As Red Sox fans have painfully learned over the last four years, chances at championships do not grow on trees. At Theo Epstein's introductory press conference in Chicago, he used this theme to set out his vision for leading the Chicago Cubs out of their 103 year drought. "Every opportunity to win is sacred."He was also careful to leaven that desire to win every year with the realistic need to plan for the future. As he put it, "We also need to build a foundation for long-term success." That's what he did in Boston—leaving a "player-development" machine for Ben Cherington to nurture. That's likely what he will deliver for Cubs fans as well.
Whether that results in breaking the curse is another matter. It will be fun to watch.