Cubs win one for the history books

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(Photo: Kent Henderson/Flickr)

by Hunter Hillygus, Sports Editor

It has been just over a week since the Chicago Cubs won the World Series. 108 years of futility down the drain. That’s great. Great for Cubs fans, great for baseball.

But has anyone really taken the time to appreciate Game Seven in its entirety?

What we witnessed on that Wednesday was perhaps the greatest baseball game ever played. The implications of either side winning were outstanding. No matter who won, one of the longest championships droughts in the four major North American sports was going to end. People had waited their whole lifetimes to see their Cubs or Indians win the championship; some weren’t able to see that day.

It was the consummate game seven. A 10-inning battle filled with the highest of highs and the lowest of lows on both sides. There were sprinkles of theatrical moments scattered throughout the entire game. From Dexter Fowler’s leadoff home run off former Cy Young award winner Corey Kluber, Grandpa Rossy’s home run in the sixth off of Andrew Miller to the normally underwhelming-at-the-plate Rajai Davis’ game-tying home run in the 8th off of Aroldis Chapman, the game was a Disney movie in real life.

The game had no goats. There were no Buckners. There were no excuses for either team. It was, at its core, a beautiful baseball game. Baseball at its highest level. The Indians make shift pitching staff and bullpen wore down. They got beaten by the better team.

No one will remember Joe Maddon leaving Chapman in for way too long, nor should they. It doesn’t matter. The Cubs won and within that escaped the Curse, the Goat and the 8th inning of the 2003 NLCS all at once.

The juggernaut that Theo Epstein built, delivered. Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, Addison Russell, Kyle Schwarber and Javy Baez all had their moments. Jon Lester was the ace that Epstein signed him to be. Chapman was the closer that Epstein traded Gleyber Torres for. It all worked out.

So enjoy this, Cubs fans. Enjoy the moment, because it could be a while before you experience this again. Maybe even 108 years.