[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 19]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 26621]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   RECOGNIZING THE 2007 NATIONAL LEAGUE CENTRAL CHAMPION CHICAGO CUBS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. RAHM EMANUEL

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, October 3, 2007

  Mr. EMANUEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 
outstanding season put together by the 2007 Chicago Cubs. Last week, my 
hometown Cubs clinched the National League Central title with a regular 
season record of 85-77, and tonight they head to Phoenix to take on the 
National League West Champions, the Arizona Diamondbacks.
  Led by Manager Lou Piniella, the Cubs stormed back from an 8\1/2\ 
game deficit to edge out the Milwaukee Brewers for the division title, 
their first since 2003. In just Piniella's first season at the helm, 
the Cubs had the biggest win increase in the Majors from last season to 
this season, winning 19 more games than in 2006.
  In a year marked by adversity, the Cubs overcame injuries, some 
internal strife, and the possible sale of the team to band together 
with the right blend of strong veterans like Derrek Lee and Aramis 
Ramirez, young players like Ryan Theriot and Carlos Marmol, and key 
offseason acquisitions Alfonso Soriano, Mark DeRosa, and Ted Lilly.
  I proudly represent Wrigley Field in the Fifth Congressional 
District, and I am excited to see the return of postseason baseball to 
the Northside of Chicago.
  Carlos Zambrano will set the tone tonight in game one in Arizona, and 
Rich Hill and Ted Lilly will take the ball after that to lead our 
Cubbies to victory in the NLDS.
  Congratulations are in order to each and every player, coach, and 
employee of the Chicago Cubs. I wish them all the best of luck against 
the Diamondbacks, and I look forward to watching them do their best to 
reverse the curse of the billy goat.

                          ____________________