Aloha!  I’m watching the MLB Gamecast of the Cubs as they open their series with the Brewers.  Kyle Schwarber just struck out in the bottom of the 9th and the Cubs lost their fourth straight game, including a three-game sweep by the Pirates in Chicago to fall below the .500 mark in defending their World Series title.  The expectations going into this season were high, but there was also a strong sense of both relief and satisfaction in finally breaking the curse.  Even in the course of a losing streak, things don’t seem so desolate.  I’m certainly not feeling the pain from the beach here in Maui.  In fact, I only got the urge to write this post, because of an experience many years back in Hawaii.

It was 2003 and we were in Honolulu.  Even with the stellar weather, I could not stay away from the T.V. during prime sunning time.  My wife had bought me a Hawaiian shirt with the Cubs logo subtly integrated in the blue and red flowery design.  I wore it all the time and the Cubs kept winning.  The thought of winning it all was definitely top-of-mind.  I remember sending a postcard home to my dad, also a Cubs fan, saying, “Hawaii is a magical place where the Cubs win all the time.”  They had won game five against Atlanta to clinch the NLDS and won three straight games against Florida to lead the Championship Series 3-0.  It was truly magical, and I was reluctant to leave the Islands, fearing the worst for the Cubs.  My wife was also reluctant to leave for sunny reasons.   When we got back to the mainland to catch our connection home, the rush to the airport bar confirmed my worries – the Cubs and Carlos Zambrano were in the process of losing a shutout to Josh Beckett.  As I feared, the shirt and the islands had lost their magic.

It was only one “L” yes, but my confidence had deflated.  As my tan began to fade, as well, I watched them blow the 3-0 lead in the 8th of game 5 in my living room, with all the misplaced blame going to a lowly fan, Steve Bartman.    That was the lowest point for me as a Cubs fan, as all hope faded for a chance to be in the World Series.  I knew that the blame was not on Bartman, but on me for leaving Hawaii.  It certainly made more sense.  I now admit that I was the Curse of 2003!

Well, here I am again back in Hawaii, but the Cubs magic has left the building.  It may be because I’m on the wrong island, I’m not wearing the right Hawaiian shirt, or that it’s not playoff time?  You can’t get to the playoffs unless you “Fly the W,” and when you lose four straight at Wrigley Field it’s not a good sign.  Every time in history that the Cubs have won the World Series they have repeated the following year.  I would expect nothing less, and I’m taking a stand.  I’m not leaving Hawaii until they win again!

Mahalo.