Cubs fever running high in Chicago
CHICAGO -- Chicago is running a fever these days -- Cubs fever.
The franchise hasn’t won a World Series since 1908, but the city has hope that the Cubs will soon reign again, ending the longest championship drought in professional sports.
From the water at Daley Plaza churning Cubbie blue, to the Art Institute’s lions with their new Cubs hats, the city is swooning.
And fans are equally excited.
“So many people in Chicago grew up with the Cubs and it’s -- it’s just amazing,” said one fan.
“It’s awesome. Glad to be a part of it. Let’s go Cubs!” said another fan.
The grass at the “friendly confines” includes an insignia now that induces a double-take -- a World Series logo painted in the grass. Seeing the World Series logo at Wrigley Field means Cubs fans have replaced an old fantasy with a new reality.
Ordinarily, 108 years without a title is not great, but to Grant DePorter, that number, the Cubs and history are all perfectly aligned.
“It’s like the number 108 is just everywhere,” he said.
DePorter runs Harry Caray’s restaurant group, and said 108 portends good fortune for the Cubs, but not Cleveland.
He sees fateful signs in everything from the 108 stitches on a baseball, to the 108 pitches in Jon Lester’s last win, to pitcher Kyle Hendricks’ birthday.
“He was born December 7th, 1989. Twelve plus seven plus 89 equals 108,” DePorter said.
DePorter said he is certain that 108 redounds to their successes, and it’s not just a big curse.
For the Cubs last trip to the World Series in 1945, tickets went for $6 -- or about $80 today. If you want a seat to this year’s it will cost on average about $5,000.
But they are selling.
After all, these are the Cubs, and this could be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
