I had to start thinking about it. I had to start dreaming about the Chicago Cubs winning the National League East.

On Monday, the Cubbies were 8-2 and riding a seven-game winning streak. Monday night, I had this vision: Andre Dawson hitting a homer in the bottom of the ninth against the Mets to clinch the pennant. Then, Mark Grace would homer to defeat the Texas Rangers to win the World Series. Yes, 1989, the year of the Cubbie. Players such as Mitch Webster, Mitch Williams, Paul Kilgus and Shawon Duston would become Cub legends.

But it was just a dream. Going into last night's game against the Expos, the Cubs had lost two games in a row.

Can the magic be over so soon? I am not going to think about it.

The top 10 things I would rather be doing right now:

10. Courtside, Madison Square Garden, Jackson alley-oop pass to Ewing. Slam City.

9. Escaping to any Club Med in the Caribbean.

8. Figuring out the first 50 picks of the NFL draft.

7. Going to dinner with Bob Costas. My treat, eating as he talks.

6. Watching Mike Greenwell practice his hitting, three hours before game time in an empty Fenway Park.

5. Not writing my junior paper, which is due in less than two weeks. (No, wait, I am doing that.)

4. Straightening out Don King's hair.

3. Listening to Vin Scully announce a baseball game.

2. Hanging out at Wrigley Field for the rest of my life.

1. Sleeping.