Cubs need to be kings of world (Series)

PHOENIX -- Nothing short of getting to the World Series will do.

Changing the Cubs' culture … establishing a foundation … providing hope for the future …

None of that matters until the Cubs at least play for a world championship, much less win one.

Here tonight against the Diamondbacks, the Cubs will enter the National League playoffs for the fifth time in 24 seasons.

The Cubs have advanced as far as the NL championship series before. They have been 1 victory, even five outs, from playing in a World Series.

But that wasn't enough back then; it sure won't be now.

Carlos Zambrano, today's Cubs starting pitcher, was asked Tuesday whether his team could intimidate the younger Diamondbacks.

"I don't think there's any intimidation," Zambrano said. "If (the D'backs) play good, they can beat us."

Sorry, sir, but that's not what Cubs fans want to hear right now. They want to be reassured this isn't another collapse waiting to happen.

Especially, you know, considering many favor the Cubs in the series despite having the worst record of all playoff teams.

"Every year," Zambrano said, "a lot of teams are favorites and they don't go anyplace."

Yikes! That isn't what Cubs fans want to hear either. They want to hear their team is going to take being favored and run with it.

Seriously, these are emotionally fragile times. A wrong word or even syllable can push them over the edge.

For any other baseball team in any other town -- OK, maybe not New York -- making the playoffs represents a successful season.

For the Cubs in Chicago, the accomplishment would be a couple of ivy-covered bricks short of a load.

As much as manager Lou Piniella, the players and other come-latelies believe they understand, in reality they have no idea what Cubs fans feel.

Pretending they do is like me pretending to know what it is to be a Martian.

I glanced at all the people wearing the red "C" on their blue caps during the flight down here Tuesday.

Which ones have believed every spring that the Cubs are going to win the World Series? Which ones have believed every spring that the Cubs aren't going to win anything significant in their lifetimes?

Which ones are looking up, certain the Cubs will beat the Diamondbacks this week? Which ones are looking up, expecting an Unidentified Flying Billy Goat to swoop down from the skies and klunk the Cubs on the head?

Nobody can tell any Cubs fan what to believe. Each is a product of individual experiences with this fabulously fabled, fantastically failed franchise.

Some laugh to keep from crying over not winning a World Series since 1908. Others cry to keep from laughing at not even playing in one since 1945.

Some are young with fresh wounds from 2003's unspeakable collapse. Others have scars from wounds inflicted in 1984, 1969, all the way back to World Series losses in the 1930s.

No wonder Cubs fans are fraught with apprehension, angst and trauma.

Moral victories won't do anymore. Nor will "nice try" seasons … "close is for horseshoes, hand grenades and the Cubs" seasons … "wait 'til next year" seasons.

Gentlemen, the only acceptable next step is to reach the World Series.

Just do it. Get this Cubs thing over with and become kings of the world.

mimrem@dailyherald.com