Note: The Chicago Cubs will be on the cover of the upcoming SI, with the question “Will It Happen?” I weigh in on this…..

Just what we need…an SI cover jinx. But the real question is: Is It Really Gonna Happen? Will the Cubs really win in 2008? It’s too soon to get excited; ask me this question again in September.

Of course this question can be asked of a lot of teams, particularly the so-called surprise teams in baseball. Lets analyze:

Tampa Bay? First chance they get into first, they lose to Baltimore. with injuries to the Yankees and the Red Sox not quite warmed up, I see Tampa hanging around a while, perhaps even longer than fellow surprise team Baltimore.

Florida? I think it’s gonna happen for the Marlins in 2009 or 2010, per their normal cycle. They will make life interesting before the weather heats up. So what happens first- the Marlins fading or Pedro coming back??

Chicago Cubs? They will make us sweat, cry and ponder suicide, but will not win the NL Pennant or the World Series

Chicago White Sox? Gag me….

Cleveland ? The have an impressive non championship streak of their own, but the AL is too strong for them to win

Oakland? I say out of this group the A’s have the best chance of hanging around the longest, because Moneyball usually finds a way to win. But, they will short in the end to the happenin SoCal Angels

Other items where one wonders if it’s gonna happen…..

-Is it gonna happen for LeBron? Not for a while; I see his waiting period similar to MJ

-Will Dale Jr. ever win? If Danica can…..

-Will JoePa retire? Count on it…eventually

-Will Bret Favre unretire? I wouldn’t be surprised

-Will the Bears ever get a quarterback? Hopefully before I’m 5o

Will I go to sleep? Yes…good night!