HOLY COW!

The Cubs are going to the world series.  Let me repeat that:

THE CHICAGO CUBS ARE GOING TO THE WORLD SERIES!

Homigod.  It's stunning, really.    I am a transplant, but at this point I've lived in Chicago longer than I lived anywhere else - it's my home. And I love it.

I grew up a Mets fan, so growing up with a team that had some serious curse baggage is de rigueur, but the Cubs' baggage is of a different magnitude.  We haven't been to the World Series since 1945.  1945!

And the last time we won the World Series?  1908!  Let's put that in perspective:

20 Events that Have Occurred Since the Chicago Cubs Won Their Last World Series

1. Both radio and TV were invented
2. Fourteen teams were added to Major League Baseball
3. George Burns celebrated his 10th, 20th, 30th, 40th, 50th, 60th, 70th, 80th, 90th and 100th birthdays
4. Haley's comet passed Earth, twice
5. Harry Caray was born, and died
6. The NBA, NHL and NFL were formed, and Chicago teams won championships in each league
7. The US fought in World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam War, Persian Gulf War, Iraq War, Afghanistan War
8. Man landed on the moon
9. Sixteen US presidents were elected
10. Eleven amendments added to the Constitution
11. Prohibition was created and repealed
12. The Titanic was built, set sail, sank, and was re discovered
13. Wrigley Field was built and becomes the oldest park in the National League
14. Flag poles were erected on Wrigley Field roof to hold all of the team's future World Series pennants, which have since rusted and been taken down
15. A combination of 40 Summer and Winter Olympics have been held
16. Thirteen baseball players have won the Triple Crown
17. Swing music, bell-bottoms, and disco came in style, went out of style and came back in style
18. The Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Indians, Boston Red Sox and Florida Marlins have all won the World Series; what next, the Nationals?!?
19. The Cubs played almost 15,000 regular-season games, losing the majority of them
20. Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Oklahoma and New Mexico were admitted to the Union

Sooooo, we're due.
No more talk of curses.
No more talk of Goats
No more talk of Steve Bartman (Doug and I were at that tragic game.)

Let's talk about Javi.  And Rizzo.  And Grandpa Ross.  And those glorious pitchers.  And Joe Maddon. And Theo Epstein.  These guys are easy to root for - young and exuberant and unencumbered and READY.

 Hoist a glass, people.  It's on.

For tomorrow night's game, I'm going to whip up a batch of a classic Chicago Italian Beef

Portillo’s Family Recipe - Italian Beef

• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 teaspoon onion salt
• 3 cups water
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 bay leaves
• 1 (2/3 ounce) package Italian salad dressing mix
• 5 lbs inside round roast (cap on)
• 
  

Directions

1. In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, combine the water, salt, ground black pepper, oregano,
 basil, onion salt, parsley, garlic powder, bay leaf and salad dressing mix.

2. Stir well and bring just to a boil.

3. Place roast in a slow cooker and pour mixture over the roast.

4. Cover and cook on low setting for 10 to 12 hours OR high setting for 4 to 5 hours.

5. Remove bay leaf and shred meat with a fork.

6. Serve on Italian Rolls with spicy giardiniera



                             LET'S GO CUBBIES!!