I got ’em, thousands of others got ’em – the Cubbie blues. Ever since the biggest three stars were unceremoniously and shockingly traded from the Cubs, I’ve felt this sadness and anger towards ownership and management. My first thought was, “how could they do this?” – and then I immediately went into anger mode feeling that the ownership was throwing in the towel on the 2021 season awful early by trading Bryant, Rizzo and Baez a few weeks ago. Hanging it up, maybe next year, no hope for 2021 so might as well trade our top attractions – shake things up and see where things fall.

Well I can tell you where they fall on me – I haven’t watched a Cubs game since the trades. After all, if ownership and management didn’t care about the fans, then I no longer care about the Cubs. And I”m not alone in this thinking and feeling of betrayal – a friend of my sister took down all her Cubs memorabilia around the house – saying she just didn’t care about the team anymore after this debacle.

Yes I know as a member of the sports media I am supposed to be more neutral on our sports teams but heck, I’ve been a life-long Cubs fan since way before I became a member of the media and I’ve spent too many years caring about my team to just let this one slide. It hurts, it hurts bad – Bryant, Rizzo and Baez made this team worth watching and were a major reason many fans watched the games on TV and in person. I haven’t been privy to how this has affected viewership on Marquee Sports Network or in ticket sales but I have to feel this has had some major impact because it sure has had a major impact on me.

It was bad enough we have had to endure the horrors of a pandemic that just won’t quit – now we have to endure a team (owners and managers that is) that did quit. They quit thinking about the fans, they quit caring about this season and they quit on three of the most popular and talented players on their own team.

Back in the 1920’s singer Ethel Waters sang a haunting ballad called “Am I Blue” – and I’d like to have all of the Cubs fans out there who feel like I do sing along with me to the following lyrics from that song (adapted to suit this nightmare)…

It was a morning, long before dawn
Without a warning I found they was gone
How could they do it
Why should they do it
They never done it before

Am I blue
Am I blue
Ain’t these tears, in these eyes telling you
How can you ask me “am I blue”
Why, wouldn’t you be too
If each plan
With your Cubs
Done fell through.

There was a time
When we all felt like one
But now we’re
The sad and lonely ones.

Repeat chorus – Am I Blue Am I Blue ain’t these tears in my eyes telling you got the Cubbie Blues.