Come to Think of It...Cubs Pop Their Cork, Win NL Central Again

For the second consecutive year, the Chicago Cubs have won the NL Central division. It is the first time since 1908 that the team will make back-to-back playoff appearances.

Go wild, Cubs fans! It's okay to celebrate even though it's only the first step toward the ultimate goal of winning the World Series. We all know that 162 games is a long season and deserving of some champagne.

As Kerry Wood got the last out of a 5-4 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday, teammates started jumping up and down in celebration and soon the bubbly was flowing, starting in the clubhouse and eventually spilling onto the field. Even some fans got sprayed during the party.

One of the best things about this Cubs team is that they are as much about the little guy as the superstar.

It's about Alfonso Soriano, but it's also about Reed Johnson.

It's about Aramis Ramirez, but it's also about Jim Edmonds.

It's about Derrek Lee, but it's also about Mike Fontenot.

It's about Carlos Zambrano, but it's also about Jeff Samardzija.

It's about Ryan Theroit, but it's also about Ronny Cedeno.

It's about Geo Soto, but it's also about Henry Blanco.

It's about Mark DeRosa. Kosuke Fukudome. Ted Lilly. Ryan Dempster. Sean Marhsall. Kerry Wood. Carlos Marmol. Rich Harden. Micah Hoffpauir. Felix Pie. Chad Gaudin. Bob Howry. Neal Cotts. Angel Guzman. Kevin Hart. Jon Lieber. Michael Wuertz. Jason Marquis. Koyie Hill. Daryle Ward. Casey McGehee.

But it's also about Lou Piniella. Mike Quade. Larry Rothschild. Gerald Perry. Matt Sinatro. Jim Hendry. Randy Bush. Gary Hughes. Billy Williams. Mark O'Neal. Crane Kenney. Alan Trammell. Lester Strode. Ivan DeJesus.

And don't forget about Ron Santo, Pat Hughes, Len Kasper, and Bob Brenly.

And perhaps, most of all, it's about us, the fans, who have endured losing seasons and much ridicule to get to the point where we finally have a great team.

And I guess that's really what I'm trying to convey by naming almost everyone—the fact that this was a true team effort. Lots of moving parts had to synchronize for this to happen.

There is much work still to be done. But right now, take time to celebrate. Come to think of it, save some for the next round, too.