Junto Boys

BUCS, CUBS, SCRUBS

As the Pirates head into their 16th consecutive losing season, I take some consolation in the fact that the Cubs head into their 100th year since their last championship. The odor coming out of Wrigley at the end of each disappointing season does not smell of goat. The Bucs lose they old-fashioned way: they're not as good as their opponents. But the Cubs find new ways to lose every season, much to my satisfaction.

Billy Sianis, a Greek immigrant who owned the nearby Billy Goat Tavern, had two $7.20 box seat tickets to Game 4 of the 1945 World Series between the Cubs and the Tigers. He brought along his pet goat, Murphy (Sinovia in some references), which Sianis had restored to health when the goat had fallen off a truck and subsequently limped into his bar. The goat wore a blanket with a sign pinned to it which read: "We got Detroit's goat." Sianis and the goat were allowed into Wrigley and even paraded around the field before the game.

Despite a heated argument with ushers, Sianis and the goat were allowed to stay in the box seats for which he had tickets. But before the game was over, Sianis and his goat were ejected from the stadium, at the command of Cubs owner Philip Wrigley, due to the animal's odor. Sianis was outraged and allegedly placed a curse upon the Cubs that they never would win another pennant or play in a World Series at Wrigley again because the Cubs organization had insulted his goat.