Chicago Cubs: Once again, the North Siders are my Valentine

It’s hard to find consistency in a fluid world, but the Chicago Cubs are of the few constants we can enjoy. Once again, the North Siders are my Valentine.

The Chicago Cubs never stood me up, refused to admit guests into their home, or failed to serve up the vast amount of complex emotions that humans long for.

A timeless franchise built on tradition took its form before the development of the telephone and has produced unforgettable moments for generations of fans. Since 1876, the Cubs have won the hearts of many all over the globe and that hasn’t changed 140 years later.

The Cubs are always there for you and that’s something that can’t be said about a lot of things in the world today. Every April, no matter how long or cold the previous winter was, sun-soaked Wrigley Field and the nine players who sport the blue pinstripes have your back.

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For years the Cubs have been referred to as the Lovable Losers and, boy, they have embraced that label seeing as though their last championship came prior to the start of World War I. However, with justifiably high expectations surrounding 2016, the Chicago Cubs have a chance to finally put that narrative to bed.

If they don’t, then, well, there is always next year. There always has been, and there always will be.

The Chicago Cubs are my valentine because they were my first love. Despite the countless occasions where I’ve felt despair that has directly stemmed from a team I’ve invested irretrievable instances of devotion, I always come back for more. And that will never change.

Its players like Kerry Wood, Greg Maddux, Sammy Sosa, Mark Prior and countless others that won me over as a young fan just scratching the surface of Cubsdom. And then you have the Hall of Famers’ that include Ryne Sandberg, Billy Williams, Fergie Jenkins, Ernie Banks, Ron Santo, Jack Brickhouse, Harry Caray and the many that have contributed to the persona of the Chicago Cubs that made this franchise unlike anything else.

It’s the breathtaking view of Wrigley Field as you emerge from the narrow halls of concessions. It’s the nostalgia associated with the Gary Pressy played organ that fills the century-old stadium with sound. It’s the moment of ecstasy we feel as the crowd rises in unison over a game changing moment.

It’s Pat Hughes, Ron Coomer, Len Kasper and Jim Deshaies giving us unforgettable calls. Speaking of which, please enjoy Pat Hughes’ call of the 2015 NLDS winners here:

It’s the connection I have with the Chicago Cubs that I can’t seem to find anywhere else. The obsession doesn’t end once they play their final game. It actually just begins.

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November and December bring rumors, speculation and the Winter Meetings. January offers the Hall of Fame and final instances of contract negotiations. February, though the shortest month in the year, often acts as the longest with arbitration hearings as well as pitchers and catchers reporting to their respective spring training complexes.

March presents competition among all who are fortunate to receive an invite to Arizona or Florida. Then, finally, April arrives bringing about a new season and a summer full of fun.

Rinse and repeat. The schedule will not change and baseball is not going anywhere. Thank you, Chicago Cubs, for always being there for me.

For that, you are my valentine.