Chicago Cubs Will Win the World Series...Stanley Cup...Super Bowl...NBA Title...

This is the year.

If you hear an echo in here, that's because I say that a lot. It's just the frustrations of a Cub fan reverberating through the decades since Whitey Lockman replaced Leo Durocher as Cubs' manager. Since Kenny Holtzman signed that 8 x 10 glossy for me at Bargain Town (Bargain Town, Bargain Town, USA... toy-riffic!).

Since my Little League coach took my entire Braves team to see the Cubs host the defending National League West champion Atlanta Braves in 1970. A long time.

As a Cubs' fan, I'm happy to accept any superstition, street corner preacher, set of tea leaves, or geometric proof to help me understand why my team just can't win the N.L. pennant, let alone the World Series. Why, just take a look at the teams that have won championships or pennants lately and why their victories are direct affronts to Cubs fans everywhere:

Baseball:

2003: The Florida Marlins. I'll start here because...well, that's an old story. Still hurts.

2004: The hated Red Sox.

2005: The really hated White Sox.

2006: The really super hated Cardinals.

2007: Red Sox...in case you missed it the first time.

2008: The Phillies. Actually, I'm okay with that. But the Tampa Bay Rays? It's not funny anymore.

But that's not all—look at these other winners:

Football: The Arizona Cardinals. Just the Cardinals in the Super Bowl part is hard to deal with. I read somewhere that the Cardinals vs. the Steelers in the Super Bowl is like the Cubs vs. the Yankees in the World Series. Just one problem with that...the Cardinals were actually in a championship game.

Hockey: Any team that joined the league after 1960 should have to wait for the Cubs before hoisting the hardware.

Basketball: I’ll hold off on this one. We Chicagoans got our roundball jollies in the 1990s, so it's too early to complain. Anyway, I feel a kinship with the Cleveland Cavaliers. If they win the championship, I’ll let you know how I feel.

The vibe I hear from sportstalk radio is that Cubs' fans won’t accept a good season: It’s World Series or it’s the world's most wasted season. Yet here I am…probably not alone…longing to hear a spring training game. Say what you will about being swept in two straight playoff series and say what you will about jettisoning half of last season’s opening day roster. Cubs fans live and die, day by day, with their team. See you in October.