Is this 'next year'?

It's been 100 years since the Chicago Cubs last won a World Series, and the last time they were even in one was 1945. I should know — I've followed them religiously for the last 39 years.

There have been colossal collapses that prevented my beloved Cubs from winning their division, and even more horrific "flukes of Cubdom" that have prevented them from reaching the World Series in the few years they were actually good enough to even make the playoffs. The mantra of the Cubs fan has always been "wait 'til next year."

Well guess what?

The Chicago Cubs have already qualified for the playoffs and, dare I say it, this could just be the year. But then again, so was 1984 until a ground ball on a Sunday afternoon in San Diego inexplicably found its way under the first-base mitt of Leon Durham and the Padres ended up going to the series.

Then of course there was 2003 and five measly outs to go to once again to make it back to the promised land our grandparents told us about.

I'm still waiting.

It's funny how attached a person can be to a sports team, be it high school, college or professional. I've been married more than once, but I'll never divorce my first true love — go get 'em Cubs!