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| 2008/03/09 14:10:13瀏覽2410｜回應1｜推薦8 | |
 For Wang Chien-Ming’s fans, it might have been frustrating to see the Yanks fail to advance further in the post-season, yet again. Well, the Bronxers have been lamenting the fact that their “unworthy” archrival, the RED SOX, have stolen the spotlight and won two World Series in this young century. Yeah, yeah, yeah, it’s a shame that the Evil Empire hasn’t claimed the trophy since the beginning of the 21st century. Don’t get me wrong, I love Wang Chien-Ming, I would gladly streak (knowing for certain no one wants to see that) and do a back-flip (if I know how) at the Yankees Stadium if he pitches in Game 7 of the World Series and wins the whole thing. But poor Yanks’ “suffering” is nothing compared to the miseries the Chicago Cubs fans have endured for, well, the past century. It is almost an obligation for some of us Mid-Westerners to unconditionally love the Cubs through their triumphs and mostly losses. But alas, the Cubs have seen better days, back when Teddy Roosevelt was President, before the amendment to collect Federal Income Tax was ratified, when China was still ruled by an emperor, and before the world knew any World War. Those were the days when Joe Tinker, Johnny Evers, Frank Chance, Mordecai "Three-Finger" Brown, Jack Taylor, and Orval Overall led the North Siders to back-to-back World Series wins in 1907-1908. Ah, the glorious golden days. They recorded a record 116-wins and the best winning percentage. They won 5 more National League pennants before 1945, when THE curse began.  The Cubs, 1906 Let me tell you about the curse… the curse that is far, far more vicious than the one that turned a prince into a frog, more poisonous than the apple given to Snow White, and ten-thousand times more powerful than the curse of A-Bian. That is the curse of a goat, or rather, the curse cast by the goat’s owner, Billy Sianis. Sianis was a Greek immigrant, who had two tickets to Game 4 of the 1945 World Series against the Detroit Tigers. Dear loving Sianis, decided not to bring his wife or his sons, but his pet goat, Murphy, which he had nursed back to good health (the goat had fallen off a truck and stumbled into a tavern owned by him). Murphy wore a blanket with a sign that said "We got Detroit's goat" to the stadium. Some ushers attempted to get them out, but hey, they had tickets! As the game began, sweet Billy and his lovely goat sat in their box seats and prepared to enjoy the game. You think the Friendly Confines would not object to the harmonious gathering of man and his animal. Oh no, the head of Wrigley Field's security company sneered at the goat and proclaimed, "If he eats the ticket that would solve everything." Unfortunately, the goat knew better. It started to rain as the game proceeded, and poor Murphy got wet. Before the game was over, Billy and his goat got thrown out from the stadium at the command of the Cubs owner because poor Murphy allegedly emitted an objectionable odor (well, he was soaking wet). Oh the audacity to humiliate a Greek and his goat! Sweet Billy was so outraged that his beloved Murphy was insulted that he placed a curse upon the Cubs that they would never win another pennant or play in a World Series at Wrigley Field ever again. Billy and Murphy left the U.S. to vacation in his home in Greece to heal the wounds inflicted by the Cubs organization. The Cubs lost Game 4 and eventually the 1945 World Series. Upon hearing the result, Billy wrote to Wrigley, the owner of Cubs, saying, "Who stinks now?" Since then, the Cubs continue to stink and have not won a National League pennant or played in a World Series--the longest drought in any professional sports in North America. Billy died in 1970, but the curse lives on.  Billy and His Goat A Century of Cubs Misery Attempting to break the curse, Cubs brought Billy’s nephew and a goat out to the Wrigley Field on numerous occasions. But them Greeks know how to place a curse! In 2003, Cubs came within 5 outs to reach the World Series with their Ace on the mount facing the Florida Marlins. But an unfortunate fan named Steve Bartman tried to catch a foul ball, interfering with the left-fielder Moises Alou, who appeared in position to make the play. After that, the Marlins scored 8 runs in the inning and won the game. The Marlins then went on to win the World Series. Poor Bartman, who had to be escorted out of the stadium as fans hurled drinks and whatever at him, probably considered entering the witness protection program, became the new Billy Goat.  Bartman and Alou Before the 2004 season the infamous Steve Bartman ball was destroyed at Harry Caray's Restaurant in Chicago. The destruction procedure was designed by Academy Award winning special effects expert and close associate of Steven Spielberg, Michael Lantieri. In 2005, the remains of the ball were used by the restaurant in a pasta sauce. Although no part of the ball was actually in the sauce, the ball was boiled and distilled, and added to the final concoction. Since the incident, tourists flooded to the Wrigley Field to see the Bartman seat, as they ruminated, “what if…”  The Steve Bartman Ball, Before Explosion  The Steve Bartman Ball, Toasted In 2006, Cubs signed “Sweet Lou” Piniella, the temperamental former Yankees manager to a three-year deal. He immediately led them to the division title the following year, before being swept by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the Division Series.  “Sweet Lou” Kicks it up with the Umps When the Spring Training began in February, Cubs pitcher Ryan Dempster declared the Cubs will win the World Series of 2008. “This is the year,” he says. Every year, the long-suffering, miserable, wretched, heartbroken, ridiculous, depressed, silly, insane Cubs fans, who are in dire need of group therapy, embrace their loveable losers, gnashing their teeth, clenching their fists, like Scarlett O’Hara kneeling down on the soil of Tara; they came to Wrigley Field believing “this is the year!” Well, they’ve been saying that for one hundred years. Will this be the year when the curse is finally broken? But would they know what to do with themselves if the perpetual loser finally wins? Ah, the baseball season is about to begin, and as a Cubs fan, I continue to hope. Chicago Cubs Win the World Series! Ok, it’s a computer game. |
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| ( 興趣嗜好｜運動 ) |
