The Sandspur

Issue date: 3/26/07 Section: Sports

Ok. It's official. The Chicago Cubs are cursed. I don't say this because this is a team that hasn't one a World Series since back-to-back titles in 1907 and 1908. I don't say this because the closest they've come since the 1940's was the Steve Bartman fiasco in the 2003 NLCS.

I say this because Kerry Wood has been injured falling out of his hot tub. Yeah, that's what you read. The Cubs have been victims of an injury plague that may never go away and the catalyst falls squarely on Mr. Wrigley's own shoulders.

The Curse of The Billy Goat
Game 4 of the 1945 World Series marked the beginning of the curse. Greek tavern owner
Billy Sianis brought his pet goat to the Cubs-Tigers game 4. Sianis and his goat were allowed into Wrigley Field and were actually
made part of the World Series celebration and Sianis brought him to his seat. Sianis even attached a rather un-witty pun (I take that back, what puns are unwitty?)
to Murphy (the goat) that read "We got Detroit's goat."

Wrigley Field security chief Alan Frain ten attempted to remove Murphy and his owner
Mr. Sianis because of Murphy's odor. This was done at the request of Philip Wrigley, the Cubs owner.Sianis fought this ejection and Frain made the deal that if the goat could eat the ticket Sianis and Murphy could stay. The Cubs have never had much luck and
Murphy didn't eat.

Sianis was then ejected, and placed a curse on the Cubs. The Cubs lost game 4 and the 1945 World Series, and they haven't won one since. Sianis even wrote a letter from Greece that said, "Who stinks now?" Apparently it's karma. Now enter Steve
Bartman.

Steve Bartman
With the cubs up 3-0 on the Marlins late in game 6 of the 2003 NLCS, Luis Castillo hit a pop up that drifted into foul territory. Moises Alou got under the ball, and as he went to reach into the box seats, long-time Cubbie Steve Bartman put his hand out and grabbed the rock right before Alou could close his glove. However, what everyone forgets is that the Marlins were still down
3. But Bartman gave new life to Luis, and it did turn into an 8 run 8th inning for the Marlins. Even still, Florida then had to
come from behind to defeat the Cubs in game 7 to advance. Steve Bartman's fault or the Cubs' fault? You decide.

The DL Should Be Named After You (new Fall Out Boy song title?)

The Cubs haven't just been the victims of a World Series drought for droughts sake. They've also been the victims of baseballs worst cases of injuries. A true list of the walking wounded would be too long for this article, so I will focus on the Cubs two

Continued...

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