In a world that often feels filled with monotony and routine, there is a growing desire to bring back the magic - the spark that ignites our senses and awakens our souls. This plea for a return to magic comes from a place of yearning, a longing for something more than the mundane. We find ourselves reminiscing about the days of wide-eyed wonder and enchantment, when everything seemed possible and the world was a playground of endless possibilities. But where has the magic gone? It seems as though we have allowed it to fade away, buried under the weight of responsibilities and the pressures of adult life. We have become so caught up in the daily grind that we have forgotten to seek out the extraordinary in the ordinary. The once vibrant colors of life have dulled, and the melodies that used to play in our hearts have become mere whispers.

Cubs History and Timeline

Take a look back at the Cubs history from their days as founding members of the National League to finally ending the 108-year World Championship drought. The Chicago Cubs have always been a dedicated team representing Chicago and bringing hundreds of fans to cheer them on in Wrigley Field.

The Early Cubs History:

1876 – Known as the White Stockings at the time, the team joined the National League in 1876. Within its first years of existence, the Cubs finished first in the league six times.

1902 – Going from the White Stockings to the Colts, the team then switched to the Orphans. The Chicago Daily News began referring the team as the Cubs because of high amount of young players. This nickname stuck and became the official team name in 1907.

1906 – Despite losing the World Series in six games, the Cubs did set a major league record with 116 wins. The Cubs also still hold the best winning percentage in baseball history with 76% wins.

1907 – 1908 - Winning 107 games in 1907, the Cubs also go on to win their first World Series title with a four game win. Success continues with the Cubs winning their second World Series title the following year.

The Cubs Drought and Curse:

1929 – The Cubs experienced its first of four World Series losses that would then happen again over the next decade.

1945 - During game 4 of the World Series, owner of the Billy Goat Tavern was asked to leave the game because his pet goat smelled so bad it was bothering the fans. Owner Billy Sianis left but not without angrily stating that the Cubs would never win. This was the beginning of the Curse of the Billy Goat.

1947 – For the next 20 seasons, the Cubs did not finish higher than fifth in the 10-team National League.

1967 – 1969 - The Cubs finally had a consecutive winning season since the 1940s, however neither ended in a championship win. In 1969 fans of the Cubs were starting to looking hopeful until a black cat appeared on the field. This started the Black Cat curse when the Mets beat the Cubs.

1988 - On August 9th, the first full night game in Cubs history was played at Wrigley Field. The Cubs brought a Chicago win against the Mets.

The Most Iconic Year in Cubs History:

2016 - The Cubs won the first World Series in 108 years, the drought and curse was finally over. Playing against the Cleveland Indians, the Cubs took home the championship to a very happy city.

Clark - Chicago Cubs

A friendly young bear cub, named Clark, has been the mascot for the Chicago Cubs since 2014. Clark visits with and entertains fans at Wrigley Field, located at Addison and Clark on Chicago’s North Side. The mascot’s name is in honor of the location of the Cub’s 105-year-old baseball stadium. Besides his antics at Wrigley Field, Clark is active in the Chicago area and throughout Illinois with community-related activities. In fact, he was introduced as the Cub’s mascot at the pediatric department of Chicago’s Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center which he visited with several Cubs players.

At the ballpark, Clark loves the fans and, especially, the kids. On Family Sundays, Clark just loves to help kids run the bases and families are always welcome to visit Clark’s Clubhouse Wrigley Field. Clark usually wears the Cubs home uniform but occasionally he chooses a more casual look with the batting practice uniform and brown pants. His “twitter handle” is on the back of his jersey.

Although Clark is a new mascot for the Cubs he loves being part of a team that dates back to the original National League in 1876 (as the White Stocking). The Cubs are one of two remaining original members of the current National League along with the Atlanta Braves. The recently won the National League Pennant and World Series in 2016 (Clark’s third season) to end the longest “World Series drought” in history (1908 to 2016).

Clark the Cub Bio

Debut with Cubs: January 13, 2014

Full Name: Clark the Cub

Most favorite color: Cubs Blue

Favorite song: “Go Cubs Go”

Most favorite place to vacation: Mesa, Arizona (Cubs spring training)

Hobbies: Paling around with Clark’s crew kids and practicing T-ball swing

Most Favorite Movie: "Rookie of the Year"

Most proud of: Winning the 2018 Mascot Home Run Derby and helping the Cubs win the 2016 World Series

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Meeting the Chicago Bears and Chicago Cubs Mascots

Every professional sports club needs to have some kind of logo in order to be separated from the rest. The team logo can consist of a modified letter with a small graphic brush-up or some kind of a character that catches the team spirit. It is up to the club to choose the related symbol.

In recent years, apart from the logo, some clubs even started choosing a mascot to bring out the best of the team spirit and stir things up with the fans. Again it is up to the club to decide which the best mascot to represent their club is, but in this situation the opinion of the fans is not overlooked, because they are the ultimate beneficiaries of the mascot's services.

