Congratulations to the Chicago Cubs!
A View From Where the Victory Was Won
These pages are probably the only thing in my life that I do consistently, thus I do not regularly watch any sports, until the championships show up and then I become a bit more engaged, though baseball is my one weakness, and seeing a game in person is always a treat. Thus, as the playoff season began to roll around, and my old Dodgers were doing so well, my hopes were with Los Angles, but alas this was not to be their year.
Instead, the series set up to be between the Cleveland Indians, who had last won the World Series in 1948, and the Chicago Cubs, who had gone without a win in the World Series since 1908, I think there was unanimous consensus that regardless of the outcome, history would be made this year.
(I am pleased to add that both teams went on to play gallantly and behave graciously both in victory and in defeat; a not too subtle comment regarding the race to be settled next week.)
Yes, I was rooting for the Cleveland Indians, the American League Champions, not only because I was born in Ohio, or because Kate is from Cleveland, as are many of our friends, or because I lived in Cleveland, but because I remember my Father taking me to see them play, at the old Cleveland Stadium, back in the day when Bob Hope owned a piece of the franchise, and it was possible to go down to the field and easily meet the players.
Watching Game 7 of the 2016 World Series was a true pleasure, and I will admit that on more than one occasion, I said a little prayer for Cleveland, and saw it answered when they tied 6-6, after nine innings. There was a 17 minute rain delay, which I am sure those who know more than me will one day calculate its impact on this game, but as the game went into extra innings, Chicago took the lead, and kept it, winning the game 8-7.
I have always said that the sports fans in Ohio are fanatical, in a way I have not truly seen anywhere else, in the nation. However, you have to admire the loyalty and passion of the fans of National League Chicago Cubs who today it is time to congratulate.
So here is to the Cubs, the World Series Championship – congratulations!
