Playoff game at Wrigley - Experience 22

The Cubs lost their third game to the D-backs on Saturday, marking the end of their fantastic run from last to first this year. Being in the crowd at Wrigley on Saturday really helped me to understand why it's so difficult for the Cubs to win. The level of expectation and desperation was palpable. 99 years of losing tradition is unbelievably weighty. The Cubs were never really in it. The starting pitcher Rich Hill gave up a home run on the first pitch of the game and things went downhill from there. The Cubs had many chances, but everytime they got close they hit into a double play (four times!) Sadly, many in the crowd booed the team at the close of the game. But there were other people holding up signs thanking the Cubs for a great season. Two inebriated young men were standing by the exits urging people to root for the Bulls. So there was some gratitude and humor in the crowd. But mostly huge disappointment. It would have been great if the crowd could have spontaneously have broken into a chorus of "Go Cubs Go" but it just wasn't to be. (One of the papers had a cruel headline: "No, Cubs, No." This year, like so many other years, Cubs fans can only say "Wait till next year."