I’m a lifelong Cubs fan. Born in 1961, I have memories about the 1969 Cubs. My memory isn’t that great since I was only eight years old. What I do remember has to do with my mother. I don’t recall anything in particular but just the general sense that she believed it was the Cubs year. I remember jokes as the team unbelievably faded in September, over taken by the New York Mets. I knew the players, Banks, Santo, Williams and the rest, but I admit that I really didn’t follow them all that closely. I didn’t even know about the black cat until years later.

Little did any of us know that would be the best shot they boys in blue would have until 1984.

This was a special year. I was married that year to the lady I’ve spent the last 24 years with and who I am more in love with now than then, if that is possible. It was also the year my son was born, just days before the Cubs started the playoffs. In a best of 5 series, the Cubs up 2 games to none, winning both in San Diego and returning to Chicago, they only needed to win one out of three. On paper that had the better team and I don’t believe one fan thought that would not make it to the World Series. I kept a bottle of Champagne that was meant to celebrate in my fridge for years after the unbelievable happened.

In 1989, the Cubs again made the playoffs. I don’t remember having high hopes that year. In 1984, confidence was great as we knew the Cubs had a great team. I don’t remember feeling that was in 1989. What I do remember in getting to go to one of the games at Wrigley Field against the Giants. It was the only game our hero’s won in the series, beating ex-Cub Rick Reuschel.

And than there is the year in which the Cubs almost lost me as a fan. It wasn’t the fact that they blew another 3-2 playoff lead, needing only one win out of two games in Chicago with there two best pitchers to go. It was they way those Cubs fans treated Steve Bartmen after he innocently reached up for a foul ball. I actually knew people who wanted to cause harm to this kid.  And I will point out that ESPN never can resist showing that clip and I wish they would stop. The Cubs last that game with a series of errors and it had nothing to do with this young man.

Last year the Cubs won the division but got swept by Arizona. This was almost a relief. It was better that getting close and than falling short in another “can’t lose” situation.

Now it’s 2008 and the Cubs won another division titles. Everyone who is not a Cubs fan in waiting for them to fall again. If they do, they will laugh at us Cubs fans, but they don’t understand what baseball is all about. While winning the Championship would be wonderful, that not the point. The season in 162 games and my team from Chicago won the majority of them. I watched some thrilling victories and some heartbreaking defeats. In many of those games I saw some amazing moments, like Reed Johnson catch in center-field, Aramis Ramirez grand-slam home run to win the game, or Carlos Zambrano no-hitter in Miller Park. It’s these moments baseball in all about.

Unfortunately there are many who will forget that if the worse happens. It’s too bad whole summer of magical moments will be forgotten because of one bad series.

My son, who was born the days before the Cubs started the 1984 playoffs in now serving our military in the U.S. Navy and I could not be prouder. I have a daughter who was born in 1986, the day before the Chicago Bears beat the Rams to go to the Superbowl. She is in college and is doing great. My wife and I are still happily married, going on 25 years. I love all three more that I can say. I’m hoping for the best with the Cubbies, but if they don’t, I think I can live with that.