Open Mic: The Achievement of the Century

A win can be hard to achieve. It takes dedication, desire, drive and determination.

However, I can think of something even HARDER.

Not winning—for 100 years!

The Chicago Cubs have somehow, in the inexplicable world that is baseball, managed not to win a single World Series since 1908. In this stretch, there had been two World Wars, the rise and fall of communism, and the United States economy has been through the Roaring Twenties, The Great Depression, and several other boom-and-bust periods.

Computer, television, and radio were invented. To put this in further perspective, I would have to live another 83 years in order to match this feat.

But, why do I call this a feat?

Look at it this way—it is almost statistically impossible for a team, in a sport where there are 56 draft rounds and 164 games per season, not to have the talent during at least one of those years to win a World Series.

Yet, the Cubs have done it. They have managed to, while trying to do exactly the opposite, go on the longest dry spell in the history of sports.

It takes a LOT of effort to be the lovable loser for such a long period of time. It would almost seem as if the entire universe has conspired to bring about this peculiar feat.

And, that's what makes it such a great achievement.

With the entire world watching, the Cubs have managed to keep one of the greatest fan bases of all teams in all sports while not winning a single title. They have become the focus of the sports world countless times, and every time they got close, someone would say those dreaded words that brought it all crashing down:

"THIS IS THE YEAR!!!"

Hundred years later, it may finally be the time for the Cubs to shine. They have the best record in the Major Leagues, one of the best teams they've had in decades, and, unlike previous years, it just seems like the right time.

You can FEEL it in the air. The baseball gods have deemed the Cubs to be finally worthy of a Series title to call their own after their victory ten decades ago.

And if they don't win it all this year?

Then the mystic streak becomes only more magical as it passes the century mark.

And, as for me, I'm willing to wait. After all, life goes on. And, the beautiful part?

There's always next year.