FanHouse JackBuck

The Cubs haven't won the World Series in 100 years. You may have heard this a few times already in 2008. And if you haven't yet, you will probably grow tired of hearing about it three innings into their first playoff game against the Dodgers.

The Cubs haven't even been to the Fall Classic since 1945, but there is a growing feeling on the North Side that at least one of those droughts will end this year.

Now we know who stands in their way. The aforementioned Dodgers, the Brewers and the Phillies represent major obstacles to Chicago. The funny thing about all three of those clubs is that, to varying degrees, they can all be characterized as losers too.

Oh, they aren't "lovable" like the ones in Wrigleyville. Now that the Red Sox and White Sox have won titles recently, the Cubs linger as the final franchise that's been seeking the promised land since before World War II. They'll most certainly be a sentimental favorite nationwide.

But don't let the Cubs' quest for baseball's Holy Grail blind you. They aren't the only team in the Senior Circuit with a chance to erase some frustrating history this October.

I just noticed Will's post at Deadspin today pointing out that today is the ten year anniversary of Harry Caray's death, and it got me thinking about one of the saddest developments in sports these days, the disappearance of the old time baseball announcer. With TV the way it is, there's no room for characters like Jack Buck or Caray these days, and we're left with polished, homogeneous announcers like their sons, who work for either the teams themselves or a network and just don't elicit the same emotional reaction that a someone like Caray or Bob Prince or Ernie Harwell can. We've still got Vin Scully and Bob Uecker, but they won't be around forever, either.

Anyways, in memory of Caray today, I've got one of my favorite YouTube videos posted above of Harry leading Wrigley Field in a "Take Me Out to the Ballgame." If you're looking for more, Home Run Derby's got a great post up about a random phone call to Caray. If there's one thing we can all learn from these recent steroid developments, it's that baseball takes itself way too seriously and could use some more characters like Caray.