Stayin' up late, but the game's not great

Cubs fans have grown accustomed to heartache over the years.

Now they can add sleep deprivation to their list of true-blue afflictions.

The Cubs finished at 11:40 p.m. Wednesday with a 3-1 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks in Game 1 of the National League Division Series. The late-night ending was the result of a 9 p.m. start time prompted in part by the Grand Canyon State's refusal to embrace daylight-saving time.

At the Cubby Bear North in Lincolnshire, fans downplayed the late hour as they occasionally sneaked worried looks at their watches. Most stayed until the very painful last out.

"This doesn't happen every year," said Long Grove resident Matthew Hafft, who must report to work at 6:30 a.m. today. "Sure, we'll be tired, but we're willing to make the sacrifice."

The rapidly approaching witching hour, however, haunted Vernon Hills resident Mike Piejda, who wakes up at 5 a.m. each day. As the Cubs tied the game in the sixth inning and then lost it again in the seventh, he steeled himself for only two or three hours of sleep.

Piejda planned to combat his fatigue -- both physical and mental -- with a few energizing cans of Red Bull during his commute.

"I'll be tired, for sure," he said. "I'll be falling asleep as I drive into the city."

Though some local drinking establishments bemoaned the nocturnal start, the Cubby Bear North had no problem filling its tables Wednesday night. Manager Andrew Nast believed the late hour and the mischievous feeling of forsaking sleep to watch an important game added to the bar's rollicking atmosphere.

"From a business standpoint," he said, "it's nice to have the place packed no matter what time it is."

Cubby Bear North patrons certainly did not act tired as they valiantly tried to will their team to victory. They spent much of the evening chanting "Let's Go, Cubbies" and clapping wildly. Every pitch was met with loud applause or a massive groan, audible testimony to Game 1's importance.

Vernon Hills resident Jordan Mayer spent the entire game on his feet, leading the crowd in organized cheers and offering enthusiastic high-fives to anyone who crossed his path. His energetic performance belied a man who had to be at his marketing job at 8:30 a.m. today.

"I even have a cold," the 27-year-old said. "As far as I'm concerned, a playoff game comes as often as a gray hair on my head, and that's not every often. I need to be here."

Mayer initially had promised himself he would be asleep by 1 a.m., but he quickly conceded that he wouldn't be adhering to the self-imposed bedtime. He planned to go home and analyze the highlights for a few hours in an attempt to figure out what went wrong for the North Siders.

"I'm going to be too ramped up to sleep," he said. "But I had to be here. Even if the game were at 2 a.m., I would still be here."

Cubs Nation will get another chance to battle the sandman tonight when the Cubs and Diamondbacks meet for Game 2. It's another 9 p.m. start -- not that it matters.

"Whatever time they play is fine with me," Buffalo Grove resident Fradell Gans said. "All that matters is that they're in the playoffs."