100 years and one book of losing in Cubdom

December 12, 2:01 PMChicago Literary Scene ExaminerRobert Duffer

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No need to wail till next year.

Feels like the right time to start dreaming baseball again, something many Cubs swore they wouldn't do after our second consecutive ignominous sweep in the first round of the playoffs. C'mon Cubs fans, losing is part of our identity. The only part?

Journalist, writer and Cub-lifer Don Evans knows all about our community of loserdom. At the start of 2008, on the dawn of that haunting century mark (more drama, same results), Evans (author of Good Money After Bad), Randy Richardson (author of Lost in the Ivy) and a host of other baseball guys formed a website and monthly reading series at El Jardin called The Lovable Losers Literary Review. "The Lovable Losers Literary Revue, a hootenanny of Chicago writers, musicians, film makers, actors and bums, will celebrate and mourn the Cubs’ long losing streak." And to compile the definitive Cubs fan's guide to losing.

This Sunday, December 14, marks the much-anticipated release of Cubbie Blues: 100 Years of Waiting Till Next Year. The anthology features a poem by Rick Kogan, a tribute to Mike Royko, Sara Paretsky's V.I. Warshawski, essays, songs stories, anecdotes and factoids from acclaimed Chicago writers and personalities. " The unique blend of voices, ranging from best-selling authors to long-time beer vendors, explores the relationship these fans have to their dubious team," according to the press release. 

This is a book of love and heartbreak and the reading events will be more raucous in our time of mourning.

There will be two readings to celebrate the release, at the Billy Goat Tavern, of curse, from 10-noon; then at Sheffield's, from 7-10pm.

ORIGINAL BILLY GOAT (430 N. MIchigan, lower level)

Chicago's preeminent journalist Rick Kogan (A Chicago Tavern: A Goat, a Curse, and the American Dream) and Judy Royko, widow of legendary columnist Mike Royko, will be on hand to sign books, as will book contributors Mary Beth Hoerner, Donald Evans and Randy Richardson. WXRT's Lin Brehmer will also make a brief appearance. One of Frank Sinatra's personal favorites, legendary Chicago saloon singer Jimmy Damon, will sing Take Me Out to the Ball Game. All book buyers will get a complimentary cheeseburger from the Billy Goat. Books and burgers - does it get any better than that?

SHEFFIELD'S (3258 N. Sheffield)

There will be a free appetizer buffet, beer and drink specials, and contributor Dave Hoekstra will spin his eclectic Cubs music collection as guest DJ. Other contributors such as Sara Paretsky, James Finn Garner,Don De Grazia, Jonathan Eig, Stuart Shea, Rick Kaempfer, Bill Hillmann, Ric Hess, Christine Sneed, Julia Borcherts, Mary Beth Hoerner, Robert Goldsborough, Donald Evans and Randy Richardson will also be there to sign copies of the book.At 8:30, publisher George Rawlinson will lead a toast and there will be s special guest appearancesand comments by Pat Brickhouse,Shawon-O-Meter creator Dave Cihla, "Radio Ron" Walerowicz and others.
 

Buy the book. Go to the events. You are not alone.