I have been a Cubs fan since I was nine years old. My family had just subscribed to cable telelvision and during the afternoons in summer, the only game on TV was the Cubs versus whomever. Harry Caray would bellow into his microphone the latest game developments, pause for the singing of "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" during the seventh inning stretch, and pester Arne Harris with an "I need a camera on the tube top hottie in left" reference and from then on I was hooked. I was now a lovable loser.

It was 1984, and living in Detroit during that summer was a special thing. But, the Cubs were having one **** of a season as well, and while my little league buddies would rile me up with Tigers this and Tigers that, I simply reminded them that the Cubs were in the hunt too…and to watch out.

Fast forward 23 years. The Tigers are fresh off of a World Series appearance, essentially reviving a town decimated baseball wise with years of futility. And, yes, the Cubs have yet to get back there themselves, coming within five outs the last time around…in 2003. I have a family of my own. My son is almost nine himself. He likes the Tigers, loves Justin Verlander, whereas I still pull for the Cubs with passion like no other, because I have what all good Cubs fans have come to need…Hope.

In case you haven’t noticed, the Cubbies are making a little run here of late. They are starting to garner the attention of the rest of baseball with their winning ways since mid-June. I’ve watched with the excitement and fervor of a nine year old all over again, simply because of hope.

This past week, I purchased a new Cubs hat. I bought one for my son actually, but while I was there I decided, "what the ****" and got myself one, too. The Cubs were fresh off of a three game winning streak, 19 of 26 since June 22, and I go and screw it up by messing with karma…since of course the Cubs lost that night. I was ready to burn the **** hat.

It was all superstition of course. And really was a bunch of ****, since they rattled off four of their next six anyway.

But, superstition is as much baseball as it is a part of anything. When I was a player in college, I believed that we were on a 25 game winning streak because I never once, (and my ex-girlfriend/wife can verify this), changed my socks. Ever. Until we lost. Then they disintegrated. Gross, yes. But, who was going to argue with the streak? Or as Crash Davis said so eloquently in Bull Durham, "If you believe you’re playing well because you’re getting laid, or because you’re not getting laid, or because you wear women’s underwear, then you ARE!" We were winning because of my socks. The Cubs lost because of the hat. What baseball player at heart doesn’t get it?

I’ve kept the hat. I will continue to keep it. My son asks me about the Cubs score all the time. I tell him and pray they come through this time. At least before I hit 90 years old. The Cubs will hopefully do what they haven’t been able to do since 1945, get back to the Series. I’ll be there. Watching each step along the way.

With my hat on…proudly.