CHICAGO (AP) -Jennifer Butera stood outside Wrigley Field on a rainy Sunday afternoon, lamenting how Cubs fans will have to wait another season, at least, for a chance to see their team in the World Series.
``I can't believe we have to wait another whole year,'' the 27-year-old high school teacher said, adding that ``it's hard work to be a Cubs fan.''
Chicago lost 3-1 to the Dodgers in Los Angeles on Saturday night, bowing out of the best-of-five playoff series without winning a game. The first-round loss also sealed a century of frustration for Cubs fans, whose team has not won a World Series since 1908.
The scene was somber and subdued outside Wrigley Field on Sunday. Tourists talked about the loss as they took pictures in front of a statue of celebrated Cubs announcer Harry Caray.
Across the street at the Cubby Bear bar, Cubs fan John Weier said he couldn't watch the final innings of Saturday's loss, calling it ``a sad night.'' Weier, 26, said he left the Wrigleyville bar where he was watching the game early.
``How do you get excited for next year's regular season?'' he asked. ``And if we make the playoffs next year, how do you get excited?''
The city's daily newspapers joined the pity party.
The Chicago Tribune's headline read, ``It Ain't Gonna Happen;'' a Chicago Sun-Times headline said, ``So Long: Title drought hits 100 years.''
Cubs fans posted on blogs and Internet message boards, criticizing their team and promising next year would be their year.
Some fans were exasperated.
Blogger Al Yellon, who runs bleedcubbieblue.com, wrote that the series was ``the worst performance I have seen in 45 years as a Cubs fan.''
Reggie Staples, 25, of Columbus, Ohio, snapped photos outside Wrigley Field on Sunday with a friend. The Chicago tourist said he's been a Cubs fan for 15 years.
``I felt I was going to come here today and feel some sort of victory, but that wasn't the case,'' the law school student said. ``There's always next season. We can't be fair weather fans.''
Cubs fan Lou Kosanovich, 64, of Fort Worth, Texas, echoed Staples' optimism.
``They're going to be back,'' he said. ``It's just a matter of time.''
Will Byington, whose pictures are featured in the coffee table book ``We Are Cubs Fans,'' said in an interview from Los Angeles that he doesn't think Cubs fans have accepted that the season is over.
``I don't think it's sunk in yet,'' said Byington, who lives near Wrigley Field. ``You just keep building. Granted now it's going to be 101 years of building. Our time will come.''
