Cubs bury jinx

TWO of the most notorious curses in American sport were wiped away in 2016 as the Chicago Cubs ended 108 years of futility with victory in the World Series and Cleveland finally celebrated a championship.

A year which began with a fairytale farewell victory for NFL great Peyton Manning, leading the Denver Broncos to an upset Super Bowl triumph in his final game, drew to a close with the Cubs enthralling the nation with their first World Series win since 1908.

After more than a century the Cubs finally celebrated reaching the pinnacle of baseball with a nailbiting 8-7 victory over the Cleveland Indians to seal the best-of-seven final 4-3.

“I can’t believe after 108 years we’re able to hoist the trophy,” said Cubs star Ben Zobrist, who was named the most valuable player.

Even more remarkable than the Cubs’ finally freeing themselves of the shackles of history was the manner of their win.

They had become the first team since 1985 to rally from a 3-1 series deficit to win the title, and the first club since 1979 to do it by taking the last two games on the road.

“Lot of people had written us off,” first baseman Anthony Rizzo said. “For us to come back from 3-1 and finish this off was amazing. We are world champions for the rest of our lives.”

The Cubs, the eternal punchline of Major League Baseball, ended up having the last laugh.

But as the Cubs celebrated, it was impossible not to feel twinges of sympathy for the vanquished Indians, who themselves have been waiting since 1948 for a World Series title. — AFP