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Murphy: Billy Goat Curse
This story can also be found in "The Goat, the Babe, and the Maroons."
Murphy “the goat” returns from the dead to lift the curse he placed on the Chicago Cubs in 1945.
“Murphy” is a fantasy born out of the frustration that the Chicago Cub fans have over the fact their beloved Cubbies have not been to a World Series since 1945. Many feel the reason for the drought is due to the Billy Goat Curse.
The so-called curse came to be on October 6, 1945, when Billy Sianis, a well-known Chicago saloon owner brought his pet goat Murphy to the fourth game of that year’s World Series. When asked to remove his goat from Wrigley Field, he was insulted. Upon leaving, he uttered the now infamous words, “Them Cubs, they ain’t gonna win no more.”
When Frain’s army of ushers heard those words, they contributed the curse to Sianis. However, Murphy was the one who put the whammy on the Cubs. Seeing he was the one who was actually insulted, it was only natural.
Unbeknownst to the Cubs fans, the only way to break the curse is for someone from the Cubs organization to apologize to Murphy personally. Of course, the biggest problem with that happening is that Murphy has been dead for many years.
Still, Cub fans do not despair. In the spirit of Fair Play”, Murphy the Goat, armed with the gift of speech, is forced to return to Earth to lift the curse. Murphy being very persistent, and annoying, has a stipulation. Murphy will lift the curse when he gets his apology. However, Murphy isn’t the only one with a stipulation. No one is going to allow him back in to his reward until he lifts the curse.
In need of earthly assistance, Murphy goes to the Billy Goat Tavern in Chicago. It is here Murphy is to meet a very reluctant, tight-lipped, and cantankerous individual named Jack Talbot, in hopes of enlisting his aid.
When they met, Jack has his own problems. His wife, Sara feels their marriage is failing. After she forces him to see a marriage counselor, the words she gets back from the counselor is troubling. The counselor feels that if Jack does not get psychiatric help there is a strong possibility he might go insane.
T
he next morning, Sara’s fears are realized when she finds Murphy in her shower. Things get worse when she leaves for work. Standing in the hall she listens to their apartment door as a full-blown argument develops between Jack and Murphy. This fact, combined with their troubles, is enough for her make up her mind to leave Jack.
At the start Murphy and Jack butt heads as they both are stubborn. Eventually, they come to the realization that they must change their ways, and join forces in order to arrive at the happy conclusion for all concern.
Murphy “the goat” returns from the dead to lift the curse he placed on the Chicago Cubs in 1945.
“Murphy” is a fantasy born out of the frustration that the Chicago Cub fans have over the fact their beloved Cubbies have not been to a World Series since 1945. Many feel the reason for the drought is due to the Billy Goat Curse.
The so-called curse came to be on October 6, 1945, when Billy Sianis, a well-known Chicago saloon owner brought his pet goat Murphy to the fourth game of that year’s World Series. When asked to remove his goat from Wrigley Field, he was insulted. Upon leaving, he uttered the now infamous words, “Them Cubs, they ain’t gonna win no more.”
When Frain’s army of ushers heard those words, they contributed the curse to Sianis. However, Murphy was the one who put the whammy on the Cubs. Seeing he was the one who was actually insulted, it was only natural.
Unbeknownst to the Cubs fans, the only way to break the curse is for someone from the Cubs organization to apologize to Murphy personally. Of course, the biggest problem with that happening is that Murphy has been dead for many years.
Still, Cub fans do not despair. In the spirit of Fair Play”, Murphy the Goat, armed with the gift of speech, is forced to return to Earth to lift the curse. Murphy being very persistent, and annoying, has a stipulation. Murphy will lift the curse when he gets his apology. However, Murphy isn’t the only one with a stipulation. No one is going to allow him back in to his reward until he lifts the curse.
In need of earthly assistance, Murphy goes to the Billy Goat Tavern in Chicago. It is here Murphy is to meet a very reluctant, tight-lipped, and cantankerous individual named Jack Talbot, in hopes of enlisting his aid.
When they met, Jack has his own problems. His wife, Sara feels their marriage is failing. After she forces him to see a marriage counselor, the words she gets back from the counselor is troubling. The counselor feels that if Jack does not get psychiatric help there is a strong possibility he might go insane.
T
he next morning, Sara’s fears are realized when she finds Murphy in her shower. Things get worse when she leaves for work. Standing in the hall she listens to their apartment door as a full-blown argument develops between Jack and Murphy. This fact, combined with their troubles, is enough for her make up her mind to leave Jack.
At the start Murphy and Jack butt heads as they both are stubborn. Eventually, they come to the realization that they must change their ways, and join forces in order to arrive at the happy conclusion for all concern.
116 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2014
About the author
Stanley Phillips
8 booksStanley Phillips’ writings deal with beyond the norm occurrences that many today just take as coincidence, or a matter of ‘it was about time,’ that something came about.
Through his explanations, readers get a glimpse of the world of the unseen. Thus, hoping to show there is more going on around us than most want to believe.
He has written books on time travel, with such works as “Reign of Valor,” and “Far Away from Now.” Both, of which are historical-science fiction novels.
Then, there is his novel on sports curses, “The Goat, the Babe, and the Maroons.” Although the novel’s topics are sport’s related each curse’s eventual demise are brought on by a paranormal and human interaction.
In some case, Stanley tries to blend the right amount of humor in the tales he shares.
Born: November 9th, 1953 in Glen Cove, New York. However, shortly after being born, due to his father's work Stan's family began a trek across America, and Canada.
His schooling was constantly uprooted as he went to nearly thirty schools, at times attending class as little as one day.
He's of Native American(Sioux and Iroquois)and Polish decent.
His mother was ashamed of her Native American heritage…for reasons he'll never understand. Maybe, it was because she was placed in an orphanage when she very young.
In 1975, he traveled with a semi-pro baseball team. The team’s name was the Indianapolis Clowns (formerly of the Negro Leagues). At the time he played with the team, the Negro Leagues had of course disbanded.
He currently lives on Long Island.
Through his explanations, readers get a glimpse of the world of the unseen. Thus, hoping to show there is more going on around us than most want to believe.
He has written books on time travel, with such works as “Reign of Valor,” and “Far Away from Now.” Both, of which are historical-science fiction novels.
Then, there is his novel on sports curses, “The Goat, the Babe, and the Maroons.” Although the novel’s topics are sport’s related each curse’s eventual demise are brought on by a paranormal and human interaction.
In some case, Stanley tries to blend the right amount of humor in the tales he shares.
Born: November 9th, 1953 in Glen Cove, New York. However, shortly after being born, due to his father's work Stan's family began a trek across America, and Canada.
His schooling was constantly uprooted as he went to nearly thirty schools, at times attending class as little as one day.
He's of Native American(Sioux and Iroquois)and Polish decent.
His mother was ashamed of her Native American heritage…for reasons he'll never understand. Maybe, it was because she was placed in an orphanage when she very young.
In 1975, he traveled with a semi-pro baseball team. The team’s name was the Indianapolis Clowns (formerly of the Negro Leagues). At the time he played with the team, the Negro Leagues had of course disbanded.
He currently lives on Long Island.
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