10/17/2003 09:02:00 AM by Rob

Opinions expressed here are not always well-reasoned or insightful

Just making sure you all know that.

Yes, it is perhaps indicative of a larger problem that the fortunes of a sports team affects my demeanor, but I have been numb since Tuesday. I will probably continue to feel somewhat empty for a long time now.

I was accused of jumping off the Cub bandwagon. I in fact did jump off after game 6, for reasons I cited yesterday, but to recap: they have given me no reason to believe that they would actually bounce back to win game 7.

I had faith during the regular season, because they have won divisions twice before, so it was logical to believe that they could win the Central division. I had faith during the NLDS, because what the hell is an NLDS anyway? To me, it is just an extra layer of money-making playoff excess, and there is little precedent one way or another (one instance) of predicted Cub success. But the Pennant, we do have 58 consecutive instances of failure there.

If you are watching a child try to tie their shoes for the first time, and 58 times they fail, there really is no reason to expect them to get it on the 59th try. They MIGHT, but chances are that the 59th try is going to work out just the same as the 58th.

My main point was meant to be that we love our Cubs, to a fault. We consider Sammy Sosa to be a superstar, Ramirez, Alou, and Wood to be stars, and Prior to be a superstar-in-the-making. Well, compare them to the performance of Pudge (superstar), Beckett and Cabrera (superstars-in-the-making), and Ugie Urbina (star). Regular season stats are just one component. You need to be able to do it when it counts. You need to put fear in the hearts of the opposition. Every time Pudge and Cabrera stepped to the plate, I stopped breathing.

THAT is the true measure of impact, and there isn't a single person on our squad, including the Great Sammy Sosa, that has that same impact. The problem is, he is being paid and treated as if he does, and if you are looking to perfect the product, and build a winner, that is as good a place as any to start.

Exercise your option, big man. Go to Nueva York, or somewhere else where they love you, and tell your story walkin'.

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