Cubs, Cavs douse droughts, cleanse curses with 2016 titles
They hugged, danced, and cried while waving those ‘W’ flags like never before after an inconceivable win — 108 years of pent-up emotion released.
But after the wait and surviving an epic, ulcer-inducing Game Seven, Chicago Cubs fans — relatives spanning generations, college pals, and life-long friends who came to Cleveland hoping to share history — weren’t about to leave.
Someone was going to have to kick them out.
As thousands swarmed around Chicago’s dugout like ants climbing a hill more than an hour after their cherished Cubbies won the World Series for the first time since 1908 by capping a colossal comeback with an 8-7 win over the Indians, the skies opened over Progressive Field.
DELIRIOUS FANS
And what began as a sprinkle turned into a hard, cooling November rain, soaking the delirious fans so caught up in the joyful celebration that they couldn’t possibly appreciate the downpour’s symbolism.
The drought was doused, the curse cleansed. In 2016, sports misery changed addresses. From Chicago to Cleveland and across the Atlantic to England, where 5,000-to-1 longshot Leicester City stunned the soccer world by winning the Premier League for its first title in 132 years, cities and teams who had suffered for decades finally finished on top.
“Two thousand and sixteen, it was a magical ride,” said Cavaliers superstar LeBron James, who guided his team to an NBA title — the first for one of the city’s three major sports teams since the Browns, who were on the verge of a winless season until a few days ago, ruled the NFL in 1964. And if not for the Cubs, Cleveland would have chugged more champagne. Cleveland rocked like never before in ‘16. Behind James, who had promised to bring home a title, the Cavaliers climbed from a 31 hole and shocked 73-win Golden State in the NBA Finals. And, like the Cubs, the Cavs won Game Seven on the road and returned as conquering heroes to northeast Ohio, which hadn’t witnessed a major championship since 1964 and where the nicknames of the miscues, collapses, and second-place finishes were passed down through generations like family heirlooms.