Marquette, Michigan – November 2, 2016 – It has been 108 years since the Chicago Cubs have won the World Series. They are now 9 innings away from changing that, as they enter Game 7 tonight against the Cleveland Indians. The Cubs have endured terrible seasons, curses, and bad luck to get to this point. The narrative surrounding the franchise will either change tonight, or it will be reinforced and grow stronger.
The most famous of the curses, is the curse of the billy goat. According to legend, the curse came about in 1945. The Cubs were in the World Series going up against the Detroit Tigers. A man who owned a local bar called the Billy Goat Tavern who went by the name of William Sianis would bring his pet goat to games. The odor from the goat was so bad and bothered so many fans, that many complained and he was asked to leave Game 4 of the series. Sianis was upset and upon leaving, Sianis declared the Cubs would not win “no more.” The Cubs went on to lose the series to the Tigers and have yet to end the 108 year World Series drought.
Fortune appeared to be changing for the Cubs in 2003. The Cubs were in Game 6 of the NLCS, holding a 3 games to 2 lead over the Florida Marlins. It was the 8th inning, the Cubs had a 3-0 lead and one out recorded. Marlins batter Luis Castillo hit a pop-up into foul territory and Cubs left fielder Moises Alou ranged in to catch the ball. The ball was falling into the front row of the stands, and place where fielders are still able to make plays. With the ball dropping, fans in the area reached up, along with Alou, and unfortunately for Steve Bartman, the ball happened to hit his hands and prevented Alou from catching the ball. had Alou been able to make the catch, the Cubs would have just been 4 outs away from their first pennant since the Billy Goat incident in 1945.
Unfortunately for the Cubs, and particularly Bartman, this did not happen. The Cubs self-destructed, the Marlins rallied to win Game 6, and then defeated the Cubs in Game 7 to go to the World Series. The Marlins went on to beat the Yankees in 6 games for their second World Series title in franchise history.
The Cubs needed a scapegoat (no pun intended) and they looked to Bartman. Steve Bartman, a man who was a lifelong diehard Cubs fan, was turned on by his own city and forced to go into hiding. Steve Bartman has become infamous as a pop culture figure. In fact, perhaps the best Halloween costume I have ever seen was this year when I saw a guy dressed as Bartman. He had the costume down to a T, complete with the replica “Renegades” sweater Bartman wore on that fateful night. It is a perfect example of the infamous figure Bartman has become.
Tonight the Cubs have the rare opportunity to change the narrative. If they win, they are World Series champions and the perception of the franchise is forever changed. The same stigma surrounded the Boston Red Sox for almost 100 years until they broke the Curse of the Bambino when they came back from a 3-0 deficit in the 2004 ALCS and then went on to win the World Series. The Red Sox have won 2 more championships since breaking the “curse” and they are now viewed as a historical baseball powerhouse. The Cubs have that same opportunity tonight.
If the Cubs lose, the narrative amplifies. The views on the curse will have never been higher. The perception will be that they are so cursed, they allowed their fans to get their hopes up to be within 1 win of a World Series title just before getting their hopes and dreams crushed amongst a national audience.
Regardless of outcome, tonight is arguably the biggest night in Chicago Cubs franchise history. The scene in Chicago will be must see, win or lose. But as a guy who is a sucker for a feel-good story, I’m hoping the scene in Chicago tonight is of pure jubilation. The Cubs will either rid themselves of billy goat curses and Steve Bartman images or succumb to their haunting pressure.
