This is so Cub: The greatest sports story ever or the greatest heartbreak ever – Chicago Tribune (blog)
No two ways about it now:
The Cubs’ forcing a Game 7 of a World Series in which they trailed three games to one in pursuit of their first title in 108 years means we’re arguably looking at either the greatest sports heartbreak ever endured or the greatest sports story ever told.
Sorry, 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team. You know I loved you, Mike Eruzione, Jim Craig, Jack O’Callahan and the rest of the college upstarts who conquered the Red Army. We had a good run.
But if the Cubs win, it’s all Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, Addison Russell and all the popular kids. You know how it goes, 1980 U.S. Olympic team. You had to see this coming. We just didn’t talk anymore. I’ll send for my stuff.
It’s so easy to say there’s no way the Cubs can lose Game 7 after they won Games 5 and 6. It’s also easy to forget how underrated the resourceful Indians have been all postseason.
But still, the Cubs have the major-league ERA leader going.
As soon as Russell’s grand slam landed to make it 7-0, Cubs, in the third inning, Fox broadcaster Joe Buck should’ve delivered the family call: “And we will see you tomorrow night.”
Russell’s grand slam not only took the Indians out of it, but also took Joe West out of it.
Not that it stopped the hate for West. Get a load of this tweet from former Cubs reliever LaTroy Hawkins: “#JoeWest is the worst umpire geeeez !!! Stop acting like it’s all about you and call damn strikes.’’ To which Kerry Wood tweeted: “See, it’s not just me.’’
Russell’s grand slam was the first in a Series since Paul Konerko’s in Game 2 in 2005. Who knew that Chicago baseball could corner the market on any kind of World Series thing? Except not going for decades, I mean.
“Super official excuse note’’ tweeted by the official Cubs account:
Hours after the Cubs won Game 6, a sneaky Cubs fans raised the “W” flag on the pole outside Cleveland’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Both teams are making a case for home-field disadvantage.
Cubs manager Joe Maddon said he batted Kyle Schwarber second so he would get pitched to compared with batting him fifth, where Maddon didn’t think Schwarber would see anything he could hit.
First time up, Schwarber swung at the first pitch and grounded out. So much for seeing pitches he could drive.
And then the next four hitters created three runs, even if it took a White Sox-like piece of defense by the Indians to make it 3-0.
Managers plan and Baseball Gods laugh.
It sounds like Ed Sullivan should be introducing this act: The comedy stylings of Naquin and Chisenhall.
Followed by Topo Gigio, ‘course.
Ask your parents, kids.
Fox analyst John Smoltz sounds like he could become a manager if he wanted, but I wouldn’t want him to leave the booth. And for Cubs fans who rip Buck, at least give him credit for getting out of Smoltz’s way.
Smoltz describing the ever-changing bottom of the Cubs lineup: “Chutes and ladders.’’ As the late, great Tribune columnist Rick Talley would say, “That line’s good enough to steal.’’
Josh Tomlin, meet Jeff Samardzija.
What’s up, Willie Mays Hayes?
About Us
Free Shipping
If your order is $35 or more, you may qualify for free shipping. With free shipping, your order will be delivered 5-8 business days.
