The Chicago Cubs will probably lose 105+ games this season (the club record is 103), so in this most dreadful of seasons tonight was pretty much their Super Bowl. It’s the first “green shoot” of the Theo Epstein- Jed Hoyer regime, a huge night for Cubs fans and the long term view. And a reason for extra media to show up.
With over a century on ineptitude, Cub fans are always obsessed with the next savior, the next big thing to come along and turn it all around.
Anthony Rizzo has that title now, but in the past the very heavy crown has been worn by: Shawon Dunston, Derrick May, Corey Patterson, Felix Pie, Mark Prior, Kerry Wood, Ty Griffin, Mike Harkey, Hee Sop Choi, Lance Dickson, Gary Scott and many more “can’t miss” prospects who ultimately missed.
Rizzo is an MLB super-prospect and Hodgkin’s Lymphoma survivor, before battling the hype and expectations of the third largest media market and the most success starved of all sports fan bases, he’s battled and conquered cancer.
Rizzo did not make his major league debut tonight, but his Cubs debut was just as hyped and anticipated.
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