The starting shortstop for the Chicago Cubs, Starlin Castro, was benched this week for not paying attention. While he was supposed to be watching the infield and the ball in play, he was looking at the sky, standing with his glove off and eating sunflower seeds.
Is this guy ADD, the press wanted to know. Nah, he’s just a Cubs player. The Cubs haven’t won the World Series since 1902 and are currently in 5th place. They almost always end the year in 5th place. If they manage to get any higher, it’s kind of a big deal and labeled a pretty good season.
If you are a Cubs fan, you understand losing. Watching a major league baseball player staring off into space reminds us of ourselves while we’re at work, and it’s why we’ve been known to call in sick and head to the ballpark to see how the pros do it.
“Losing is like a disease, as contagious as the bubonic plague.”
I've learned as a Royals fan that losing is a fine art. First, they get on the board and make it look like they might win. Then they pack everything in, as it takes a few minutes for the other team to run over their face. Don't have to have 109 years of loss on the record to be in the running for most inspired loser. They may not be as lovable as the Cubbies, but they are a home-town (for the most part) team, and they've certainly captured my heart, if not my undivided attention. Oh, and scorn. Sometimes, I scorn them.