98 going on 99

Top of the National League Central division. World Series Champions. The curse is finally broken. Does this sound like any Chicago sports team to you? NO. Not even close. The Chicago Cubs have by far proven year after year that they own the most dreadful and mystifying curse in all of sports. I mean seriously, what are the chances your two aces both suffer horrific injuries, shifting your pitching from outstanding to outrageous. And to be one game away from a World Series opportunity, and all of a sudden an unknown Cubs fan (now notorious for his actions in the 2003 NLCS) interferes with "destiny". Only a curse can truly explain this Cubs issue. In fact, this Billy Goat curse has been the source for thousands and thousands of depressed Chicagoans. But now the Chicago Tribune Company may have finally begun to turn those frowns upside down.

The Cubs are incredibly infamous for their ability to blow games in the end (9 blown saves by Dempster) and to fumble plays at the worst times (Gonzalez's error in the 2003 NLCS). All these horrendous characteristics, in fact, are starting to reach the owners as they have finally figured out the key to Cubs' success: money. It's money these major league players want, and now in Chicago, it's money they will get. The NL's worst team made 6 transactions this offseason, one being the hiring of short-tempered coach Lou Piniella. This step towards progression might allow fans to start thinking "this might finally be our year." But too many spectators have been saying that for too long for it to actually be taken seriously. And Piniella is not the only signing that put a smile on Cubs fans' faces. The newly acquired Alfonso Soriano, who will now play center field for the Cubs, cost them a whopping 136 million dollars. And to say the least, the Chicago team is facing a record that may never be broken again. They are attempting to add another digit, that's right, a three digit number for the number of years since their last World Series win. So it's really no surprise they've spent over 300 million dollars alone this offseason. Moreover, the addition of pitchers Ted Lilly and Jason Marquis, and Kerry Wood's conversion to reliever, have truly improved the depth in the Chicago bullpen. And work has been done to improve the offense and defense with the acquiring of Mark DeRosa and Cesar Izturis, not to mention the return of first baseman Derrek Lee who suffered a broken wrist most of last season. You know, this might just be the Cubs' year after all. OK, let's be realistic here. Although I must admit my bias as a White Sox fan has overwhelmed me greatly, one can only take things so far. Yes, the Cubs have made impressive transactions with their new coaching and roster lineups. But let's try and take it one step at a time here. To go from worst to first in one season, beating out your most despised rivals in the division (those World Series Champion St. Louis Cardinals), may be too hard a task to ask from the Red, White and Blue. But in all fairness, moving ahead of the Pittsburgh Pirates would be a step towards progression since last year.

However, along the path towards success lies many road blocks for the tenacious Chicago Cubs. Contract issues have risen in the case of Carlos Zambrano. He has recently demanded that his contract be renewed before the first pitch of the new season or he will declare for Free Agency at the end of the year. This surprising demand has stunned the owners, as the player who stepped up big when Mark Prior and Kerry Wood were sidelined with injuries, is now becoming a hassle. The Chicago Cubs, as well as their fans, are beginning to realize raising a title contending team is no easy task. Just look at Boston Red Sox. The year after winning their World Series rings, they were swept out by the true Chicago champs. And the next year, they had to sit on their couches to enjoy the postseason. And the same occurred for the 2005 World Series champions. The Chicago White Sox were out-dueled by both division rivals: the Minnesota Twins and the Detroit Tigers. Hey, if you're a Cubs fan I honestly have no problem with your traditions or insignificant good luck charms, but I advise you to be wary of the many disastrous events to come (even though they have experienced many), if the Cubs even reach that peak.