Ryan,

Hey, I am sorry to make light of farmers. I didn't mean that at all. My wife, is a Cardinal fan, and I can't stand it! Well, actually it turns me on that we argue about baseball. She hate's the Cubs,and I hate the Cards. I think your wrong on the ethenol though....crude oil is kicking ass at an all time high. Corn isn't, and ethanol isn't quite making it yet.

Oh yeah, I forgot. Corn is actually up due to the rising production of ethanol. Sorry, just had to get that in.

Mark,

Ouch man. Having grown up on the farm that my parents still run back in northern Indiana, that hurts a little bit. But since I'm a Cubs fan and not a Cardinal, or White Sox fan I get your point.

My best friend and best man at my wedding is a White Sox fan. Strange I know, but a few thousand beers during four years of college has that effect. It took him about 1.5 seconds to call me after the final pitch in '05. That really stung.

I think for us to be successfull, we have to be relatively healthy the whole year. We can take the little nicks that come along, but stuf like Lee's wrist is just a killer. Having a consistent rotation for more than 1-2 cycles would help also. Lou is great at getting guys to play up to their potential so if we can get that and stay healthy we definitely have a chance.

My salvation would, of course, winning it all, but they have to take care of those RED NECKS in St. Louis. I have a hell of a time when I go down there and some ignorant hick starts messing with me. They can't so it 1 on 1, it has to be like 5 because they're NASCAR watching idiots. They won last year which KILLS me, and the year before, the Whit Sox. Baseball HASN'T been VERY,VERY GOOD to me. You'll see, a Cub fan goes out no matter the circumstance. White Sox fans are in 1st place, and they still can't fill the stadium. Cardinal fas only go when they're winning. You'll see, wacth this year.....they won't be able to aford their stadium due to lack of attendance. Oh yea.....corn and soy is down on the market. That won't help those RED NECKS either.

Just as the Bears were my salvation for the Cubs miserable season last year, the Cubs will be my salvation for that painful Bears loss on Sunday. The North side will be a much happier place this summer.

Cubs beat the Cards 4 games to 2 in the NLCS and then go on to spank the Yankees 4 games to 1 in the World Series.

Go Cubs!!!! 2007 World Champions!!!

Yeah! Bring Steve Stone Home!!

Anthony:

Wow! That really sucks ass that you have to travel to bridgeport every work day. I actually took the day off after the sox won the World Series so I wouldn't have to witness the parade or listen to the

the few sox fans in my area rub it in.

The three places that I hate to go in Chicago are:

#1 Bridgeport

#2 Mt. Greenwood

#3 Beverly

For the most part they are sox fan dominate which is why I prefer to party in Lincon Park or it's surronding neighborhoods. I really can't complain about Tinley Park/Orland Park area, as I mentioned before there are plenty of "faithful" out here.

Jim,

Believe you me, I "feel your pain". I work on 35th Street, just west of Halsted, in the heart of the evil empire. It still seems like yesterday when the news media was at my company, seemingly, daily to interview the Sox fans during the playoffs in 05'. It was a veritable, adn living, nightmare. For the past 9 years I have had to drive right past the Cell on the way to work with its lack of fine, OR SAFE, establishments.

I was born and raised on the South Side (Calumet City) and endured many verbal combats with friends, family and foes. One thing, and one thing only would cure this pain I feel, and that would be for the Cubs to win the World Series. I don't care who it would be against. That surely would be my Salvation.

Jim,

I also would love to see a Cubs Red Sox/Yankees World Series, but I'd also love to see a crosstown classic to throw it in the Sox fan's faces for taking so much abuse from them over the years.

It was painful to watch the Bears reach the Super Bowl after a great season. It was painful to watch our Cubbies in the '03 playoffs getting that close to the ultimate goal. Let's just hope the Cubs know how to finish this year. Let's all hope Lou knows how to light a fire under his team, and be responsible with his players. I was so tired of Dusty's act, and I knew it wouldn't last for long. Remember the teachers in school that were all buddy buddy with the kids? Everyone loved them, but the class would be talking all the time, and get away with everything, until the teacher pretty much lost control of the entire classroom. That's exactly what it was like with Dusty's teams. Anyone else agree? For crying out loud, we'd still have one of the greatest broadcasters of all-time---Steve Stone, if he had any sort of control over the team whatsoever.

In order for the Cubs to have a chance:

-you must have health from Miller, Wood, and Prior....or "Hope"---there's that word again that Lilly and Marquis can turn it up a notch.

-Jones needs to be traded for prospects

-Pie or Patterson need to assume duties in CF

-DeRosa's year wasn't a fluke

-Izzy finds his offensive stroke again

My gut feeling is this.....Jones is traded at the end of ST for prospects, if Floyd is healthy, he's in RF, with Soriano in CF. If he's not healthy, then Patterson or Pie is in CF. My guess for the rotation is: Z, Lilly, Miller, Hill, Prior, with Marquis as the swing man

"When the White Sox won the 2005 World Series thoughts quickly turned to the Cubs about winning the 2006 crown. After all, Boston won it 2004, then the White Sox, so 2006 had to be the Cubs turn. As we all know, it wasn't. The 2005 title that was won by the White Sox was a very bitter pill to swallow. For me, it was a nightmare."

At approximately 9pm Sunday (you know.. after the pathetic performance by the Bears in the Super Bowl, my thoughts turned to.. "Well.. Maybe the Cubs can win the World Series this year". Heck, we've got the team and the manager to do it!

"Despite what you hear, the South Side is not 100% Sox fans;"

A good friend of mine, and fellow Cubs fan, is from Dolton, so this is true.

"As for my nightmare? Monday thru Friday, I take the Rock Island Metra train downtown to work. Unfortunately, the train travels past Jail Cell (U.S. Cellular) field where I have the displeasure of seeing the 2005 World Series Champion sign."

Crappy... When I worked in Rockford TV, one of anchors had that on the back of his car.

-A

I don't care who it is. I want to win period. I love your scenrio but add beating the cards in 4 to win the NLCS and the sweep the Dodgers before that. I used to not care about them but I can't satnd Rafeal Furcal now. Two reason, he went to thm for more money and more importantly he broke D.Lee's wrist. Also I would love to see a Cubs/RedSox or yankees. I would love for our drought to end with the two evil-empires.