I know that the title suggests pure blasphemy for loyal fans, and if you're wondering where I could possibly be going with this, let me be the first to say, I really don't like the Phillies. However, as a loyal and lifelong Cubs fan, I thought I should point out that the Phils are the logical choice to root for in this World Series.
I have heard the stories all year long about the Rays, and sure they make a nice story and all, but as a Cubs fan, do I really care to hear about some other team coming from nowhere to win it all? Wouldn't I be better off with a winner that was actually expected to do something this season? I mean, if the futility of the North Siders continues throughout my lifetime, do I really need any more storylines about the team that has a payroll lower than some teams coaching salaries? Well that's just the beginning, really...
Think about this; if the Rays win it all, they will be the 3rd expansion team from the '90's era to do so (Marlins '97 & '03, Diamondbacks '01). They are already the 4th expansion team from the same era to make the Series (Rockies '07), while we Cubs loyalists continue to wait in agony. By all accounts, the Rays and Rockies are behind the curve as the Marlins & D-Backs both won it all in just the 4th year of their teams' existence.
Do we really need any more reminders of how many teams have been there or won it all since the Cubs did anything of significance? Obviously, no, we don't. Just look at the way fans reacted to this year's meltdown against a clearly inferior team. This was the year where "next year" didn't matter to us. This was the year that it was supposed to happen. It didn't feel like all the other "this years" we have had before, no, there were real expectations; FROM CUBS FANS!!.
Oh well...if history has taught us nothing of the Cubs, we still have no chance, we're stuck with them; especially next year...
Keywords: Chicago Cubs, Cubs, MLB Playoffs, Phillies, Rays, Tampa Bay Rays, World Series
