Michael Lee, once a normal high school graduate in the early ’90s, is being touted as the next Nostradamus. This Gen X-er couldn’t have known that a simple prediction of the Cubs winning the World Series in 2016 would vault him to anonymous and yet specific fame twenty-three years after he donned his cap and gown, but here we are. Now the Cubs are hosting the Cleveland Indians in the World Series, their first trip to the championship in over 70 years, and Michael Lee has the weight of Chicago and a billy goat curse on his shoulders.
Look at him, predicting confidently with his steely gaze. Who are you, Michael Lee?
His entry read, “Chicago Cubs, 2016 World Champions. You heard it here first.” It seems like the world, or at least his graduating class that mindlessly thumbed through their yearbook in a fit of nostalgia, did indeed hear it first.
But predicting this over two decades ago when the Cubs were on their way to a 4th place finish in the NL East off the pitching strength of Turk Wendell and Shawn Boskie, is truly bizarre. This is well before the Kerry Wood era, Sammy Sosa was just in his second season with the Cubbies, and Steve Bartman was a fever dream. Why 2016, Michael Lee? Why?
Or the more important question: How?
Maybe we shouldn’t be asking, “who is Michael Lee?” Maybe we should be asking, “what is Michael Lee?”
The answer? Time warlock, breaker of curses.
(Via Imgur)
