June 7, 2021: A Year to Forget

I knew I’d get to this point eventually; I wished THIS was one of the years that the Baseball Seasons episodes skipped. But nooooo… they skipped 2002, but 2003… they had that one. If the Cubs did not win back in 2016, I don’t think I would have even watched this episode. Why would I want to relive a painful memory? I never get why people want to do that shit; maybe they don’t have a choice… they can’t help it. But… that pain is a lot less today; finally getting the holy grail did wonders. So, ok, I’ll watch it; after all, after this one, there are only 2 episodes to go.

They talked about a lot of stuff before getting to that point in the 2003 baseball season; honestly, I was watching, but it wasn’t sticking. I was waiting… for the postseason to roll around. But it wasn’t only painful for us Cubs fans. Back in 2003, the Red Sox hadn’t won a World Series yet either, after the curse of the Bambino. They had a squad, and of course, they would meet their nemesis in the ALCS. What a series that was. I knew it was a good one, but didn’t realize how good… it’s almost like I was absorbed in some other series at the time. But yeah, 2003 was the Boone extra inning, series winning, world series ticket punching, walk off home run that extended the pain for all Red Sox fans. I can only imagine how they felt about Boone after that one; I’m sure he has a “hate file” of his own from all the Bosox fans. Lucky enough for them, 2004 would hold an entirely different fate for the Red Sox; that episode is up next.

But yeah, on the National League side of things, there was my team trying to break their curse. What a year that was; it certainly felt like THE year. Defeating the Braves in the NLDS was awesome. Once it became official, the celebrations, the happiness that spread throughout our city (except for Sox fans of course). The Cubs would now face the Marlins for a chance to get back to the World Series for the first time since 1945. The Marlins… pfft… who the hell are they? Well, they are a franchise that started in 1993 and won their first World Series in 1997; those bastards. Still, I didn’t know how much I would really hate this franchise until that 2003 NLCS. I still remember Game 1… what a game that was. We headed up to Wrigleyville, and watched at Hi-Tops. When Sosa hit that 2 run homer in the bottom of the 9th to tie the game, we went absolutely bonkers. I think I blacked out after that though… they would drop the game in 11. Game 2 would be no contest; the Cubs smoked them. Off to Florida… where the Cubs would win one in the 11th in Game 3, and smoke them again in Game 4; I still remember that Aram granny in the 1st inning. Yep, the Cubs were up 3-1. The Marlins would take Game 5, but who was worried? Not I. Heading back to Wrigley for potentially the last 2 games of the series with Prior and Wood slated to take the mound, and only needing 1 win. I remember thinking that exact thing… I don’t have to continue do I?

The Marlins would go on to the Series and beat the Yankees in 6 games, winning the final 3 games of the series. The franchise that only started 10 years ago, now having 2 World Series championships?!?! They would sell off their team again, and not return to the playoffs until 15 years later, facing… guess who… yep, the Cubs again, and beating us again. They would thankfully get swept by the Braves the next round. But they got 2 in the bank already, including the 1 that broke my heart. Can’t stop talking about the 2003 season soon enough… next please.