I've had the same Cubs' hat for four years, the only hat I wear. It's one of those dark blue ones with the words "Wrigley Field" written across it; my now wife gave it to me when she was my then girlfriend. Over the years, it has accumulated a lot of dusty, dirt, and oil from almost daily wear. Frankly, it had begun to look like a Craig Biggio model, which just isn't really a good look. The blue had turned to an odd yellowish-blue, but not green. It was what we call a "gamer."

I think the time had come, though, to wash the hat. It was just too gross. So the Wife poured some Woolite into the sink and went at the hat with a brush (before you think we have some sort of 1950's relationship, I was doing dishes at the time). If our neighbors heard gagging noises, that was her reaction to the color the water turned once my hat hit the water. I can't believe that just a day before that hat was on my head. Simply disgusting.

So now the hat is getting a new start. All the dust of past Cubs' failures has been cleansed from my presence and I will no longer be wearing memories of 2003, 2004, or this past month. So, with that, I declare a new start. We have no Prior or Wood. This is Zambrano's team, and he will have to carry them to victory. It is time for this Cubs team to rally.

Hey, maybe the hat was bad luck. Maybe now that I've washed it things will turn around. I guess you never know.

And four years from now, I'll probably wash it again. Hopefully I will be rinsing out happy memories...memories of a championship.