It hasn’t really sunk in yet. So I’m going to not post anything about this for a few days at least.
But I did just come home to an email from my mom. I am going to post that email, and my response.
From: Phyllis
Sent: Wednesday, October 15, 2003 9:44 PM
To: Matt
Subject:[/b] til next year
Just remember that they gave you a thrilling summer. And, unless, the management follows the usual Chicago tradition of trading away good players, they will be back.
Love,
Mom
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My response:
It was really weird tonight.
I was on the edge of my seat all night…after Bako flied out for three, I just stood there for a while, looking out over the field. And the thing is…I wasn’t that sad. I think it took a while for it to really hit me that it was over. But the thing that I was doing, was just looking out at Wrigley Field and realizing that it would be five more months until I’d be there again.
Frankly, they came further than I thought they would this year. And I was thinking the same thing you mentioned – I’ve been thinking about all the exciting baseball I’ve seen at the Friendly Confines this year (tonight was my 13th game). I feel sorrier for the bandwagon fans…the rest of us are used to this. Yes, we’re disappointed, but we’ve been here before. And when we say “wait until next year”, we mean it.
I can’t wait until Opening Day. And I hope the Marlins win it all, preferably beating the Yankees. Because they have really impressed me in this series as being a class act; Pudge calming down Sammy after that brushback pitch in Game 5, for example. And tonight, when Joe Bo was warming up, I saw the third base coach for the Marlins chatting with Aramis Ramirez…joking around. That just floors me. That’s sportsmanship. And it’s what baseball should be all about.
I’m sad that I won’t be sitting at Wrigley for a World Series this year. But I’ve gotten to witness some amazing things. And I’ll remember this season for a long time, if not forever.
It was a great season. And as always, I’m proud to be a Cubs fan. And I’m sure Grandpa Leonard is with Harry right now saying “wait until next year” just like the rest of us.
m.