Cubs on their way to Series

By Josh Griffin

When asked what the secret to life is in the movie "Rushmore," Max Fischer said, "I guess you've just gotta find something you love to do and then do it for the rest of your life. For me, it's going to Rushmore."

As financial limitations and social protocol dictate that Santa Clara will never be my Rushmore, at the moment something I like to do and will do for the rest of my life is annually proclaim the greatness of the Cubs. Here's why the Cubs will make it to the World Series in 2003.

Within the division, apparently the bid of the Milwaukee Brewers and Pittsburgh Pirates to join the Independent League was denied, so they can fight each other for the basement in the NL Central. The two main contenders are Houston and St. Louis.

Houston's lineup still features Bagwell and Biggio and now includes Jeff Kent. Hey, Derek Bell was an All Star in 1996. If you are interested in the reunion of that team, give the Houston GM a call. And with the starting pitchers on the St. Louis staff, who really needs starting pitchers?

The Cubs will win that division and now the talent and management is in place to make a run at the Series. Dusty Baker is a proven winner and uses the word "dude" more than anyone I've come across, even at Santa Clara. The wind will be blowing out at Wrigley this year with Sammy Sosa and a revitalized Moises Alou.

If they falter at all, the pitching has the potential for dominance. If Baker can take a team with Livan Hernandez prominently involved in his rotation, Kerry Wood, Mark Prior and company certainly fit the bill. Here's hoping the Cubs can put it all together. If they're in it in July, they have the prospects to make a deal for a veteran (Miguel Tejada, anyone?).

The Cubs are my Rushmore, dude.