My mind has had the number ‘1908’ pounded into it more than my home phone number. Within the next three years, we will hall have a new number jack-hammered into our skulls.

That’s right Cubby fans. And this includes all you Cards and Sox fans – we are winning the World Series.

Will it be this year, next year or the year after? Good question. It will be at least one of the three, maybe two, maybe even three. Bold statement? I know.

So here’s the strongest factor. The Cubs want to win. I was never able to say that with a straight face. Now I can juggle bowls of ice cream and sing this to the melody of the Humpty Dance – no smile, guaranteed.

We want to win. The Yankees, the proudest franchise in New York and in sports, were outbid by the lovable losers for 21-year-old pedigree Mark Prior, a cornerstone in the future of Chicago baseball (sorry southsiders).

The 6-foot-5-inch USC grad has brought in as much press as Gary Scott ever did. You can count on him becoming the fifth starter sometime this season. The only question is how soon?

The Tribune wants the Cubs to win. They kicked $10 million to Prior over five years with plenty of incentives.

We all know the name Juan Cruz by now, so let’s get excited about it.

When Sosa called him the next Pedro Martinez, he wasn’t getting carried away. This rookie has all the right tools and the mentality of a veteran to deliver them. He won’t win the Cy Young this year, but will he within the next three?

You can ask Bobby Hill, our All-Star leadoff hitter. Don’t be upset that we let go of Eric Young or that we didn’t pick up a big name free agent because we have Bobby Hill.

Next to Banks, Grace, Dawson, Santo and Salazar, Hill’s name sound greats. Right now he is pressing Delino Deshields to work hard for that leadoff spot.

The kid has integrity, speed and discpline. We can count on him becoming a hero in Chicago and across America.

Classic relievers – Dennis Eckersly, Lee Smith, Rod Beck (uh huh), John Smoltz and Kyle Farnsworth (oh yes).

We knew this guy was special when he topped the century mark the first season we brought him up.

Now we know it. He has the discipline he needed, so now we just have to wait until Flash’s contract is up.

Our outfield is deeper than Moby. Do you have faith in Corey Patterson? You should. He is between two of the tops in the game so all the five-tool hopeful needs is confidence; all he doesn’t is ridicule.

We met this year’s 20-game winner four years ago.

Now’s it’s time to shake hands. The kinks have been worked out and it is finally Kerry Wood’s opportunity to step up. He learned although strikeouts are good, wins are even better.

Why don’t the Cubs win? We never wanted to. The Tribune Company came to the conclusion winning means more money.

Cub fans, our future is bright. Let’s cherish it. We will win. We will win as much and more than the Yankees. We will win the World Series.