My Year in Sports

Where to begin. 2008 was a disasterous year in sports for me. The pain and suffering continued in the well we call Cubdom. Our Cubs won 97 games and easily won the Central Division and secured the best record in the National League. The team gave us so many reasons to believe.

They suffered injuries throughout the year to Soriano, Zambrano and Ramirez and perservered throughout. They won games like a game against Colorado where they were down 9-0, they swept the Brewers in a pivotal 4-game series on the road and even managed to get no-hitter for the first time in my lifetime by Big Z.

My friends and I celebrated the division title with a bottle of Dom and made sure we were all free for a few weeks in October so we could watch our lives as fans change. But it was over real quick (like a scooter ride). I knew it was over after two games, but I don't feel smarter because of it.

They walked batters, made fielding errors and choked at the plate in a 3-game drubbing to the LA Dodgers, a flawed team that won a very poor division. Yet somehow they traded for Manny Ramirez who had quit on Boston and he came to LA and tripped over himself enough to hit what felt like 10 homeruns in 3 games. I've yet to really talk about it since. My friends have been talking over the hot stove and I can't manage to get a word out. The pain continues. It's a new year but I am not optimistic.

Our GM is now tinkering with a 97-win team by acquiring some guy named Gathright and Aaron Miles. He traded away our second baseman, Mark DeRosa and kicked our closer and longest tenured Cub Kerry Wood out the door. We've been trying to get Jake Peavy and do it already if you're gonna. And big fucking deal if we get Jake Peavy, pitching wasn't the problem last season. Of course until Dempster threw his airballs in Game 1.

Look at Peavy's postseason record in 2 starts. He is 0-2 with a 12.10 ERA in 9 2/3 innings. He's given up 13 runs on 19 hits. And yes those runs were earned. So let's not act like he's the savior. He's as unproven in the playoffs as anyone. As you can tell I'm bitter and unimpressed with the offseason so far.

The Bears
As if the Cubs weren't enough pain, the Bears had to blow a shot at the playoffs by losing to Houston in the last game of the season. But I tell you what, Houston was a better team than the Bears and a bad matchup. The Bears finished 9-7 and many will tell you it could've been better. Hell we had Carolina, Tampa and Atlanta all beat. Let's look at that.

The Bears had Carolina down 17-3, but were then dominated over the last 23 minutes of the game and lost 20-17 so scratch that one. The Tampa game while inexcusable, was a mystery to me when you see that Brian Griese threw 67 times, but was never sacked. And the Atlanta game. We didn't deserve it anyway. Jason Elam missed a 33 yard FG indoors that would've put us down 9 with a few minutes left. Then Orton led us on the TD drive. Yes you make your luck, but still. That loss is canceled out by the crappy win over Green Bay. Plus the Bears beat the Lions twice and the lowly Rams. So you know what, the Bears were mediocre. But nonetheless they overachieved at 9-7. The playoffs would've been nice, but just another reason for me to have another hungover Monday at work.

The rest

Most of my other teams sucked too. West Virginia gave it a nice run in the NCAA tourney before losing and then Michigan came along and stole another WVU coach after that. As for the Wolverines, they were god awful under Rich Rodriguez. The UM offense literally defined the phrase "a monkey fucking a football" (see right). In fact so did the defense. In the end they blew ass, got rolled by Ohio State and I barely watched. In fact I thought college football sucked for the most part this year. The BCS is a mess and I'm tired of Tim Tebow.

My beloved Lakers lost in the NBA Finals to the Celtics of all people. The teams appear headed for a rematch in 2009. Yes I know LeBron you're ready. At least for me, I was enjoying a Pearl Jam concert the night the Lakers were rolled in Game 6 and didn't have to hear Kevin Garnett yell "I'm going to Disney World!" Although that was funny and Rome plays it all the time.

Lastly, Ball State thrilled at times going 12-0. They punched IU in the mouth and then won a nice one at Central Michigan. But then even this season went south as the Cardinals fumbled away the MAC title to fucking Buffalo. Then, Coach Hoke left for more money. And now we play Tulsa in a marginal bowl game on January 6.

Summary
You mean nothing to me 2008 sports season. Hell I hated my sports teams so much in '08 that I was distracted enough to get engaged. Ok that one will probably get me in trouble. Love you Mel!!

So let's gear up for a new year in sports! I mean with this kind of optimism, good things are sure to happen. Cheers!