In the Chicago area there are two important teams for two very popular American sports. One of them is the Chicago Cubs, which is a major representative in baseball and current champions of the National League division of MLB, and the other is the Chicago Bears, a very important football team that has won the National Football Conference championship game in 2006.

Let's talk about them one at a time. Fans strive to obtain Chicago Bears tickets so they can watch their team perform miracles with that oval ball, scoring touchdown after touchdown and hoping that the team can win every game. A real fan needs to have Chicago Bears tickets for all the games in a season, no matter if the team is on a roll or if they are in a slump.

When a fan purchases Chicago Bears tickets, this is also a way to meet the team mascot. Judging by the name of the club, it is common sense that they would choose a bear to be their mascot. He has been around since 2003 and his popularity has increased among the fans.

His name is Staley Da Bear. The name, apart from obviously symbolizing a bear, also makes reference to the man that founded the Bears franchise in 1919 - A. E. Staley. His popularity with the fans can obviously be observed from the number of outside appearances he makes.

The other important representative in the city of Chicago is the Cubs. This club is a major presence in the National League division of the MLB. Apart from watching games and cheering for the team, purchasing Chicago Cubs tickets can bring you a home run ball that you can display in your trophy case.

Just like the Chicago Bears tickets, the Chicago Cubs tickets are also a way to watch the team mascot in action. While the official team mascot is a young bear cub, the club has not found a physical representation for it yet. A man was hired for a while in the 1990s, but because the fans didn't like him very much he was dropped in a relatively short period of time.

Even though no young bear cub has been found, if you purchase Chicago Cubs tickets you will have the chance to watch the unofficial mascot of the club. His name is Ronnie Woo Woo, and he has been around for Cub games since the late 1950s.

Ronnie Woo Woo is a longtime Cubs fan and everyone can see him at the game in full uniform screaming from the bottom of his lungs cheers for his favorite baseball team. While some do not enjoy his cheers, lots of people think that a game would not be the same without him. Buy your own Chicago Cubs tickets and watch the guy in action.

Cubs' Offseason Surprise: Clark The Mascot

There are plenty of egos in the world of professional sports. Even by that standard, the newest member of the Chicago Cubs has a big head. But, to be fair, Clark is an oversized bear in a Cubs jersey.

Desperate times call for desperate measures. The Cubs’ last playoff appearance was in 2008. Their last World Series appearance was in 1945. They lost. Their last World Series title happened in 1908. So on Monday, the Cubs unveiled an unexpected offseason acquisition: a mascot.

Chicago Sun-Times columnist Neil Steinberg normally writes about actual news. But, he put a column about Israel and Palestine on hold when the Cubs made the announcement.

“You’ve got this bear with this ineffable look of pain in its eyes. Its wearing a backwards baseball cap to show that it’s cool,” Steinberg told Only A Game.

Clark doesn't wear pants -- just one of the reasons he has drawn criticism. (Chicago Cubs)

His main complaint is that Clark seems too familiar.

“That’s what really got me going on this. Where did I see that [before]? Is that a Berenstain bear? No. Is that a Care Bear? No," Steinberg said. "Actually for a second, I thought it was Chuck E. Cheese. It’s exactly like some 1990s furry Disney generic, central-casting, clip-art character.”

Steinberg isn’t alone. Clark might be warm and fuzzy, but the welcome he received on the Internet was decidedly not. This is a family show, so I’ll leave the tweets about Clark’s lack of pants and the related Photoshopping to your imagination. A more common theme was despair. One comment on the Cubs website sums it up: “What do you mean he can't hit, he can't field and can't pitch? Well he should fit right in.”

AJ Mass was the man inside Mr. Met from 1994 to 1997. Today he writes for ESPN’s Rumor Central, is a fantasy sports expert, and has an upcoming book about mascots titled Yes, It’s Hot in Here. Mass says the Mets brought Mr. Met and his giant baseball-shaped melon to life to help make their games more family friendly. He thinks the Cubs are making a smart move.

“They’re going about it the right way. They’re looking at it as a marketing tool and a way to connect with younger fans," Mass said. "I think part of the problems that you hear [about], the negative comments toward baseball, is it’s too slow for the kids of today, and the audience is kind of like aging out.”

According to a survey conducted last year by Sports Business Journal, of the 122 MLB, NFL, NBA, and NHL franchises, just 20 — now 19 thanks to Clark — do not have a mascot. But Mass says the San Diego Chicken and the Phillie Phanatic loom large over their larger-than-life colleagues.

“There’s certainly a Mount Rushmore of mascots throughout all four sports," Mass said. "On the field, there is no doubt that the Chicken and the Phanatic, for baseball, are the two most successful. You can argue about maybe who the other two are. I would say K.C. Wolf for the Kansas City Chiefs and the Phoenix Suns’ Gorilla.”

