"We better hope they don't get swept," I said.
"They're not going to get swept," producer Matt Knutson answered.
We laughed that conversation off during the taping of this weekend's edition of "metormix - let's eat." We taped the show in Wrigleyville in honor of the Cubs winning the division and taking on the Los Angeles Dodgers. The show aired first on Thursday night, but replayed all weekend long. And boy, don't I feel like an idiot.
I bet there are more than a few Cub fans who feel the same way tonight. I can't say I'm too shocked the team was swept out of the postseason. After all, the same thing happened last year. I remember the 3-1 deficit they blew to the Marlins in 2003. And I'm reminded on a yearly basis of all of the other past heartbreak this franchise has cursed on its fan base.
What am I shocked about? That I bought into this 2008 team. I was all in this year. For the first time in my adult life, I had a real feeling like this team would go all the way. It was the first time they dominated the National League in my lifetime. They had tremendous starting pitching. Their all-star, big money pitcher who threw a no-hitter this season WASN'T EVEN STARTING GAME 1 OF THE PLAYOFFS! That's how good their starting rotation was.
From top to bottom all season long, the Cubs lineup was full of rotating heroes - a different man stepping up in big spots to win games. In April it was Derek Lee. Aramis Ramirez continued to be Mr. Clutch throughout the season. Jim Hendry picks up Jim Edmonds for nothing - and even the man left for dead won a few games for the ball club. And what about the platooners like Mark DeRosa and Reed Johnson?
I have an uncle who was a die hard Cubs fan. He lived and died with this ball club for decades. After the devastation better known as the 1984 postseason, he quit the Cubs cold turkey. Eventually he moved out to Phoenix. The city was granted its own MLB club and he decided to become a fan. A World Series championship later, my Arizona Diamondbacks uncle is having a great time watching baseball, and he constantly phones the family to let them know about it.
So, am I close to quitting the Cubs? Closer than I've ever been - but I'm a bit too young to give up yet.
I'm going to remember the 2008 season as Chicago's official wake up call. The next time this team makes the postseason, I don't want to see any rallies with Hollywood meatballs playing the harmonica. I don't want to see any legislation shutting down bars at the moment of a clinch - especially before the team WINS ONE LOUSY GAME IN THE PLAYOFFS! And I can promise you this one won't happen - I don't want to see any entertainment TV shows celebrating the Cubs in the postseason THE DAY AFTER THEY WERE SWEPT OUT OF IT!
So for the first time in "metromix on CLTV" history, I'm sorry. I'm sorry to all of you Cub fans that might have come to our Sunday show looking for an escape. Life goes on. The White Sox are continuing their struggle against the Tampa Bay Rays, and while that might not make many of you Cub fans feel much better, this probably will.......
BEARS!
