a true winner, which generally requires the expenditure of a lot of money. Think about it: how long has it been since the Cubs truly fielded the best team in baseball, without question? The answer is 95 years, which drought is inexplicable given the resources of both the Wrigleys and the Tribune Company, and the Cubs' prominent standing in the national media. Inexplicable, that is, except for the fact that the Cubs don't have to field a winner to make money. In virtually every other market, there is pressure on sports teams to produce a quality product in order to entice fans to see games. Not so the Cubs, which is an irony so comic it's tragic. Regardless of whether or not they build it, we will come.
I probably sound bitter, but I think I'm entitled to a little bitterness. I will continue to support the Cubs--you'd have be delusional to support this team based on their record of success (or lack thereof). But baseball's playoffs show us most clearly the sports truism that renders luck as the residue of design. The Cubs, as long as I've been following them, have never truly been designed to win. This moderates my enjoyment of them slightly, but it still would have been so sweet to look forward to watching Game 1 tomorrow night. Alas, I will not be watching Marlins-Yankees. A ratings disaster for Fox, I'm afraid. Pity.
When you're a Cubs fan, even if you don't know the meaning of the word Schadenfreude, you learn very quickly to practice it whenever you can.
