It's October, let the choking begin

I always start October, or fall in general, with a mucus riddled throat. Sometimes spitting out balls of mucus goo. As a non-smoker it disturbs me. I usually hit it with some mucinex and claritan. I don't why it always happens, it just does. I think I've figured it out.

It's because I'm a Cubs fan.

The calendar turns to October and my gag reflex kicks in. And my baseball team follows suit.

The gagging, the choking, the pressure, the all out terribleness of it all. This my friends is a disgrace. An utter failure. A comedy of errors, literally in game 2. A walking disaster like game 1. Who knows what game 3 will bring? It will happen at 10 p.m. on Saturday. The Cubs will likely leave October without much of a whimper. They will flail at pitches on the corner, chase balls into the gap and probably now make the baserunning mistakes they haven't made because well they haven't had any in 18 innings of choking baseball.

I won't mention any of the Cubs by name, because this collection of frauds are on their way to becoming just like the losers that came before them. This one as collossal as the 1984 failure. 97 wins. Down the drain. Giving us as much hope as they ever had. Gone in excruciating high definition pictures that will last me a lifetime.

I put a lot into a Cubs season. It will be worth it someday. Probably when I'm 73 and I have no one to share it with. Baseball will have contracted to 16 teams, because people care more about soccer, American Idol and dance competitions. The Tampa Rays will have 7 banners, but because they only have 70 season ticket holders, they'll relocate to Puerto Rico.

Look it hurts. More than you know. There is no next year to me. I'm suffering now. People that love me are suffering. There's nothing I can do about it. It's in my brain to stay. There's no going back. At this point, I will see this Cub thing through.

This one hurts more than ever though. It's not even over yet, but I know it is. I think. Ah that Cubbie optimism. I'll keep waiting.

Is it November yet?

The time is now...

It's here finally. We've waited for this. It's been a grueling season. I want to write a tearful piece, but will instead to refer you to Al's piece today at Bleed Cubbie Blue. He says it right. There is a hole in my life and I know it's in yours too (if you are a Cubs fan). And when we win it will be spectacular. (Normally never use we when I say a sports team, but the Cubs are the only team I allow myself to do that with).

So let's cut the music and get right to the predictions:

American League
Angels over Red Sox in 4: Too many health issues for Sox.
Rays over White Sox in 5: Young Rays have just enough to be weary, aging Sox.
ALCS: Angels over Rays in 5: No way Tampa is ready.

National League
Phillies over Brewers in 4: Brewers can't get to CC in game 5
Cubs over Dodgers in 3: Sweep.
NLCS: Cubs over Phillies in 6: Game 6 in Wrigley and we roll on. Lilly comes up big for us.

World Series
Cubs over Angels in 5: The World Series always gets over quick these days. The Cubs will have momentum and shock the world. Believe.

See you tonight!

My ulcer hurts...can we win by 10 once?

How bout them Bears. Big victory over the Eagles, now we must roll up to the "D" and roll a bad team. Are the Bears capable of rolling anyone?

Tough to answer. I'd like to think if we played defense all the time like that goalline stand that maybe this team has a shot. Maybe Orton can play QB in this league. Oops turnover, maybe he'll always be learning on the job. This is a real shot for the Bears to make a statement to the NFC that they're going to hang around all year. At 2-2 and tied with the Pack, it's all in front of the Bears.

Chicago has a chance to go to 5-2 before the bye week by beating Detroit and Atlanta on the road, then getting Gus Frerotte and the Viqueens. But know this, don't count on anything with the Bears. They owe the Lions from last year, so they have to get this win in the books before I'm ready to seriously talk about anything ahead. Win this game without a scare and we'll talk.

I really think the Bears may win or lose every game by a field goal this year. But put together back to back wins and I'll forget those two collapses (until they haunt us in Week 17).

Time to put the money where the mouth is. I've looked at this team for 4 weeks and look I don't see us going to the Super Bowl. I don't even want to talk playoffs right now. The Bears are a wildly inconsistent team that could go 11-5 or 6-10. But know this: they're a fun team to watch. They make me mad. They give me heartburn. They make me ecstatic. They make me do stupid things. And that's all I want. And they are capable of doing good things this season. Great, well we'll see about that.

Bears 33, Lions 16

See you Sunday!