The Curse of Billy Goat--Why the Cubs will Never Win

This rallying cry is heard in Chicago and the outlying suburbs every year. The Chicago Cubs, no matter how much money they use to sign great players, no matter how many top quality managers they bring in, no matter how times they sell out beloved Wrigley Field, will Never win another World Series until they break this curse.

Every year Northsiders do everything in their power to make things right with their lifetime nemeses--The Billy Goats. They march descendants of the famous goat on the field, they detonate the famous Bartman Ball in grandiose fashion, they continue to sign overpriced players and managers whose skill should make them a winning team. Yet every year the result is the same. You have every right to be skeptical of this curse, there are 30 teams in Major League Baseball and the Cubs won it last in 1908, its just a streak of bad luck maybe. I too was skeptical of the curse, I've never been a Cubs fan and therefore never cared. But 4 years ago when the Scrubs were in the playoffs I witnessed the curse in action. Many of my friends are Cubs fans, its much more trendy to be a Cub Fan in theChicago area. Nicer park, nicer neighborhood, more attractive fans in the bleachers, etc. It doesn't help that US Comiskular (US Cellular field's nickname) is located right next to the projects and have never promoted their south side team well. I believe the Cubs outdrew the Sox even when the Sox won it all a few years back. My Skpticism ended the day Steve Bartman looked up and tried to catch a souvenir.

All the younger fans in the Chicago area were sure this year was the year. The Cubs had a good solid team and had great dominating pitching, a usual winning recipe to winning in the MLB playoffs. It was a festive time of year around here. Even though it was a weekday I had a small party at my condo, which turned into a big party, which turned into a party where it was hard to get a seat close to the big screen. It was game six and the Cubs were poised defeat the Marlins. Up three games to one and they had Prior & Wood lined up (two great young pitchers back then before the injury bug got them later). It was pretty much assumed by younger Cubs fans that the Marlins were at the end of their line.

It was strange that day, my small condo had become an extension of Wrigley, and on a weekday at that. Everyone was festive, as more people arrived more bottles arrived and everyone was ready to celebrate history in the making. For most of the game the Cubs led but the Marlins kept it close. Then in the 8th inning with the Cubs up 3-0 the curse reared its horned head. A Marlins hitter hits a high pop up to far left field, Moises Alou totally has the ball in his sights and gets under it leaning over the left field wall, and then Steve Bartman gets in the way. I actually feel very bad for Bartman as he was a lifelong Cubs fan and he did what most fans would do. I've been to maybe 20+ ballgames in my life and always wanted a souvenir and never had one hit within 50 feet of me. I don't blame him for starting what was inevitable. The next play an easy grounder is hit to the sure handed Alex Gonzalez at shortstop. He misses the ball, the Marlins susequently put up 8 runs, and the rest is history.

I remember reading in the paper, Gonzalez commented that the ball had a strange sidewards spin on it which is why he misplayed it. Coincidence? I don't think so, not anymore. After Gonzalez's error my impromptu party, just the like the Cubs, deflated instantly. All of a sudden the room was deathly quiet. It very soon became evident to everyone game 6 was over. Even before the game was officially over people began remembering that they had to work the next morning. When the Cubs lost game 7 no one was surprised at all. It was the Curse of the Billy Goat.

Anyone not familiar with the curse and the roles of Billy Sianis, his beloved goat, and Phillip Knight Wrigley, should click on the Wikipedia link below as it is a must read. Otherwise I guess we all have to wait 'til next year.