Cubs, not Dodgers, are America's choice

Bust your bottom for 162 games, enjoy a breakout September, win your division, turn Hollywood into Mannywood, roll into the playoffs with as much mojo as anyone, and what do you get for your effort?

If you're the Dodgers, you get cast as extras in the movie.

Or cartoon villains.

In the National League divisional series that starts Wednesday in Chicago, the Cubs are Popeye and the Dodgers are Bluto, ahk, ahk, ahk.

The Cubs are Dudley Do-Right, the Dodgers are Snidely Whiplash.

See, the Cubs haven't been in a World Series in 63 years and haven't won one in 100. That's a century's worth of Holy Cows. That 100 is such a nice round number, the Cubbies historically are such lovable losers, with Harry Caray looking down through heaven's outfield ivy with his patented Coke-bottle glasses, the Cubs are already the Boston Red Sox of 2004.

Before they throw out the first pitch or put the first ball in play, they're America's team in the '08 baseball playoffs.

Americans, we know, are such suckers for a sob story.

Bad luck for the Dodgers to be cast as the Joker.

But word up, L.A., and better get accustomed to it for the next week. Because it's pretty much going to be ONLY Dodger fans who hope the team doesn't play like one.

-- Ted Green

Ted Green is a former sportswriter for the L.A. Times and National Sports Daily. He is currently senior sports producer for KTLA Prime News.

Photo: Manny Ramirez has done it all for the Dodgers. Credit: Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times.

Comments

[northsideparothed]

I think the cubs should sponsor a promotion if Manny comes to bat with somebody on base - Here me out on this - They draw a ticket stub from that days attendance and whoever is on the mound at that point in time has four pitches to hit that seat number. ie. Demp is pitching - Manny comes to the plate with Kemp on second - The cubs draw ticket #Section 214 - row 4 - seat 11. Dempster than has to find the section/row/seat and lob four balls to that person - if he's successful - then Manny gets first base and that person gets a Bob Chin Mai Tai ... if he's unsuccessful then Manny gets to take first base and that person gets nothing and likes its. Regardless - Cubs in three if they head this promotion ... Dodgers in 5 if they don't.

[substudio]

I will be happy with the Dodgers if they win at least one game, and can avoid running into each other at home plate.