Come To Think of It...Wait 'Til Next Century, Chicago Cubs Fans

So that’s what it’s come down to, eh? Swept away like dirt under a rug. The Cubs were euthanized by the Dodgers without as much as a whimper or moan from the not-so-lovable losers. At least in previous years when they had a really good team, like in 1984 or 2003, they won some games and had to experience some unusual circumstances before their season was over. But not in 2008.

All we’ve got now is the hope of better days.

Meanwhile, this time the team with the best record in the National League was a fraud...They were never even close to beating the boys of summer. In fact, they did nothing well. Out-hit, out-pitched, and out-managed. The haters will say, "What else is new?" not understanding that this team was supposed to be different.

They don’t comprehend how Cubs fans can have real hope for a franchise that hasn’t won in 100 years.

Make that 101 years.

Well my soul checked out missing as I sat listening
To the hours and minutes tickin’ away
Yeah, just sittin’ around waitin’ for my life to begin
While it was all just slippin’ away.

To be a Cubs fan is to experience a roller coaster of emotions. Heck, in this series alone, we’ve gone from shock to disappointment to anger to sadness to disbelief, and now to resignation. Resigned to another year of watching some other team achieve what we so badly want. What we so badly deserve. What we may never get.

I’m tired of waitin’ for tomorrow to come
Or that train to come roarin’ round the bend.

You know, it’s not just that the Cubs played so poorly that hurts. It’s that you make the emotional investment and get bankrupt in the process. Like an alcoholic kneeling at the porcelain god, you swore you would never do it again. But as you watched this team evolve, you slowly started to believe. This time is different, you told yourself. This is our year, finally.

So you decide to go all in. And what do you get in return? The agony of defeat. You feel like a damn fool.

Every fool has a reason for feelin’ sorry for himself, and turnin’ his heart to stone

Tonight this fool is halfway to heaven and just a mile out of hell.

These Dodgers are a good team, especially since Manny came on board. But as badly as they were outplayed in the series, Cubs fans refuse to believe the Dodgers are any better than their team. We just don’t have players that step up when the spotlight is shining down on them. When you have to deliver, go call DHL or FedEx, but certainly don’t call the Cubs.

Remember, the Cubs spent the money. But they are a big-market team playing like a pauper.

It’s a sad funny ending to find yourself pretending

A rich man in a poor man’s shirt.

So now what’s next for these Cubs? Well, it’s apparent they need a left-handed power hitter. That’s the same thing they needed after last year’s sweep by the Diamondbacks. But they’re hamstrung in the outfield, with $38 million still owed to a glorified defensive replacement and a left fielder who doesn’t fit as a leadoff man, yet is untradable.

And center fielders with power don’t grow on trees. Somehow, they have to break up the right-handed hitting trio of Soriano, Lee, and Ramirez.

But that’s talk for another day. Right now, we’re too disgusted and the pain is too fresh. Open wounds take time to heal. And there’s always next century.

Tonight I’m layin’ in your arms carvin’ lucky charms
Out of these hard luck bones.

Mamas, don’t let your babies grow up to be Cubs fans.