Rodney’s Sports Bar patrons sat at rapt attention, staring at the big screens while waiting for the highly anticipated first Democratic presidential debate to start.
Yeah, no. Just kidding.
Due to an early game start, the Highland bar seemed a little less fired up than Wednesday, when the Chicago Cubs won the wild-card game. But as soon as the last play was made Tuesday night, and the Division Series spot was clinched with a 6-4 win over division rival St. Louis Cardinals, the crowd let the joy flags fly loudly.
“We don’t need no goat!” Luann Stirling, of Highland, said once the roar died down. “A couple years ago, we went down to spring training and ate goat patties, so maybe we ate it and made it go away.”
Ed Reising, of Schererville; his son, Brad Reising, of Steger, Ill.; John Rosaschi, also of Schererville; and Dave Krcmaric, of Highland, have watched the games at Rodney’s since Saturday. In the middle of their table sat a horseshoe in a wax bag, an artifact Ed Reising picked up last Wednesday while working.
“I found it at lunch time. I was walking in back of the building and kicked something, and when I looked down, it was sticking out of the dirt,” he said. “We brought it out Wednesday, and they won, and now watching the Cards, they’re winning. What are the odds?”
The horseshoe might’ve been their talisman, but looking at the team, the Cubs probably didn’t need any luck, according to these men. A young, versatile team, the men in blue this year are comparatively different.
“Every player on this team can do anything, and every play is exciting. I’ve never seen this from them,” Brad Reising said.
Even some White Sox fans put aside their rivalry to bask in the glory of a Chicago team having its moment. Diehard Sox fan Kevin Skalman, of Highland, and his wife, Erin, watched while waiting for a pizza.
“I love baseball, and whenever I see a jersey with a Chicago team, it’s a great thing for Chicago and Northwest Indiana,” Skalman said. “Everyone’s happy and it moves everyone’s spirit.”
Will he go out and buy some Cubs gear now?
“No. Never. I love my White Sox,” he said.
Cary Stirling, of Highland, said the game went according to the prophesy: the Robert Zemeckis prophesy, that is.
“According to ‘Back to the Future,’ the Cubs were going to win the Series in 2015,” he said. “Here we are.”
Michelle L. Quinn is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
