The Cubs didn't win this.
So I started thinking...in major professional sports (no, soccer doesn't count), is there a trophy that has such a respect associated with it?
Really...the NHL names its finals after their trophy. It's not the NHL championship...it's the Stanley Cup finals. The NFL's prize, the Vince Lombardi trophy is probably close...but their isn't "one" Lombardi trophy. A new one is made every year. The Stanley Cup is a traveling trophy, going from one team to the next and has the names of all the players who have one it inscribed on it. And the NFL hasn't named their championship game the Vince Lombardi Trophy Bowl.
Ok...what does this have to do with baseball? Well...here is baseball's World Series trophy...(blandly named the Commissioner's Trophy):
Woopie.
I think I saw one of those at Walmart. Don't lift it to high over your head, you might break off the Pirates flag.
It's not named after anyone. Outside of a little itty bitty crown and a little itty bitty baseball on it...it has no fancy decor. Bland...dumb...it looks like something that you'd win in little league...in fact, I think I have a nicer trophy than than from when my little league team one their division back about 25 years ago.
I'm curious to find out how many of those World Series trophies are out there that are completely in tact. There's no way in hell you'd be able to let each member of the winning team keep it for a day like the tradition is with Stanley Cup. The dog's tail might knock out an entire division of team from the trophy.
Baseball is the National Pastime...and while that statement doesn't have quite the meaning it once did, it is still important and it's popularity is still enormous. It would be nice if these guys had a little more to play for than this cheap crap-ass trophy.
****************
Zambrano pitched (as anyone would expect) 5 innings last night and gave up (as anyone would expect) 3 runs. Unlike Ted Lilly, the offense gave Z some support last night knocking Randy Wolf all over the place. Supposedly, Lou had a chat with the hitters yesterday and told them to shape up or they'll be benched. Benched for who? I don't know. Maybe they'll bring Sam Fuld up again, or better yet, Micah Hoffpauir. Anyway, Byrd and Soto hit 2 homers a piece and Derrek Lee hit his 300th (of his career, not of the season...because that would be a record or something).
Today...Dempster vs. Cubs whipping boy, Dave Bush.
If the Cubs can't win today...then they officially suck donkey balls. It's as simple as that. They have crushed Dave Bush in the past. They have no choice but to win today.
So the two of the three teams that at the beginning of this century were sitting with the biggest championship droughts of any team in their league...the White Sox and the Blackhawks...have now won a championship. It's time for the Cubs to do the same. But it looks like we are going to have to wait a few years before that happens.
