In Game 7, Chicago Cubs will either lose a title -- or their mystique

Regardless of the outcome at Game 7 of the World Series Wednesday night, the Chicago Cubs are going to lose — either the world championship or their mystique.

They will suffer a painful defeat against the Cleveland Indians, or surrender the Lovable Loser label that has defined and united their fan base.

Cubs fans praying, pleading and pulling for their team to win its first World Series title in 108 years might think the idea of an existential loss is absurd. Give them their elusive World Series title and end talk of the Billy Goat curse and Black Cat and Steve Bartman, they’ll surely tell you. But the shortsighted fail to recognize the truth.

Victory is sweet. But even sweeter is longing for that elusive crowning victory. For it is only through collective suffering and agony that a fan base is truly united.

It’s something the Boston Red Sox fans experienced in 2004, when the Red Sox won their first World Series title in 86 years. It’s something the Chicago White Sox experienced in 2005, when the White Sox won their first World Series championship in 88 years. Although Red Sox fans and White Sox fans might deny it, the victory stripped them of a yearning that had enriched their lives and gave them a special identity.

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Moreover, if the Cubs prevail, they’ll lose the inherent appeal borne of defeat and mishap and agony.

Think about it. Can you imagine if Charlie Brown finally outwitted Lucy and started drilling field goals like the George Blanda of comic strips? Lovable Loser no more.

If the Indians lose Wednesday, their drought without a World Series title would extend to 69 years — still 39 years short of the Cubs’ current drought, but perhaps in position to inherit the label of Lovable Losers.

Most Cubs fans will gladly give up the moniker without knowing what they’re in danger of learning — the sweetest of victories come at a cost.

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