As much as I have fun reading about the history of the Cubs and their Curse, I have difficulty accepting the twists to the story that emerge from a Mike Downey column in the Tribune today. Per Downey, the "curse" may really have started in 1908 when the owner of the Cubs, a man named Murphy, was not invited to a party. Huh? Are you kidding. Downey is really shilling as a publicity man for Harry Caray's in this piece, announcing they will hold a seance involving the 1908 Cubbies and Mr. Murphy. Anything for customers, right? Even playing games with the honored tradition of the Billy Goat. (Now if they could just improve the food at Harry Caray's maybe they would not have to depend on gimmickry.)

See: http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/col...

Lest I be seen as beating a dead Goat, the curse lives on. The horrible truth of the direct connection between Bill Buckner's famous 1986 gaffe for the Red Sox of letting the ground ball go through his legs and the CUBBIES, is revealed. In that fated game it turns out he was wearing an official Cubs batting glove (logo and all) under his fielding glove. A full color picture is in the Chicago Sun-Times today. Unfortunately, the Weblink does not show the picture. See: http://www.suntimes.com/sports/quickhits...

I understand that John McDonough is a skilled publicist and also a man determined to get the Cubs into the World Series. I have a somewhat serious suggestion, dealing with banishing forever any hint of a curse on Wrigley Field.

I suggest Mr. McDonough locate a nice diverse flock of goats and let them graze at Wrigley during the World Series this year. He likely could raise money from people who want to get a front row seat to feed the goats, and presto!