I consider myself a pretty big Cubs fan. Despite not actually being from Chicago, I’ve rooted for them my entire life. I re-decorated my entire bedroom in 2003 with posters that had things like “Next Year Is Here!” on them and tearfully fell asleep the night of the Bartman game underneath the watchful eyes of a Mark Prior poster. I drove ten hours this weekend just to return to my hometown and watch the World Series play out with my dad –who cursed me with this fandom — in his favorite bar.
And I still don’t think I’ll ever care about the Cubs 1/10th as much as Eddie Vedder and Bill Murray do. The Pearl Jam frontman and legendary actor have morphed into sort-of mascots for the suddenly competitive Cubs, appearing wherever there is North Side postseason baseball to the cheers of the nation’s sports-bar dwelling drunks. So, what better way to celebrate the Cubs winning last night and forcing a Game 7 than with a drunken cover of The Band’s “The Weight” performed at the world’s most star-studded house show?
Vedder jammed with Derek Trucks while Murray sang along from the audience at a Wrigleyville house show after the Indians handily beat the Cubs 7-2 in Game 4. But it works just as well now, for Cubs fans who are looking to take a 108-year load off. Billy Corgan probably doesn’t approve.
