WOOD-TV 8 Cub Fans Still Hopeful
October 3rd, 2008 at 8:21 pm by Larry Figurski under Sports
This may be “Tigers” country, but the WOOD-TV 8 offices/departments each have their share of Cub fans… from Sports Director Jack Doles… to Storm Team 8 Meteorologist Laura Valesquez… to Producer Bill Herbst. In fact, in the 20-plus years I’ve known Jack (Chicago native), and the 13 years I’ve known Bill, I’ve NEVER met a more diehard Cubs fan, than either of those two.
While none of them would say it before the playoffs, you could tell each was beginning to think, “maybe this IS the year”. For six months and 162 games, the Cubs proved they were indeed the best team in the National League. Yet in less than 48 hours, they have many of the Cubbie faithful, and most of the fans of other teams saying, “here we/they go again.” While neither Jack, Bill nor Laura have given up hope yet, this will be either an incredibly dramatic comeback in route to the Cubs first World Series title in 100 years, or, more than l.ikely, simply just another meltdown… perhaps one of the biggest and most painful yet.. for a franchise haunted by… depending on who you talk to… bad luck, curses, or just plain chokes.
I’m a Tiger fan, not a Cub fan… but I’ll be pulling for Chicago Saturday night. Not only for Jack, Bill and Laura’s sake, but for all the faithful, yet never rewarded Cub fans. Just think… they’ve waited nearly TWICE AS LONG for a championship, as us DETROIT LION fans have. Then again, they didn’t have to put up with Matt Millen. I’ll call it a draw.
Go Cubs.
It will be a shame if the Cubs lose again for the second straight year in the first round especially after the season they had! I sure hope they call pull out a miracle and win 3 straight!
I grew up in Evanston/Wilmette, Illinois. The Cubs were my team. I have Ernie Banks autograph (he’s 77 now)! I remember them all…Ron Santo, Billy Williams, Kenny Hubbs, Glenn Beckert, Don Kessinger, George Altman, Eddie Bouchet, Randy Hundley, Sammy Taylor, Leo Durocher, Ferguson Jenkins, Ken Holtzman, Phil Regan of course…when I was a little kid it was 15 cents to ride the “L” to Wrigley Field, pay a buck for a bleacher seat and buy a Frosty Malt from a guy with one tooth long about the 6th inning. Jack “Hey, Hey” Brickhouse and Vince Lloyd announcing the games on WGN. In 1969, the Cubs were in first place for most of the season…then lost 17 of their last 25 games to finish 2nd to the Mets. We joked that they should have moved to the Philippines to become the “Manila Folders”. But their still my team…and will be next year when the winter snow melts and the vines come alive and the Cubs begin another journey toward the World Series win that has eluded them for a century.