And the Chicago Cubs, after 107 years, have won the… hold on Cubs fans we aren’t there, yet.

The Chicago Cubs have introduced ex-Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon to be their skipper for the next five years with a deal worth about $25 million. The news broke earlier this week when the Cubs brain trust of General Manager Jed Hoyer and President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein fired manager Rick Renteria who they hired just last year.

Epstein, the prodigy who led the Boston Red Sox out of their curse to win their first World Series title in 86 years, is confident in Maddon bringing home rings to the lovable losers of Chicago. “He may be as well suited as anyone in the industry to manage the challenges that lie ahead of us,” Epstein said.

In his years with the Rays Maddon turned around an organization. They went from a 61 win season in 2006 to a World Series appearance before losing to the Philadelphia Phillies in 2008.

Senior Jack Lever, who claims to be a Cubs fan since he was born, said, “I have a different feeling about Maddon compared to past managers. He’s a proven baseball genius. Something special is happening in Chicago.”

Maddon is expecting big things out of his new club, and the prospect loaded Cubs expect big things out of Maddon. ‘Big things’ of course means ending the curse that has shadowed the “Friendly Confines” for 107 years.

“I’m gonna be talking playoffs next year,” Maddon told reporters at The Cubby Bear, a bar across the street from Wrigley. “I’ll tell you that right now. I can’t go to spring training and say anything else. You have to set your goals high, because if you don’t set them high enough you might hit your mark, and that’s not a good thing. We’re gonna talk World Series this year, and I’m gonna believe it. It’s in our future.”

It’s happening Cubs fans.