The Chicago Cubs and the Cleveland Indians begin the World Series tonight, and it should be a good one. Pitting two teams against each other in a showdown that will finally end droughts that have gone on for generations, this potential seven-game series pits a team that hasn't been World Series champion since 1908 versus one who hasn't won the Series since the 1940s.
So something has to give here, and one of the curses will be broken. Which one is another story.
At the beginning of the playoffs, I predicted this matchup, so I am happy that it took hold. You pretty much have the best team in the National League--with more than 100 wins--against unquestionably baseball's most under the radar team--the Texas Rangers had a better record, I believe.
Who will win this thing? I think it will go seven games, and I think the Indians will win. I think it will ultimately come down to the bullpens, and although I love the Yankees connection here--Aroldis Chapman and Andrew Miller are two former Bronx Bombers who were traded away in the fire sale that happened this past season--I simply will take Miller over Chapman at this point, and I think that that just might be the tipping point of this series.
Miller has been unhittable, Chapman has been simply very good, and I will take unhittable right now over very good.
Cleveland in seven.
And right next door, the NBA begins its 70th season with the Cavaliers facing the New York Knicks, an interesting matchup that again, Cleveland will probably win.
The Cavs are defending their NBA title that they won months ago, an unlikely victory against the heavily favored Golden State Warriors, and look for them to challenge once again this season, and probably win the whole thing again.
Any team with Lebron James has to be seriously considered for the crown, and beating the Knicks will likely be their first step in doing just that.
The Knicks, a team I have been rooting for since 1965 and which has its own championship doldrums like the Cubs and Indians do, have improved a lot since last season, with the deals that brought them Chicago Bulls castoffs Joakim Noah and Derrick Rose, and several other role players.
Will they stay healthy is the question, and this aging team is a "now" team, which means that if they don't do it now--remember, Carmelo Anthony is no spring chicken, either--they aren't going to do it at all, and it will be back to the drawing board for the 1,089,585,607th time since last winning an NBA championship in 1973.
So, all sports eyes will be on Cleveland tonight, and mine certainly will be, too.
It should all be fun, which is what sports is supposed to be all about.
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