Boy, does Nathan Graziano sympathize with the Cubs’ fans.
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While watching the Cubs/Cardinals game on Tuesday night, I noticed a lot of familiar looks as the television cameras panned through the crowd at Wrigley Field in the ninth inning. The Cubs had a two-run lead going into the top ninth against the St. Louis Cardinals, yet behind the crowd’s burgeoning mirth, I saw the fans trying to hide their anguish, the anguish of fans whose team has not won a World Series since 1908 and who never—as in never—clinched a postseason series at home.
As the Cubs recorded the second out, the look on the fans’ faces turned to one of uneasy anticipation as they waited the hammer to fall. Then Matt Carpenter slapped a single to left, and a look of impending horror settled in the eyes of Cubs’ fans.
I know that look because it belonged to me and every other Red Sox fan in 2004.
We all know the story by now. The Red Sox were one out away from completing their historic comeback against the damn Yankees, and Boston was leading by seven runs in the bottom of the ninth inning of the deciding Game 7 at the old Yankee Stadium. Still, I was biting my nails, tormented by that sense of impending horror.
But then there was the look after Ruben Sierra weakly grounded an Alan Embree pitch to Pokey Reese at second base who softly tossed it to Doug Mientkiewicz…
There was that same look on Cubs’ fans faces after Piscotti struck out, a look of unfettered mother****ing joy.
However, it would be unfair to compare the two franchises. While Red Sox went through 87 years of feeling that the universe was designed to mess with our heads, take us to brink of bliss only to snatch it away and laugh at us. Our curse—if such a thing existed with The Babe—was one of perpetual blue balls until 2004.
The Cubs are different. This is a franchise that hasn’t been to a World Series since 1945. With the exception of the Bartman Incident—which was a lot like a Red Sox ending—the Cubs haven’t really been close. In fact, they’ve had a terrible run of things since 1908. Their curse—with this ridiculous billy goat—seems to be one of somber misery.
Still, it’s hard to be a Red Sox fan and not pull for the Cubs right now. Not only do they have Boston ties with Theo Epstein and Jon Lester, even David Ross was a big part of 2013 team, but it’s a great story. And through the Cubs postseason-run right now, Red Sox fans get to vicariously relive our own great story.
So let’s go, Cubs. It’s time you finish it. You’re still missing the last look: complete satisfaction.
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Originally published on dirtywaternews.com
Photo: AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast