Congratulations, Cubs!
In the tenth inning of what some are calling the best Game 7 in World Series history, the long-maligned Chicago Cubs brought their amazing season to an end. Billy Goat Curse be damned, the Cubbies are World Series Champions for the first time since. . .
Wait for it . . . (The Cubs Fans sure did)
1908.
This has been the narrative of the entire playoffs, and World Series: Will the Cubs break the curse? "But Shane, curses aren't real, and sports aren't [supposed to be] scripted." (Looking at you, Black Sox). Tell that to Joe Buck! Because a huge trend in sports is, and has been, the narrative.
Anyone who watches professional sports has seen how narratives are worked into sporting events. When my 6-1 Dallas Cowboys played the Philadelphia Eagles this past weekend, the narrative was about the battle between two rookie stars, Dak Prescott and Carson Wentz. When Payton Manning, former Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos quarterback, played his replacement on the Colts, people made up a narrative about revenge or redemption. When the Red Sox beat the Yankees in the 2004 American League Championship Series to decide who would go to the World Series, another story about curses and overcoming them was what everyone talked about, and the Sox eventual Championship that same year reminded us all of how the Curse of Babe Ruth was finally lifted from Boston's baseball team.
So why do we attribute plot to events determined by skill and luck, not scripts and plots? Because humans love stories! In the same way that we like to attribute heroism to people who save lives because it's their job, or because they just made a split second choice that made a difference, fans like to have reasons to root for their teams. I'm a much bigger football fan than I am a baseball fan, and this current season started off like a horror flick for my Cowboys: MRI Reveals Fractured Bone in Romo’s Back. 2015 was a nightmare with Dallas's Star QB under center, going 4-12. Every fan was wondering what would happen with their team. Could the rookie Dak Prescott handle the spotlight, where so many veterans failed last year? It was worthy of a movie the likes of Remember the Titans (minus the Civil Rights Movement setting and the racial undertones). Six wins and an opening day loss to the Giants later, the story is now, Will Dak remain the starter, or will Jerry Jones (the owner of the team) insist on his favored son (Tony) returning to the throne?
These are the stories we tell ourselves with sports. They make the game more interesting and draws even the those with no emotional investment to partake of the event. Otherwise, I would have had no interest in the Series unless the Mets were involved like last year. Because let's be honest. These games have no effect on our lives beside the rush of endorphins we receive during the excitement of the game. Sorry, but that's just a reality. That said, LET'S GO COWBOYS!
