JSS: Bartman's Ring- Little Cub Fans-- Sox, What Sox?

JSS--  Just Some Stuff

1.  BARTMAN RING--  I was glad to see the Chicago Cubs give Steve Bartman a 2016 World Series Ring.  He only did what everyone else in his section at Wrigley Field was doing, and that was grab for the foul baseball.

After he suffered in silence for 14-years and was the scapegoat of the Cub's  phenomenal collapse in the 2003 NLCS.  The Cubs were ahead in the sixth game and a win would have sent them to the World Series for the first time since 1945.  After he (and the rest of the fans sitting around him) may have interfered with the Cubs player catching the ball, the Cubs player went insane, as did the while team and they lost that game and then the next one to end the World Series run.  I always blame Cubs manager Dusty Baker for not doing his job and calming his team down.

The pain and agony that all the Cubs fans put him through afterwards and the way he dealt with it was amazing.  Always a guy with a lot of class.  The Cubs said they hope the ring provides closure on an unfortunate chapter.  Steve Bartman, ever the class-guy (sure wish that lawyer behind him who scooped up the baseball could have been half the man), replied to the Cubs, "Although I do not consider myself worthy of such an honor, I am deeply moved and sincerely grateful."       Well deserved.

2.  LITTLE CUB FANS--  Doctors and nurses in and around the Chicagoland area have noticed a spike in births of babies of recent.  That would make conception somewhere around November 2, 2016, when the Cubs clinched Game Seven of the World Series.  Obviously some folks were not out in the streets around
Wrigley Field.  or, THEY CELEBRATED WHEN THEY GOT HOME.

3.  SOX, WHAT SOX?--  Now I realize the Chicago White Sox are having a horrible year, but just try to go into a local bar and find the Sox game on TV.  I often have to ask the bartender to put it on.  I tell you, we can't get NO respect.  Right, Rodney?

Way to Celebrate Cubs Fans.  --RoadDog

Cubs-Sox Crosstown Rivalry:  Sox Fan to Cubs Fan--  The last Cub to throw a no-hitter was your pitching machine.

Pope Francis, Cubs Fan?

From the November 16, 2016, Chicago Tribune.

Pope Francis received a Cubs cap and an encased baseball, gifts from Chicago Archbishop (now Cardinal) Blase Cupich.

--RoadDog

The Cubs Were a BIG Thing!

From the November 20, 2016, Chicago Tribune "Cubs catcher Ross' Game 7 gear fetches $50,000."

Harry Caray's restaurant chain paid this amount for it.  Other things sold:  a base from John Lesters's NLCS Game 5 win for $8,000 and Anthony Rizzo's "dumb bat." for $5,000.

Many collector's believe game-used baseball from the Series will go for $2,000.  But, there is not a lot of Cubs stuff out there as people are holding onto it.

--RoadDog

ONE THING I LEARNED IN LIFE:  ...the only person I have to be better than, is the person I was yesterday.

"Go Cubs Go," a 1984 Song, Hits the Billboard Charts-- Part 1: (For Some Reason)

From the November 10, 2016, Chicago Tribune.

Not only are the Chicago Cubs making history, but music about them is as well.

Steve Goodman's 1884 song "Go Cubs Go," which is played and sung loudly after every Cubs win at Wrigley Field, debuts on the Billboard Pop Digital Song Sales chart at #21 and on the Billboard Digital Song Sales Chart at 49 for the week ending November 19.

The song drew 15,000 downloads and 2.5 million U.S. streams (mostly from You Tube clicks in the week that ended Nov. 3), according to Billboard.  The Cubs won the World Series against the Cleveland Indians on Nov. 2.

Well, How About That!!  --Go CubDog

SIGNS AND NOTICES:  Fitness Center sign:  "Self esteem is feeling good about yourself - regardless of the facts."

The Cubs Were Big News in Chicago-- Part 2: Chief Wahoo Offensive?

**  Chief Wahoo source of pride -- and disgust.  I sure saw more Chief Wahoo logos on Cleveland fans than those ugly Cs.  But. American Indians say its degrading.  I agree with them.  If I was an Indian, I'd find it offensive.

**  Cubs fan born in 1908 hoping to see 2nd World Series win.  Vivian Baron was born a few months before the Cubs beat the Detroit Tigers in the 1908 Series.  Today, of course, she is 108.

**  Aldermen still want answers on Cubs postseason ticket ban.  They can no longer get tickets at face value.  Well, this is Chicago you know.

And This Wasn't Even the Sports Section.  --RoadDog

The Cubs Were Big News in Chicago-- Part 1: The Curse of the Billy Goat?

From the October 27, 2016, Chicago Tribune.  These are articles from the front section, not the sports.

Front page:  Huge color photo of Anthony Rizzo crossing home plate after Kyle Schwarber's RBI single in the third inning at Progressive Field in Cleveland as Cubs beat the Indians 5-1 to even the series at one game apiece.  Headline  "BATMEN RETURN:  Arrieta Starts Off Strong As Cubs Come Alive At the Plate to Tie the Series."

**Ex-Justice Stevens to come home for Series.  Former Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens was born on Chicago's South Side and in 1929, at age 9, his father took him to his first Cubs game.

**  What's the bleat?  Sianis' kin says goat curse lives.  Raging debate as to whether the curse of the billy goat has been lifted since the Cubs are in the World Series.  Or, do the Cubs have to win it to break it?

Bleat If You believe.  --RoadDog

A Long Hard Road for the Cubs, But, 2016 World Series Champions

I must first say that I am a Cubs fan...unless they play the White Sox.  Buy, I have always liked the Cubs and have probably even seen them play more games than my Sox.

I wasn't writing about the playoffs, but believe me, I was closely following them. Liz and I went out to area bars for just about every game, both NLDS, NLCS and the World Series.  I was even wearing my Cubs hat (the only article of Cubs clothing I have as compared to a real lot of Sox stuff.  I mean, a REAL LOT!!)

I didn't write about it in any blog because of superstition.  Whenever I write about one of my teams before the end of the season or game, they lose and I wasn't taking any chances.

Yesterday, I took the Cubs "W" (Win) car flag off before the game as bad luck, you know.  We left the Cubs car flag up, though.  We drove to Sunnyside Tavern in Johnsburg for the game.  We have gone here for many of the playoff games.  A good-sized crowd, but not too crowded and most were into the game.  Lots of cheering as we went on an emotional roller coaster.  This just HAD to be THE YEAR.

When the Indians tied it in the 8th, we left.  It was getting late, 10 p.m.

Saw the rest of the game at home in the downstairs Margaritaville bar and enjoyed the Ultimate Jukebox.  Then, in the 10th, with the final out I started really playing winning kind of songs and even a couple from Ohio's Pat Dailey in honor of that great Cleveland Indians team that gave us all we could handle.  "Put-In-Bay" and "Get Your Ass to Cleveland."

That went on until 2:30 this morning.

"If You Like Irish Whiskey and Drinking Ice Cold Beer."  --RoadDog

Somewhere Ron, Ernie, Jack, Harry and Steve Are Smilin'

Here's to you Ron Santo, Ernie Banks, Jack Brickhouse, Harry Caray and Steve Goodman who are somewhere and are smilin'.

Cubs WIN the WORLD SERIES!!

Gonna Be a Long Night Here.

Fireworks going up all over the neighborhood and the "W" flags coming off.  Ultimate jukebox primed for some fun.  Margaritaville at Key North in business.

Cub Fan for Tonight!!  "Go Cubs Go."  --RoadDog