Well, SO FAR they haven't really won anything MAJOR (except more games this year than ALL of last, with 7 weeks to go, and HUGE respect). The playoffs won't start until September, but if the team continues on pace, they will have won homefield advantage throughout the playoffs, as they currently own the best record in the National League (which in and of itself is a pretty huge victory for the Cubs, ESPECIALLY when you consider 1)they've HAD the best record since mid-June, and 2) they've had the division lead since MAY). And yes, the team has finally started spending the BIG BUCKS. Sammy Sosa got a new, $74 million contract in the offseason, Todd Hundley was brought in (unfortunately, he's done NOTHING for the team so far), we have a starting rotation that can actually PITCH (and one of, if not THE, best bullpen(s) in basesball), and Andy MacPhail's latest (and so far GREATEST) deal brought Fred McGriff to the team for next to nothing. This deal alone should earn him Exec of the Year.

And somehow it deosn't surprise me that even you Aussie's have heard about the futility this club has become accustomed to. However, THIS IS THE CUBS' YEAR! And even better, this club has a GREAT chance to remain pretty much intact for at least a few years to come. Finally, the time has come to be PROUD of being a Cub fan!

----- Original Message -----

From: David Becroft

Sent: Sunday, August 12, 2001 8:12 AM

Subject: Re: Hopefully something to increase the Talking

You missed a question & what the Cubs are actually winning. May be an aussie but even I now about the clubs miss fortune & there seemingly futile effort to win a world series some one must have spent some money any way I wanna know about the guru's