Groundhog Day for the Cubbies?

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Potentially, it was a made-for-television setting for TBS: Historic park, rabid fans, great story line.

But like the Chicago Cubs, TBS came up empty at Wrigley Field in the first two games of the Dodger-Cub NL division series. The Bleacher Bums acted more like real bums, somber and disheartened.

In the first game, their beloved Cubbies were trailing and in search of an emotional boost after James Loney’s grand slam. Instead, Cub fans were uncharacteristically silent, as if they felt that dreaded curse had already crept into the ballpark, eliminating any reason for optimism.

The TBS cameras roamed the stands again and again, searching for the colorful and passionate fans associated with historic Wrigley. All they got, for the most part, were dejected onlookers with chins in their hands.

It was a little better in Game 2, but not much. A big early lead by the opposition, and four errors -- the Cubs fielded for the cycle with all four infielders getting in the E column -- take a crowd out of it. Even, apparently, a Cubs crowd.

Said TBS on-air reporter Tom Verducci as a shot of actor Bill Murray, the Jack Nicholson of the Cubs, flashed on the screen: ‘Seeing Bill Murray and watching the Cubs trailing again in a postseason game makes you think of only one thing: It’s Groundhog Day.’

-- Steve Springer