It’s the top of the ninth, two outs and the Cubs are one out away from their first World Series since 1945. Steve Bartman has been safely escorted out by security following the two-run uprising that has given them the lead.
There’s a swing, and a high foul ball. The Cubs’ catcher drifts back, reaches out and the ball nestles just out of his grasp into the second row of the newly constructed boxes behind home plate. Next pitch, bang, three-run homer and the world order is preserved.
This year, it is Tribune greed that kills the beast.
We Sox fans know one thing: Your shortstop can drop a sure double-play ball, your manager can be badly outmanaged by an old-timer who knows to use his starters in the late innings of important games while you sit yours and use mediocre relievers, but you always have to have some supernatural reason for losing.
Maddux, Bonds, Ruth–it doesn’t matter. Cubs lose.
