Paul Sassone

I missed it.

The Cubs won the World Series and I missed it.

Oh, I saw games 1 through 6. I even saw most of Game 7.

But, I missed IT — IT, the moment when the Cubs won the World Series.

Here’s what happened.

Learn from my error. Be not like me.

It started to rain. Out came the tarp. Now, I have been watching ballgames for more than 60 years. I know about rain delays. They are (or seem) interminable. I assumed this one would be, too.

I figured one of two things would happen if I stayed tuned:

1. I would have to listen to Joe Buck and John Smoltz continue and expand on their interminable lecture on why the two managers were not managing properly and how THEY would do so much better.

2. Or, I might have to have my intelligence assaulted by listening to Pete Rose babble incoherently and unfunnily.

The former would annoy. The second could not be endured.

There was a third possibility: I could watch something else during the rain delay.

Thing is, how long would rain delay the game? Quite a while, I figured, once I saw the tarp rolled out.

So, I decided to watch something else.

I am a rabid fan of the early “Gunsmoke” TV series. The first six seasons — when the show was a half-hour in length — is the best network drama show in history, in my opinion. I own all six seasons on DVD. And I watch them over and over. It’s the drama equivalent of eating cashews.

And like cashews, no one can eat just one.

I meant to watch one half-hour episode and then go back to check on the rain delay.

But, I got caught up and watched two “Gunsmokes.”

When I came out of my wild-west stupor I turned back see how the rain delay was progressing.

I was just in time to see the Cubs players whooping, hollering, jumping.

They had just won the final game of the World Series. I had watched a 50-some-year-old Western while the Cubs had just shattered a 100-some-year-old championship drought.

All those times over all those years I had watched the Cubs, stayed with the Cubs only to see them spiral down in flames.

Why didn’t I stay with the Cubs this time, the only time they were in the World Series since I was 3 years old?

Because I am impatient.

Oh well, the Cubs are good. Maybe they will be in the World Series next year.

If not, well, I’m only 74.

I can wait.

I’m patient.

Now.

–For me, it’s wait till  next year–