For the first time in 108 years the Chicago Cubs are in the World Series.
Chicago Cubs and World Series haven't been tied together in a sentence for over a CENTURY. Obviously people are losing their minds, and draining their bank accounts to be a part of history-- and I don't blame them one bit.
The thing about this is- until very recently I couldn't have cared less about the MLB, or the Cubs in general. I could name a handful of Cubbies, and maybe throw around some general knowledge...but a fan? absolutely not. All I knew was that Kris Bryant was a hottie, and Anthony Rizzo was a cancer-beating badass teddy-bear.
But I couldn't help but take notice the second the Cubs started their post-season journey. There's something about a team being so lovable, even in the face of a century of disappointing losses, that really resonates with me as a life-long Hawkeye fan. There is something so captivating watching the fans come out of hibernation, flood the streets, and suddenly come alive with spirit as they dust off the ashes of disappointing seasons and humiliating losses.
There are many times in my short young life where I recall the fierce letdown of a promising pass, run, basket, or an entire season for that matter. From the minute I was born I was subjected to the up and down, heart-palpitating, permanent headache lifestyle of an Iowa sports fan, and I can't help but to notice that for over a century, Cubs fans had to have felt like me at some point in the last 108 years.
Last night the Cubs won the 2016 World Series in what was one of the greatest sporting events I have ever seen in my life. I've seen some great games, with jaw-dropping displays of athleticism, but I have never seen anything like last night, nor do I ever think I ever will again.
It was a moment in history, one where my grandchildren will ask me where I was on that day the Cubs broke the curse, and I'll confidently tell them I was sobbing, weeping, like a child on the floor overcome with emotion as I watched Anthony Rizzo make the world lose their minds. The Cubs tested their fans starting off the series with a big fat 0-6 loss. Suddenly the Cubs were losing the series, down 1-3, with the Indians one win away from clinching the title. By some grace of God (divine intervention if I'm being honest) the cubs tied it up 3-3, taking the drought just one game longer, and stretching the series to the final game.
The crazy part about this whole series was that both teams were suffering excruciating championship droughts. Cubs haven't won it all for 108 years; the Indians, 78 years. Those are lifetimes. People have died waiting to see their teams win a world series. Think of all the changes the world has seen since 1908, all the wars, people, inventions...it's an entirely new world we live in today.
Anyway, the world series reaches game 7. Of course it does. Where would the excitement be if the Cubs had just won it in 4 games outright? The drama? Are you kidding me- it couldn't have been written out any better to see a team end it's drought, coming back from being down 1-3. But it did get better. The Cubs are up on runs, things are looking real good, and then the bottom of the 8th happened. Indians smash a 2 run homer, tying it up 6-6 going into the 9th. A nail-biter, a pants-wetter, a real edge-of-your seat inning was about to go down. And then it started raining. Rain drops came pouring from the sky as if the dramatics weren't in full force already. It was mind blowing to watch this visually play out: two teams, both suffering severe droughts, are delayed due to rain. Do you see this irony (Credit to my boy Jake Yacinich for this realization)?! Who wrote this script? Give them a damn Oscar, hell, give them all the Oscars! This story will make the most incredible 30 for 30 to date. You can't make this stuff up, the rain, the Addison Russell grand slam, the David Ross, the drama. Oh, the theatrics!
So the rain subsides and the Cubs enter the top of the 10th inning. Again, of course it's extra innings- only makes sense, extend the game and heighten the drama (genius). The eventual MVP of the series, Ben Zobrist doubled to left sending in a run, followed by a single sending Rizzo in to home, leaving the Cubs in a nice position at 8-6 starting the bottom of the 10th. All they have to do is hold them off. Three outs. That's it. Bottom of the 10th with two outs, Indians send one right up the center, sending in a run. If you're keeping track the score is now 8-7, with two outs. ONE OUT LEFT. Martinez up to bat: strike one. People are not breathing. Pins are dropping and everyone can hear them. Second pitch: grounds out to Kris Bryant at 3rd. Bryant already knows how this is going to play out, beaming wide as he scoops up the ball. But the fans hearts are visibly beating out of their chest. Thump. Thump. Hairs are standing up, goosebumps are forming. Bryant throws to Rizzo at first, the sound of Rizzo's glove pops; Martinez isn't even close. The crowd erupts into a vast sea of tears, screams, and random hugging fans as the Cubs run to the pitchers mound to celebrate their new title: 2016 World Series Champions. The drought is over, "someday" is over, because someday happened. It finally, finally happened in the most romantic, storybook way.
You don't have to be a cubs fan, or even a baseball fan to appreciate the magic that happened last night. As a lover of sports, you can't help but become emotional as you watch the weight of 108 years of disappointed fans get lifted off a team's shoulders. To see grown men so overcome with their excitement that the tears flow as freely as the champagne and beer. I've always cheered for the underdogs, it's what being a Hawkeye has always taught me. Don't count a team out, ever. Watching my beloved hawks go 12-0 with a trip to the Rose Bowl was a literal childhood dream come true for me. I did everything in my power to get to that Bowl game, so yeah, I understand these Cubs fan. I waited 25 years to see black and gold take over Pasadena. My whole life. Cubs fans have waited 108 years. Lifetimes; making 25 years seem like a drop in the bucket. Alas, we live parallel lives. The agony of waiting, the anticipation, the let downs, the longing to be back where we once were are all things I can understand about Cubs fans. Society and the media called it outrageous what people were paying for their ticket to history, but I didn't. I did the same thing for the Hawks.
Am I a bandwagoner? You bet I am. But can you blame me? I've fallen in love with this team, their story, and now- their most deserved accomplishments. Thanks for the last minute birthday gift, boys.
