Why the Cubs will win Game 7

"Curse is Just an 'E' from Secure"

I wasn't upset. I laughed. Especially when the fan interfered with Moises Alou. It reminded me of the episode of "Married with Children" where we learn why Al Bundy could never return to Wrigley Field. Evidently he had committed fan inteference to keep the Cubs out of the World Series. I don't know where Ed O'Neill is, but somebody give him a ticket. And give that interfering fan a ticket, too. He's only human.

And so are the Cubs.

That's precisely why they're going to win Game 7. Because the best thing about human beings is their ability to overcome adversity. And that adversity has come from...the Chicago Cubs "fans." I saw you hanging your heads. I saw you use the word "Durham," having nothing to do with a hyphenated town in North Carolina. And the team saw you, too. You forgot they came back from 5 1/2 back in August. You forgot they came back from 1 1/2 back with a week to go. You forgot they won the division series finale against the Braves - on the road - with Kerry Wood. You forgot who's pitching Game 7.

But you go ahead and talk about 1984. Talk about how we let Maddux get away. Talk about the black cat. Me, I'd rather talk about the heroism of Ron Santo. About how the Cubs didn't let a bad call in a Cardinals game get to them -- "chalking" it up to an inexperienced umpire. About how Shawn Estes managed to shut out the Cincinati Reds when we needed him most after being the least effective pitcher in the National League. About Mark Prior going 10-1 down the stretch after an injury that would have made most cringe at returning. About how Buc is just Cub backwards, and how three Bucs turned a season around. About Joe Borowski maybe closing out a career then closing 31 of 35. About a pot-bellied Ryne Sandberg singing the 7th inning stretch. About Steve Stone reminding us why he's the best color man in the game. About a new attendance record. About an official "Woo" record for Ronnie Woo-Woo. About freeing the rooftops to enjoy merciless capitalism. About accidentally squirting relish on the person in front of me during the July 4th Cardinals series -- again, sorry about that. About Troy O'Leary beating the D-backs with his only meaningful hit of the season. About Wendell Kim actually waving someone from third who scored. About that stupid "can't come back when trailing after eight" stat that fails to bring up that the only reason it exists is because the Cubs come back in the eighth all the time. About how we have four starters who'd be number ones on most any other staff. About denying Roger Clemens his 300th victory while getting Wood his 50th. About winning the next game from the Yanks -- on a pickoff. About being under .500 after 100 games and still winning the division. About whether Matt Morris might have thrown the game against the Astros down the stretch. About how the Cards had great character for winning the next two, despite only believing we were half of the "loveable losers" label. About how David Berg hot dogs are still the best Wrigley dog, despite what they keep selling us. About how the best times I ever had with my late father were freezing with him in the upper deck.

About how a man with no legs clicked his heels in victory. About tonight at 11:00 Central.

By Eric Butterman