CHICAGO -- By early Friday afternoon, the Sheraton Grand Chicago was packed with Chicago Cubs fans. Opening ceremonies for the 31st annual winter fan convention were still two hours away, but there they were, lined up outside the grand ballroom, ready to see their team for the first time since the Cubs were bounced from the National League Championship Series by the New York Mets in late October.
That memory was long buried, replaced by the euphoric feeling the rest of 2015 brought to a hungry and rabid fan base. A video montage at the end of Friday's opening ceremonies brought chills to the room.