Carry on Citizens » Cubs

Air Force One Photo Op: St. Louis Arch

Jeff — Fri, 08 May 2009 12:00:32 +0000

President Obama can’t be blamed for this one. Turns out Michelle was showing off for some of her friends back in Chi-town where they had one too many apple martinis and decided to stick it to Cardinals fans by flying through the Arch. They even had a “Go Cubs!” banner tied to the back but it fell off somewhere near Decatur, IL. The pilot might have been a little buzzed too, as evidenced by the landing gear still being down.

Carry on, Citizens!

Thanks to Katie Jenkins for this week’s photo.

Cubs, Dodgers, and Curses

Jeff — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 19:39:04 +0000

100 years is a long time to wait. For Cubs fans, the wait will be longer. After posting 97 wins and the best record in the National League, the Cubs were swept by the Dodgers last night. Many fans believe that the curse began in 1945 and is related to a billy goat. They’re wrong. I believe they’ve been cursed since the 1918 World Series. Many baseball historians believe the Cubs threw the 1918 Series a year before the south siders did it in the famous Black Sox scandal. Some scholars even believe that some Cubs players may have given the Sox the idea.

Regardless of which version you believe, I can tell you for certain the origin of the 20 year Dodger curse: Me. Yes, I cursed the Dodgers right after the final out of the 1988 World Series. I couldn’t stand the sight of the ball leaving Kirk Gibson’s bat and Dennis Eckersley watching it sail over the wall at Chavez Ravine. Over and over and over again I’ve had to watch that highlight. It was a deep wound.

Three years ago, I made peace with the Dodgers. I even went through the cathartic process of writing a novel about them. So, the curse has been lifted. And the Dodgers just might win the World Series this year. As for the Cubs, there’s no telling when that one will end.

Carry on, Citizens!

MLB Playoffs

Jeff — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 00:36:13 +0000

I boycotted my usual baseball playoff post last night, in favor of the Druid story. I had to mount some sort of protest to Bud Selig’s latest bastardization of the game: the Twins/White Sox 1 game playoff. No offense to White Sox fans, but no way that game should have been played in Chicago. In fact it shouldn’t have been played at all. The Twins won the regular season series between the two. They should have been in. At the very least, they should have hosted the game.

It’s been a crazy baseball season. The Rays are in the playoffs and yet the earth didn’t spin off its axis. The Cubs are in the playoffs and Steve Bartman has been ordered by a federal judge to not come within 1000 yards of Wrigley Field. Joe Torre is back in the playoffs, but as the manager of the Dodgers. The Brewers fired their manager 2 weeks ago, and are still in the playoffs!

Anything could happen in October, but I’m still sticking by my mid-season prediction of a Brewers/Angels World Series. I know the Brewers lost today, but they seem to thrive on adversity. I love the playoffs, but I need them to end quickly. I have a baseball novel to finish!

Carry on, Citizens!

Stars, Stripes, and Lighter Fluid

Jeff — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 01:49:06 +0000

Thanks to marvelous citizen Debbie Marshall for sending me this video today. One of the top 100 moments in baseball history, Rick Monday’s play is an inspiration to everyone who holds the flag dear and thinks that we should treat it with respect –both for the country it represents and the men & women who died to protect it. (Wow, that was a long sentance!) Wish I could find a Rick Monday Cubs jersey…

Carry on, Citizens!