Chicago dazed as Cubs crack 108-year streak

04 November 2016 - 10:12 By Reuters

Jubilant Chicago Cubs fans spilled from sports bars, restaurants and viewing parties across the city to celebrate their beloved team's first World Series triumph in 108 years yesterday. The Cubs, long known as Major League Baseball's "lovable losers", had endured one of professional sport's longest streaks without a title.But in the early hours of yesterday morning, not long after Chicago blew a late-game lead, Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant fielded a grounder that he fired to first for the final out in a stirring 8-7 extra innings game."Unbelievable. We have been waiting a long time for this. Just to be around everyone to see this. This is perfect baseball," Greg Kojak, 36, said as he watched a television through a glass door at a restaurant near Wrigley Field.Wrigleyville, surrounding Wrigley Field, was Party Central as thousands of fans were screaming and jumping in wild celebration as the last out was recorded.Fireworks lit up the sky as fans sprayed beer and champagne."I can't even explain how I feel right now. This is so epic."I've waited my whole life for this. This is the most amazing feeling in the world," said Dina Mansaour, 33, sobbing on the street a few blocks from the stadium, where fans stood on cars and waved "W" victory flags in joy.The celebration was rowdy but peaceful as throngs of police officers lined the streets.Some officers high-fived fans and sang along to "Go Cubs Go" with fans."I'm so excited. I'm so excited. My mom took me to my first Cubs game but she has passed on and this is for her," said Fadiyla Mance, 25, as she waved a "W" flag.In Cleveland, dejected fans who have not seen their own baseball team win a title since 1948, were left wondering what went wrong."It was a game of ups and downs," Cleveland Indians fan Alayna Fodor-Gopal said."And I'm from Cleveland, so there is always next year."Like the Boston Red Sox, who battled the so-called "Curse of the Bambino" after trading away legendary slugger Babe Ruth in 1920 to their arch-rival New York Yankees, the Cubs have their own bad luck legend: the "Curse of the Billy Goat".In 1945, Billy Goat Tavern owner Billy Sianis was supposedly asked to leave Wrigley because the smell of his pet goat was disturbing other patrons.Sianis allegedly vowed the Cubs would not win any more, and the team had to wait until this year to finally return to the World Series. ..

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