Why are the Chicago Cubs cursed?

What is the history behind the Chicago Cubs’ curse?

There are a lot of curses in professional sports. Athletes and fans alike believe heavily in superstition, making the aura of curses much more real. Reality or perception, there is still no team more cursed than the Chicago Cubs. They have not won a World Series since 1908 despite coming extremely close. Even if you don’t believe in supernatural phenomenons, the Cubs’ curse is one of the most fascinating things in baseball.

The Cubs curse, known as the curse of the Billy Goat, began back in 1945. Billy Goat Tavern owner Billy Sianis brought his pet goat, Murphy, to a playoff game at Wrigley Field. Sianis, asked to leave because the stench of his goat offended the fans around him, stated “Them Cubs, they ain’t gonna win no more”. Since the phrase, the Cubs haven’t been to a World Series.

This event got national attention back in 2003, during the National League Championship Series between the Cubs and the Florida Marlins. The Steve Bartman incident made it even more famous by proving to many the curse is real. Chicago has been the victim of some very unfortunate events in the postseason since 1945. So it’s hard to deny the Cubs might have a curse.

Fans have been trying to break the curse in a variety of creative ways. Sianis’ nephew has appeared with a goat at Wrigley Field numerous times. In 2003, a group of Cubs fans tried to bring a goat into Minute Maid Park. The fans stated they were reversing the curse once they were denied.

It’s even possible that the phrase “scapegoat” came from the curse. Cubs fans have endured some of the worst postseason moments of all-time. The 2016 Cubs have the weight of a desperate franchise on their shoulders.