Chicago Cubs: Still writing the greatest American sports story

Our lives progress with a series of events that define our place in society. Much like chapters in a book, each event brings with it a new conflict, a new resolution, a hero and an enemy.

Characters take form in our jobs, our friends, and loved ones. It’s been said that when the Chicago Cubs won the World Series, it ended the “greatest American sports story of all time”. What if this wasn’t the end, but the newest chapter in the saga from lovable losers to dynasty to villain.

For more than a decade, the Chicago Cubs were the laughing stock of Major League Baseball. More than just wins and losses, the Cubs failed in the most spectacular ways. The greatest sports story ever told couldn’t come from a competitor but rather the down and out bad news bears.

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From the perspective of a Cubs fan, this story is far from over. Behind the leadership of Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant, this team has positioned itself to be the target for years to come. This team is good, and they’re young.

Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer hope they have built a dynasty. When Epstein spoke of sustained success, this was the mood and atmosphere he was speaking of. And the mood is different. The Cubs have shattered their lovable loser moniker and swapped it with a feared winner.

The journey from 1908 to 2016 was paved with heartache, tears, and disappointment. My grandparents went their entire lives never seeing what we saw in early November. If not for themselves, people were drawn to the Cubs playoff push hoping to share a moment with a loved one or significant other.

American society loves the underdog. Despite leading the league in wins, it felt more and more like the Cubs were battling history and expectations as much as they were the team in the other dugout. The Cubs fit the underdog role with ease.

So when the greatest tail of mediocrity turned dominance finally came to fruition, did the story really come to an end?

Cubs fans may hate the aftermath

When you win you are envied and when you rule you can be hated. The success of the Cubs and the perceived notion that they can win for a long time may transform this team into the villain.

Like the Yankees of pretty much any part of the 20th century, or the Red Sox after winning their second title in recent years, public opinion starts to turn. The fans that cheered so hard for these teams to reach the summit are suddenly changing to jeers.

The overexposure of athletes or celebrities is often to blame for the negative feelings being harbored their way. After a while, you just get sick of seeing the same people or teams dominate your culture.

So if the Cubs keep winning, you can expect them to become the enemy. It always happens. If you liked wrestling as a kid, you knew that soon or later your favorite wrestler would become the heel. And it some ways its more fun that way.

Cubs fans would agree that losing sucks. I would much rather be known for winning than for losing. When the wind does shift, Cubs fans should embrace the heel mentality. Enjoy being hated for having something people want as opposed to being discarded for having nothing.

Next: Value down on the farm?

The Chicago Cubs do have a wonderful history that draws a lot of interest. Winning a championship didn’t change that. We all want to see what will happen in the next chapter. And in that pursuit, we are still writing the epic.