Posted on 09/27/2003 5:51:57 AM PDT by CHUCKfromCAL
Sitting in the dripping Wrigley Field rain Friday, Nancy Valerio may have best summed up that gnawing feeling building inside the guts of title-starved Cub fans.
"I'm going to have ulcers," fretted the 54-year-old, lifelong Cub fan from Lake in the Hills.
Relief, however, wasn't being sold Friday at Wrigley. After hours of soggy anticipation, the off-and-on rain finally washed out what was to be the first game of the regular season-ending series against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The game, weather permitting, is to be rolled into a double-header today, escalating the tension for fans desperate for a playoff berth.
They were so ready to see the Cubs jump ahead of the Houston Astros in the Central Division standings, fans lined up as early as 5 a.m. Friday to snatch up standing-room-only tickets.
And despite overcast skies and a gloomy forecast, the scene was perfect. The Cubs were back from a road trip. Wrigley was packed. Wayne Messmer was ready to sing the national anthem. Red-hot righty Mark Prior was to pitch.
But the weather didn't permit it, and even more tension built.
"It's agonizing to everybody involved," Cubs President Andy MacPhail said shortly after the game was called. "We're all just spectators now. We're no different from anybody else. You're watching and cheering and crying just like everybody else."
Several fans stopped MacPhail as he walked from the field, wondering how they could get in to today's games. The unhappy answer, fans learned, was they can't do it with Friday's stubs. Those can only be used next year or for refunds now.
When that reality hit fans -- including those who dropped hundreds of dollars to scalpers -- a group assembled outside the Clark Street ticket office and protested. For others, they stayed in their seats and lamented.
"I'm a die-hard Cub fan, and I've been very reluctant this season to commit my heart because it's been crushed so many times," said Josh Dieden, 30, a prosecutor from Roselle. "Finally this past week, I've gotten into it. And of course, it's been a roller coaster. And now we're here ready to throw our hearts into it...."
Dieden's wife, Kina, has watched the angst build in her husband this week. When the Cubs lost Thursday night and dropped into a tie with the Astros, their 3-year-old daughter learned a new word after it was yelled from the basement. They're hoping she forgets it.
Others acknowledged their happiness, at least for now, depends on the Cubs. Brian Goggins, 23, and his wife, Ryan, drove from Indiana with friends to see the game and spend a weekend in Chicago.
"We made them promise if the Cubs happen to lose, they'd still be happy," Ryan said. "They said they couldn't promise anything."
Its been crushed so many times, at 30 years old this kid
is concidered a "ROOKIE" in my book.
Used to live in Villa Park during the mid sixties to mid seventies. Followed the Cubs then. Loved Ron Santo.
Thursday Tony (I Believe) Pena, Jose (It's Lima Time, Baby) and Carlos Beltran, a class act, from my Royals are invited to the White House to meet President Bush. Some hispanic thing. President Bush will have a blast with Lima.
We're playing the White Sox for 2nd place :-( but what a ride this year with the Royals. Leaving for the game in a little while.
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