I’ve been a Cubs fan since the early 80s. In all these years I can name all the times the Cubs were playoff contenders: 1984, 1989, 1998, 2003, and 2007. That’s not all that frequent really, especially considering the Cubs haven’t even been to the World Series in my lifetime (1945), let alone won it (1908). Coming close to the end of this season it appeared almost a sure bet that the Cubs were headed to the playoffs, but they ran into a rough patch in the final six games which inspired me to write this sonnet.
A loyal fan since days of yore I’ve been
Each year it comes and goes without a win
But this time seemed it was a different year
For this season there was reason to cheer
First place ahead three games with six to go
Only to lose the next three in a row
Through injuries and mulligans we fret
As spectators we worry and we sweat
Each time our bullpen takes the ball we pray
With runners on we need a double play
Will we be able to control our fate?
Or will we have to watch the scores and wait?
I guess I’ll have to use my lucky charm
In hopes that it will do the team no harm!
I know it’s a strange format for a song. I don’t know why I chose a sonnet, but it gives you the idea. Luckily this song didn’t foreshadow an epic meltdown (like the 2007 New York Mets), but I think it’s a good one to keep around because even though I love the Cubs they continue to tear my heart out.
This year the Cubs started a new tradition of playing a song after home game wins. The song is called “Go Cubs Go” by Steve Goodman and really is a dumb song, but it’s magic has made a tear come to my eye and a chill rise in my soul on several occaisions throughout the year on miraculous come-from-behind victories. I hope that in the future when Cubs fans commiserate their all-too-familiar tragedies they use this song as a way of healing.
October is right around the corner and the Cubs are playing for a title. As a Cubs fan there is not much more that I can ask for. I’m sure fellow musician and Cubs fan, Eddie Vedder, would agree.
1 comments:
Good to see your post about "Go, Cubs, Go" by Steve Goodman. He often doesn't get his due. You might be interested in an eight-year project of mine that has come to fruition -- an 800-page biography of Goodman published in May, "Steve Goodman: Facing the Music." The book delves deeply into the origin of "Go, Cubs, Go" and the related song "A Dying Cub Fan's Last Request." Please check my Internet site below for more info on the book. Just trying to spread the word. Feel free to do the same!
Clay Eals
1728 California Ave. S.W. #301
Seattle, WA 98116-1958
(206) 935-7515
(206) 484-8008
ceals@comcast.net
http://www.clayeals.com
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