The Phillie Phanatic has thrived for more than 35 years. Clark's future in Chicago is far less certain. (Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

Bonnie Erickson created the Phanatic, who made his debut in 1978.

“The Phillies fans are a tough audience, but the Phanatic has always, from the very start, had a bit of an attitude,” she said.

Erickson got her start making Muppets for Jim Henson and designed the puppet for another well-known character: Miss Piggy. She and her husband Wayde Harrison run Harrison-Erickson and have created more than 15 pro sports mascots. Erickson says there are three things behind every successful character: a good costume, a true performer inside of it, and “the support of the team. The promotion of the team and the acceptance of the team. Part of that has to do with the players and everyone else being part of that whole picture.”

Erickson and Harrison believe a lack of promotion contributed to the downfall of Dandy, their mustachioed creation who served as the New York Yankees mascot from 1979 to 1981. But support has never been a problem in Philadelphia. After briefly leasing him, the Phillies bought their loveable green lunatic. Harrison says today the mascot’s social calendar is loaded with brand-building appearances outside the stadium. And popular mascots can be profitable.

“It was designed from the outset to be merchandisable, which means it would easily translate into toys and into graphics that could be used on t-shirts and whatever," Harrison said. "And on top of all of that, he is one of the central pillars of their promotion and marketing of the team.”

Unlike many mascots, Clark won’t be on the field. He’ll mostly greet fans outside the park before games. The last Cubs mascot worked outside the stadium, too. It was a live bear. That was in 1916, so the announcement this week took fans by surprise. But Harrison and Erickson spoke with the team about developing a mascot back in the 1980s.

“And we met with them and we talked with them about it," Erickson said. "And they declined to go forward on a project at that time. So it’s been in their thought process for quite a long while.”

In 2005, back in his days with the Boston Red Sox, Cubs General Manager Theo Epstein once wore a gorilla suit to avoid talking to the media on his way out of Fenway Park. If the Cubs don’t start winning soon, Epstein might need to borrow Clark to escape the no-longer-friendly confines of Wrigley Field.

This segment aired on January 18, 2014.

Doug Tribou Reporter/Producer
Doug Tribou was formerly a reporter and producer at WBUR and for WBUR's Only A Game.

The once vibrant colors of life have dulled, and the melodies that used to play in our hearts have become mere whispers. Bringing back the magic is not about resurrecting the fantastical or the supernatural. It is about rediscovering the sense of awe and delight that we experienced as children.

It is about finding joy in the simple pleasures, like a captivating sunset or the touch of a loved one's hand. It is about embracing the beauty in the world around us and savoring every moment. To bring back the magic, we must first learn to slow down and appreciate the present. We need to pause and take a breath, allowing ourselves to be fully present in the here and now. By doing so, we open our eyes to the small wonders that surround us - the gentle flutter of a butterfly's wings, the intricate patterns of a snowflake, or the warmth of a kind smile. Furthermore, we must reconnect with our inner child - that part of us that is unencumbered by societal expectations and free from the limitations we set for ourselves. We need to release our imaginations from the shackles of adulthood and let them roam freely. Through play, creativity, and curiosity, we can rekindle the flame of magic within us. But perhaps most importantly, we must cultivate a mindset of gratitude and positivity. By acknowledging and appreciating the blessings in our lives, no matter how small, we create a ripple effect of positivity that can transform the mundane into something extraordinary. By practicing gratitude, we open ourselves up to the endless possibilities of magic. Bringing back the magic is not a monumental task. It is a daily practice - a choice to infuse our lives with wonder, joy, and enchantment. It is a commitment to seeking out the extraordinary in the ordinary and embracing the magic that surrounds us. So let us reclaim the magic that has been lost, and let it guide us on a journey of rediscovery, inspiration, and fulfillment..

Reviews for "The Myth of Perfection: Embracing Imperfection and Finding Magic in Flaws"

- John - 2/5 - I was really disappointed with "Brint back the magic". The show lacked any cohesive storyline and the performances felt lackluster. The magic tricks were predictable and overall, it just didn't live up to the hype. I was expecting to be completely amazed and entertained, but unfortunately, it fell flat for me.

- Sarah - 1/5 - "Brint back the magic" was a complete waste of time and money. The entire show felt amateurish with cheesy special effects and subpar acting. The tricks were unimpressive and didn't offer anything new or exciting. I found myself bored and counting down the minutes until it was over. Save your money and skip this one.

- Mark - 2/5 - I had high hopes for "Brint back the magic", but it just didn't deliver. The storyline was confusing and all over the place, making it hard to follow. The production value was also lacking, with cheap set designs and uninspiring costumes. The show didn't even attempt to bring any sense of wonder or awe, leaving me feeling underwhelmed. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this show to anyone looking for a truly magical experience.

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