TOW #6 - Won for the ages: After years of waiting and suffering, Cubs are in World Series

     71 years have passed since the Chicago Cubs have last captured the National League Pennant. Even more so, it has been over a century, 108 years to be exact, since the Cubs laid their hands on the World Series trophy. For numerous decades, die-hard Chicago baseball fans have endured painful times watching their beloved players come so close to becoming world champions, but never true winners. Paul Sullivan, a Chicago Tribune reporter, captured the significance of Saturday night's victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers for baseball fanatics across the world.   Through colloquialism and figurative language, the writer effectively illustrates the compelling victory which revived the Chicago community.
     Rather than a composed and formal article, Sullivan records the historic win in a informative, yet engaging manner. The post-game celebration was zealous as "Willson Contreras jumped into David Ross' arms like a 6-year-old jumping on his bed. The bubble of fun was just starting".  The Chicagoans have been awaiting for a win for countless years, and to truly capture the joy of the victory, the author described the moment in a way that people could relate to emotionally. Instead of merely stating that the people of Chicago were in high spirits, the author utilizes common phrases and ideas that conveyed the importance of the win in a more impactful tone.
     In addition to conversational style of writing, Sullivan also incorporates figurative language to relive the memorable victory. When looking back on the bitter history of the Cubs organization, "There was always something to blame, be it a billy goat, a black cat or a fan trying to catch a foul ball down the left-field line. When the team crashed and burned before it reached the promised land, it was rarely pinned on underperforming players".  To effectively communicate the idea that the baseball team had experienced lengthy years of hardship, Sullivan applies a metaphoric style in his article. The writer illustrates the decades of painful memories through figurative languages rather than stating plain facts, ultimately to emphasize the importance of the acquisition of the pennant.
     Overall, Sullivan effectively illustrates the vital win for the Chicago Cubs and examines the significance of the organization's victory for baseball fans. Surely, Saturday night will be a date in which all Chicago fans will remember for the next 71 years to come.


Link:http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-win-pennant-spt-1023-20161022-story.html