GO. CUBS. GO.
Chicago Cubs and World Series haven't been tied together in a sentence for over a CENTURY. Obviously people are losing their minds, and draining their bank accounts to be a part of history-- and I don't blame them one bit.
The thing about this is- until very recently I couldn't have cared less about the MLB, or the Cubs in general. I could name a handful of Cubbies, and maybe throw around some general knowledge...but a fan? absolutely not. All I knew was that Kris Bryant was a hottie, and Anthony Rizzo was a cancer-beating badass teddy-bear.
But I couldn't help but take notice the second the Cubs started their post-season journey. There's something about a team being so lovable, even in the face of a century of disappointing losses, that really resonates with me as a life-long Hawkeye fan. There is something so captivating watching the fans come out of hibernation, flood the streets, and suddenly come alive with spirit as they dust off the ashes of disappointing seasons and humiliating losses.
There are many times in my short young life where I recall the fierce letdown of a promising pass, run, basket, or an entire season for that matter. From the minute I was born I was subjected to the up and down, heart-palpitating, permanent headache lifestyle of an Iowa sports fan, and I can't help but to notice that for over a century, Cubs fans had to have felt like me at some point in the last 108 years.
Last night the Cubs won the 2016 World Series in what was one of the greatest sporting events I have ever seen in my life. I've seen some great games, with jaw-dropping displays of athleticism, but I have never seen anything like last night, nor do I ever think I ever will again.
It was a moment in history, one where my grandchildren will ask me where I was on that day the Cubs broke the curse, and I'll confidently tell them I was sobbing, weeping, like a child on the floor overcome with emotion as I watched Anthony Rizzo make the world lose their minds. The Cubs tested their fans starting off the series with a big fat 0-6 loss. Suddenly the Cubs were losing the series, down 1-3, with the Indians one win away from clinching the title. By some grace of God (divine intervention if I'm being honest) the cubs tied it up 3-3, taking the drought just one game longer, and stretching the series to the final game.
The crazy part about this whole series was that both teams were suffering excruciating championship droughts. Cubs haven't won it all for 108 years; the Indians, 78 years. Those are lifetimes. People have died waiting to see their teams win a world series. Think of all the changes the world has seen since 1908, all the wars, people, inventions...it's an entirely new world we live in today.
Anyway, the world series reaches game 7. Of course it does. Where would the excitement be if the Cubs had just won it in 4 games outright? The drama? Are you kidding me- it couldn't have been written out any better to see a team end it's drought, coming back from being down 1-3. But it did get better. The Cubs are up on runs, things are looking real good, and then the bottom of the 8th happened. Indians smash a 2 run homer, tying it up 6-6 going into the 9th. A nail-biter, a pants-wetter, a real edge-of-your seat inning was about to go down. And then it started raining. Rain drops came pouring from the sky as if the dramatics weren't in full force already. It was mind blowing to watch this visually play out: two teams, both suffering severe droughts, are delayed due to rain. Do you see this irony (Credit to my boy Jake Yacinich for this realization)?! Who wrote this script? Give them a damn Oscar, hell, give them all the Oscars! This story will make the most incredible 30 for 30 to date. You can't make this stuff up, the rain, the Addison Russell grand slam, the David Ross, the drama. Oh, the theatrics!
So the rain subsides and the Cubs enter the top of the 10th inning. Again, of course it's extra innings- only makes sense, extend the game and heighten the drama (genius). The eventual MVP of the series, Ben Zobrist doubled to left sending in a run, followed by a single sending Rizzo in to home, leaving the Cubs in a nice position at 8-6 starting the bottom of the 10th. All they have to do is hold them off. Three outs. That's it. Bottom of the 10th with two outs, Indians send one right up the center, sending in a run. If you're keeping track the score is now 8-7, with two outs. ONE OUT LEFT. Martinez up to bat: strike one. People are not breathing. Pins are dropping and everyone can hear them. Second pitch: grounds out to Kris Bryant at 3rd. Bryant already knows how this is going to play out, beaming wide as he scoops up the ball. But the fans hearts are visibly beating out of their chest. Thump. Thump. Hairs are standing up, goosebumps are forming. Bryant throws to Rizzo at first, the sound of Rizzo's glove pops; Martinez isn't even close. The crowd erupts into a vast sea of tears, screams, and random hugging fans as the Cubs run to the pitchers mound to celebrate their new title: 2016 World Series Champions. The drought is over, "someday" is over, because someday happened. It finally, finally happened in the most romantic, storybook way.
You don't have to be a cubs fan, or even a baseball fan to appreciate the magic that happened last night. As a lover of sports, you can't help but become emotional as you watch the weight of 108 years of disappointed fans get lifted off a team's shoulders. To see grown men so overcome with their excitement that the tears flow as freely as the champagne and beer. I've always cheered for the underdogs, it's what being a Hawkeye has always taught me. Don't count a team out, ever. Watching my beloved hawks go 12-0 with a trip to the Rose Bowl was a literal childhood dream come true for me. I did everything in my power to get to that Bowl game, so yeah, I understand these Cubs fan. I waited 25 years to see black and gold take over Pasadena. My whole life. Cubs fans have waited 108 years. Lifetimes; making 25 years seem like a drop in the bucket. Alas, we live parallel lives. The agony of waiting, the anticipation, the let downs, the longing to be back where we once were are all things I can understand about Cubs fans. Society and the media called it outrageous what people were paying for their ticket to history, but I didn't. I did the same thing for the Hawks.
Am I a bandwagoner? You bet I am. But can you blame me? I've fallen in love with this team, their story, and now- their most deserved accomplishments. Thanks for the last minute birthday gift, boys.
GO. CUBS. GO.
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