LONG OVERDUE FEELING FOR ONE OF OUR OWN

By SEAN LYNCH

    

Last year's World Series was exciting for a majority of New Yorkers because it featured the ever-so-unlucky New York Mets. Although there are no local teams in the World Series this year, the 2016 MLB finale means a little bit more to a certain teacher in our own high school. 

If you had Mr. Affeldt as an Art teacher, you know he's a diehard Wisconsin fan. Whether it’s Packer football, Badger basketball, or even a little old school Bucks basketball, Mr Affeldt knows all about it.

All that being said, Mr. Affeldt has a favorite baseball team.  You would think since he's a fan of everything Wisconsin that he would be a Brewers fan. Wrong. How about a Chicago Cubs fan?

SEAN LYNCH FOR WIZARD WEEKLY

“When the Braves left Milwaukee in 1965, the closest National League team was the Chicago Cubs and I didn't mind because Wrigley was an hour away from our house in Wisconsin,” Affeldt recalls. “The American League was the less-superior league and I would never root for the rival Cardinals, so the Cubs found a special part in my heart.”

Affeldt’s favorite Cubs player is Ernie Banks, or as the fans calls him, “Mr. Cub”. 

“Theres been a lot of great players who have left the Cubs, but for someone to play their whole career with one team, and to look as happy as he did out there, thats something special,” Affeldt said. “Theres a reason they have a statue of him outside of Wrigley. He is a Cubs legend.”

What makes the Cubs an amazing story is their rise to success. When Sam Zell sold the Cubs to the Ricketts family in 2009, the Ricketts were determined to bring a ring to Chicago. Signing manager Joe Maddon to a five-year-25-million-dollar contract was considered bold, but the other two managers being paid more aren't in the World Series currently. Former Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein was plugged in as the general manager with the Cubs. As a result, the two have proved to be dynamic game-changers without even playing.

We all know that the atmosphere at Wrigley will be special. But how special will it be? “Not a soul in Wrigley will be sitting. Whether you’ve been a fan for 15 years or 50 years, you’ve seen the suffering and we all want that 2016 banner,” says Affeldt. The Cubs have played 172 games to get to this point, including Division and Conference rounds. I believe it is time to end the streak.