100 Years of Major League Misery?

"I always believed that being a Cubs fan built strong character. It taught a person that if you try hard enough and long enough, you'll still lose. And that's the story of life."

-Mike Royko, legendary Chicago journalist

Yesterday marked Opening Day in Major League Baseball, which leads me to the question: how long has it been since the Chicago Cubs have won a World Series? The answer: 99 years. That’s how long we Chicago Cub baseball fans have been saying, “Wait ‘til next year!” This year, Cubs fans are “celebrating” the centennial event that marks the longest losing streak in the history of a major sports franchise. As you can imagine, the Chicago Cubs organization isn’t saying anything about it, but it’s on everybody’s mind. As the 2008 Major League Baseball season gets underway, people are wondering: can the Cubs win a World Series this year?

Losing streak. Una racha de derrotas

If you ask me…probably not. The Cubs are off to a typical start. They play exciting baseball and then let the fans down. The highlight of yesterday’s game between the Cubs and the Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field was a three-run homerun hit by the Japanese outfielder Kosuke Fukudome. He played an amazing game. It was his debut in the Big Leagues (a term to describe Major League Baseball), and what a game he played! In his first Major League game he hit his first single, his first double and his first homerun. But it was to no avail. The Brewers came back in the top of the tenth inning to score a run, and the Cubs we unable to score any runs during their turn in the bottom of the tenth inning. Final score: Brewers 4, Cubs 3.

To let down. Defraudar, decepcionar
Highlight. Lo más destacado (de un acontecimiento)
Brewer. Cervecero
To no avail. En vano

So, as I’ve said, yesterday’s game typifies the Chicago Cub’s style of play. They play well enough to keep you interested in the team; to keep an eye on the standings -in other words- to remain a loyal Cubs fan. But in the end, they always manage to lose.

Standings. La clasificación
In the end. Al final

I would love to have been in Wrigleyville yesterday for the Opening Day festivities. It takes me back to the days when my friends and I skipped school and took the “L” to Wrigley Field to buy tickets from scalpers in order to see the big game. It was usually cold and windy and, like yesterday’s game, there was always a little drizzle. But it never mattered. We had hope. It was a new season; a clean slate. We were optimistic that this year was going to be the Cubs’s year. But it never was, and here we are in 2008 “celebrating” the beginning of the 100th season since the Cubs last won a World Series. As Mike Royko said, being a Cubs fan is a real character-builder!

Wrigleyville. El barrio donde está ubicado el estadio de béisbol, Wrigley Field.
”L”. Abreviatura de la palabra inglesa “elevated” (elevado). Así se llama coloquialmente al tren que forma para del sistema de trasporte público de Chicago cuyos raíles son elevados.
To skip school. Hacer pellas, hacer novillos
Scalper. Revendedor de entradas
Drizzle. Llovizna, chirimiri
Slate. Pizarra (piedra). Viene de la expresión: let's wipe the slate clean (hagamos borrón y cuenta nueva).

Published by: Drew Crosby