Being a Cub fan is something you are born to, and learn for so many years that failure is a way of life. In some ways, I think it helps you deal with life itself, since so much of life is dealing well with failures. I guess so far, I haven't dealt with this one very well. One day, I think I will, and win or lose, lose, lose, I will remain with my baseball team forever.


That's an excerpt from Al Yellon's blog entry of the day of the disaster. Sums up my feelings perfectly, though Al is a much bigger (and more involved) Cub fan than I.

Needless to say, I thought we'd win this one. Truth be told, the NLCS *was* MY World Series. All I wanted was for the Cubs to win the NLCS. Just *get* to the Series. And if they lose the Series, I'd be sad. But not as sad as I ended up being Tuesday night.

You know the story. Everybody does. Prior was cruising with a 3-0 lead. He wasn't at his best, but he was good enough, and that was good enough. Until the top of 8th. A one-out foul ball to the stands in left decided this game. People don't want to blame the fan, saying it was Alex Gonzalez's (in a Leon Durham/Bill Buckner replay) bobble of an easy DP ball that cost the Cubs this game, but I don't blame Step 2 for this one. I blame Step 1. That fan and the foul ball. His name has been out enough in the media and I won't mention it. I don't wish bad on him. He already has infamy forever, and that's a BIG punishment. But if he had just stayed back from that ball and let Alou catch it, the Cubs would be in the Series right now. With 2 outs and nobody on first Gonzalez wouldn't be thinking DP on that grounder, he'd take the easy out at first. And the Cubs would be 3 outs away from the Series instead of out of it all together.

The jolt from that fan blocking Alou jarred Prior and the team visibly. Prior soon loaded the bases, gave up some runs, and eventually Farnsworth (another possible goat) gave up a 3-run hit to somebody and the game was beyond our grasp. The Cubs couldn't come back from this one and lost 8-3. It was a disaster. Unbelieveable.

I couldn't believe it. I kept yelling that at the TV, along with a few choice words. We almost got a new TV out of this game, since I was VERY close to throwing my glass right into the screen. THIS was the day I lost hope. I knew we had Wood going the next day, but THIS loss was worth than anything that could have happened. (sportswise)

This was one you never forget. You tell your kids about it. My Dad never told me any sports stories or anything, but now I have one for my kids. And I'll never, ever, forget it. I know it's just baseball. That's clear to me. Sports-wise, it is the worst thing I have ever seen, and the worst I have EVER felt. And I think it will ALWAYS will be. Only thing that could have happened worse is career-ending injuries to Prior & Wood during the game. Do I think Baker should have used Juan Cruz or Matt Clement instead of Farnsworth, Veres, Alfonseca, or anybody in the pen but Borowski? Yes. Do I think the Cubs would have won then? I do. But it doesn't matter, and Dusty deserves the benefit of the doubt after getting the Cubs so far in one year.

Thoughts on Wednesday's game 7 to follow.