THE OPENING LINE

Monday, Oct. 8, 2007 | 7:17 a.m.

They have been trying to hit the cutoff man, mostly in vain, since before Tinker, Evers and Chance were even born, and that's a long time ago. But although they have existed since 1870, the Chicago National League ballclub, known as the Cubs since 1902, has only made it to the postseason in 21 of those 137 years.

That probably explains when Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix was teeming with Cubs fans at 10 a.m. Wednesday, some nine hours before their beloved Cubbies were to open the National League playoffs against some whippersnapper franchise from Arizona named for a snake.

The woman at the information booth was telling two Cubs fans trying to get to their downtown hotel that if they weren't in a hurry, for a buck twenty-five the city bus would practically drop them at the front door.

So that's what Mom and I did. When we started fumbling for quarters, the bus driver put his hand over the slot and pointed to a little Cubs lapel pin that he had secretly affixed to his Valley Metro bus driver's cap.

He said he grew up a mile north of Wrigley Field and that the ride was on him. Or at least the Valley Metro Transit System. I made a mental note that the next time I was in Phoenix and rode the bus, I would tell the driver that I only had a five and that he should keep the change.

But after what the Diamondbacks did to the Cubs in the National League Division Series, the Valley Metro Transit System's magic number for getting its money back is roughly equivalent to Aramis Ramirez's postseason batting average.

I was going to say the free ride downtown and Geovany Soto's homer in Game 2 that gave the Cubs their only lead of the series were the highlights of the trip. But next year will make the 100th anniversary of the Cubs' last World Series win. So for a lot of us, it's not about the thrill of victory or the agony of yet another defeat, although it is about that more often than not.

It's also about showing up at Alice Cooper's sports bar - yes, that Alice Cooper - seven hours before the first pitch and discovering that misery does indeed love company.

No More Mr. Nice Guys? Not a chance. There was Lou from Naperville and Ryan from Palatine, who turned his Purdue education into an assistant slot manager's gig at the Bellagio. And Jim and Charlie who had been college buds (and also drank a few) at Western Illinois, back when Steve Ontiveros played third base for the Cubs, which is how a lot of Cubs fans identify certain periods in their lives, by what journeyman was patrolling the hot corner.

Charlie said he works for Raytheon in Tucson but I don't believe him, because real rocket scientists are smart enough not to be Cubs fans.

But when I am older and grayer, I am sure I will think about him and Jim and Ryan and Mom sitting in Alice Cooper's beer garden and invoking the names of Ron Santo and Bill Hands and Adolfo Phillips and Billy Williams and Carmen Fanzone, the old utility infielder who used to play the national anthem on his trumpet. And permitting ourselves the outrageous thought of this year's Cubs finally giving all those old ones something to cheer about in October.

And knowing deep in our hearts, even before Lou yanked Zambrano too soon and Ted Lilly slammed his glove to the ground in disgust upon grooving a fastball to some rookie named Chris Young, that it wasn't going to happen.

But just wait 'til next year.

THIS WEEK'S BEST BET

UNLV vs. BYU football 6:30 p.m. Saturday Sam Boyd Stadium

Can't remember the last time UNLV beat the Cougars at Sam Boyd? Don't get a brain cramp; it's never happened. The Rebels hope the seventh time is a charm.

TICKETS: $17-$30

ON THE WEB: unlvtickets.com

ALSO WORTH A LOOK

Frys.com Open Thursday to Sunday TPC Summerlin, TPC Canyons

As a late - season stop on the PGA tour, Las Vegas doesn't draw many big names (no Tiger, no Phil, no Vijay). But these guys still can shoot the lights out. Troy Matteson has won $1.2 million since winning here last year.

TICKETS: $5 to $100

ON THE WEB: www.thefrysopen.com