Curse of the BIlly Goat Tavern

The Curse of the Billy Goat has its its roots in the 1945 World Series between the Chicago Cubs and the Detroit Tigers. According to the legend, William Sianis a Greek immigrant took his pet goat, Murphy to the Series, but instead of sitting in their seats, Sianis and the goat walked out on to the playing field to garner publicity for Siani’s tavern that was across the street. It didn’t take long before both man and goat were escorted off by ushers. The pair returned to their seats, but orders came down from the Cub’s owner, Philip Knight Wrigley to eject Sianis because the “goat smelled bad.” After Wrigley insulted the goat Sianis placed a curse on the team, saying that the Cubs would never win another pennant or play in another World Series at Wrigley Field. The Cubs eventually lost the 1945 World Series and have not been back to the championship series since. Sianis’ nephew has paraded a goat around the field a few times in an attempt to break the curse without any luck.

The Billy Goat Tavern was immortalized on Saturday Night Live when John Belushi and Bill Murray developed a skit that centered around the tavern’s menu and hasty ordering system. The “Cheeseburger!Cheeseburger! Pepsi! No Coke!” routine put the tavern on the map, making it a favorite of tourists visiting the windy city.

John Belushi was a comedic genius who got his start in the Second City Troupe in Chicago. His big break came when he was cast in National Lampoon’s Lemmings in 1972, he then went on to SNL and fame. Belushi was only 33 when he died, his tombstone reads, “I may be gone, but Rock ‘n Roll lives on.