It’s OK to think about it. We’re all old enough to remember it. A great man once said, “He who ignores the mistakes of the past is doomed to repeat them.”

It’s all right to think about the ball going through Leon Durham’s legs, the ball bouncing over Ryne Sandberg’s head and Steve F@#$ing Garvey.

You know why it’s not bad to look back at that hideous October weekend 19 years ago?

Because it’s all about to change.

If you’ve learned only one thing about the 2003 Cubs it’s our oft repeated mantra (I guess that’s what makes it a mantra) “These are the Anti-Cubs.” They don’t do things like any Cubs team we’ve ever seen before. This afternoon they can finally give us all we’ve ever wanted from them.

Hey a World Series will be great. Especially if it’s against the Yankees (even though we’ll have to go through that Babe Ruth called shot BS again) because the entire world will be rooting for us. Well, except for France…because…they’re France.

But I want a pennant. I want my Cubs to win the National League. The Cubs have played in the National League since 11 years after the end of the Civil War. Think about that. They haven’t won it since the end of World War II. The 95 years without a World Series is sick, but the 58 years without one single pennant is the one that has to go. Imagine a year in which you have at least 365 days worth of asking your Cardinals fan acquaintances, “Hey, when was the last time YOU won a pennant?”

Or, “Who won the National League last year? Oh, yeah WE did. I keep forgetting. Stupid, stupid me.”

Muahahahahahahaha.

Last night, Desipio Man Love Part Deux, E-ramis Ramirez came through big time. He hit a grand slam in the first and added an RBI single and another homer for good measure. That game was over by the third inning. Good times were had by all.

This afternoon, Carlos Zambrano, our original Desipio Man Love recipient, gets a chance to atone for two lousy playoff starts. No matter what he did this year, winning the pennant clincher is the kind of memory you want associated with your name for all time. I think…no, I know…Carlos is up to it.

When that Cubs charter plane lands at O’Hare tonight and a few thousand crazed Cubs fans show up to be told they can’t get to the gate without a boarding pass, there will be one more passenger on that plane.

The National League Championship trophy.

See you at three.

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Mike Downey gets all literate on us as he discusses the Cubs Three Musketeers. By the way, some dope at ChicagoSports.com forgot to put the quote, “All for one, and one for all.” In the subhead, that’s what Downey’s referring to.

Rick Morrissey says it’s OK to peek ahead. Just enjoy the moment. This obviously doesn’t happen to us very often.

Phil Rogers is an ass.

Mariotti puts down the doughnut to bloviate confidence.

The Wizard of Roz says the pennant is ours.

Mike Imrem gives some credit to Jim Hendry. He deserves more than we’ll ever know.

Jayson Stark (and of course, Doug Glanville) on the Cubs and the World Series. Wait, make that NLCS hero Doug Glanville.

I hate to say it, but Don Zimmer got what he deserved. What the hell was he doing?

See you today at 3 p.m. Go Cubs.