Chicago Cubs’ Cat-tastrophe
(images via: New York Daily News and eBay/Schwartz Sports)
Long-suffering Chicago Cubs fans thought the 25-year-old Curse of the Billy Goat was finally fading away when, on August 14th of 1969, their beloved Cubbies led the New York Mets by 9 1/2 games. It was too good to be true, of course, and by September 9th the Cubs lead over the hated Mets had shriveled to just 1 1/2 games making the upcoming series against the Mets at Shea Stadium of utmost import. During one of the games, some Mets fans released a black cat onto the field. Amazingly, the cat “made a beeline for Ron Santo as he stood in the on-deck circle. The cat cast a haunting glare at the All-Star third baseman, then headed for the Cubs dugout, where it stared down the Chicago players as it skulked back and forth.” The Cubs ended up losing the game, and after going 8-17 record in September they ended up losing the division race to the Mets by 8 games. MeOWW!
(image via: LA Times)
The Chicago Cubs may be done with goats but not with cats, it seems. On April 21st of 2009, a calico cat ran onto the field during the fourth inning of a game between the Cubs and the Cincinnati Reds. The cat led Wrigley Field security staff on a wild goose chase from one end of the field to the other, scratching and biting all the way until one staffer grabbed it by the tail and swung it into the stands. While onlookers both live and via TV were shocked by the unorthodox eviction method, the cat was checked out by a vet and deemed to have suffered no lasting harm. The Chicago Cubs, not so much… they won the game but it’s now 105 years since they last won the World Series.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Squirrel
(image via: SB*Nation)
Paging Carl Spackler! It’s hardly a Cinderella story but it’s a story nonetheless if you’re an animal-lover who follows the game of golf… or in this case, if you’re an animal who follows the game of golf. In the latter category we can include a certain rather brazen squirrel who made a dash (click here for animation) for celebrity status on the 13th hole during the final round of the 2013 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.
(image via: SB*Nation)
Henrik Stenson and Tiger Woods were lining up their puts when out of the woods – the forested type – darted the squirrel. The rascally rodent romped across the finely manicured green because, well, have you ever walked across a golf green in YOUR bare feet? Having achieved his 15 seconds of fame, the “psychotic” squirrel parked his posterior just off the fairway and waited for both players and gallery to move on to the next hole, hopefully leaving a peanut or cheeto behind.
