The danger of being too cocky.

In baseball. One can easily become too cocky. Too confident. Allowing success to go to one’s head. That happened to the Chicago Cubs yesterday. It had better be nipped in the bud. Or the Cubs amazingly successful baseball season (so far) could go down the drain. The Cubs got routed, 11-3. By the lowly Milwaukee Brewers. The day after clinching the National League’s Central Division title. By building an 18-game lead over the second place St.  Louis Cardinals. Yes, the Cubs could lose their hard-earned momentum and still reign as division champs. Unfortunately, the Cubs played Saturday like a bunch of drunken sailors. Probably because some players had hangovers and lack of sleep. From celebrating their achievements the night before. In a raucous, albeit traditional way. Squirting bottles of champagne over each other. I suppose it’s all right. To come out the next day. Cocky. And not ready to play baseball. But let’s hope, as Cubs fans, that the Cubs don’t lose sight of their goal. To go to, and to win the World Series. For the first time since 1908. When lesser teams have done it. Over and over and over. Yes, it would be a shame. If the Cubs suddenly took their foot off the gas pedal. And allowed lesser teams. To overwhelm them for the rest of way. Especially in the playoffs. Time to remember last year. When the Cubs got swept by the New York Mets. Could happen again. Yes, there’s such a thing in baseball.  As being too cocky. --Jim Broede