physicality -- while Sartos form for Glasgow Warriors was encouraging on the wing.The huge problem, as u

CHICAGO -- Wrigley Field was dark and empty when a loud cheer reverberated throughout the neighborhood surrounding the iconic ballpark.While the Chicago Cubs decided to delay their party, their long-downtrodden fans were ready to celebrate.Chicago wasted its first chance to clinch the NL Central title when pinch-hitter Scooter Gennett delivered a tiebreaking, two-run double in the seventh inning Thursday night, leading the Milwaukee Brewers to a 5-4 victory. But St. Louis 6-2 loss at San Francisco completed the Cubs season-long dominance of the division.It appeared manager Joe Maddon and his players were long gone when the West Coast game wrapped up. But the final out in San Francisco touched off a celebration in Chicago that included honking horns and chanting in the streets.This is just the first step, Maddon said before the Cardinals lost. I mean, we have much larger baseball fish to fry in our skillet.The Cubs (93-53) were hoping to begin a 10-game homestand with a boozy celebration of their first division title since 2008. But Keon Broxton homered and Orlando Arcia drove in two runs for Milwaukee, making Chicago wait a little while longer.Now the party shifts to Friday, right after the Cubs afternoon start against the Brewers. It might be a bit anticlimactic for Maddon and Co., but they took all the drama out of the division race long ago.Led by a stellar pitching staff and MVP contenders Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo, Chicago got off to a sizzling 25-6 start. After stumbling into the All-Star break, the Cubs pulled away with a 22-6 August that turned the NL Central race into a mere formality.But the division title is not how this group of Cubs will be judged, not this year. After running roughshod over the rest of the majors for most of the season, they are trying to end the franchises famous championship drought that goes all the way back to when the Cubs beat the Tigers in the 1908 World Series.Weve got a lot ahead of us. We really do, president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said before the loss to Milwaukee. It kind of all boils down to how you perform in October.Its only the fourth time the Cubs have reached the postseason in consecutive seasons. They got in as a wild card last year and made it to the NL Championship Series before they were swept by the New York Mets.The offseason additions of Ben Zobrist and Jason Heyward only added to the anticipation for the Cubs loyal fan base, and they have delivered up until this point. But many of those same fans also were around for the last division title, when the 2008 Cubs won 97 games and then were swept by the Dodgers in the division series.Theres no team Id rather be going into October with, Epstein said. But there are never favorites in October the same way there are in the regular season.Jorge Soler hit a two-run homer for the Cubs, who had won three of four. Mike Montgomery pitched six solid innings and helped himself with a tying single in the fourth for his first career hit.Justin Grimm (1-1) replaced Montgomery in the seventh, and the Brewers put runners on first and third with one out. Gennett, batting for Jimmy Nelson (8-14), blooped an 0-2 curveball into the corner in left for a 5-3 Milwaukee lead.I was just trying to put the ball in play, Gennett said. Hes a guy who throws a lot of curveballs so its important not to get too big or try to do too much. Its really just, get a good pitch to hit and put it in play.The Cubs got one back on Heywards RBI double in the eighth, but Tyler Thornburg threw a called third strike past pinch-hitter Willson Contreras with runners at the corners to end the inning.Thornburg also worked the ninth for his 10th save in 15 chances.It was just a flat-out good ballgame, Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell said. Obviously, with where theyre at, there was great energy in the park tonight.TRAINERS ROOMBrewers: RHP Michael Blazek (right forearm strain) threw a simulated game. Counsell would like to get Blazek into some games before the end of the season, but said theres no rush. The goal with Mike is just to go into the offseason healthy, Counsell said.Cubs: RHP Pedro Strop, who tweaked his right groin while working his way back from arthroscopic left knee surgery, threw a bullpen and said it went well. Hes getting close, Maddon said. Its not far off.UP NEXTMaddon likely will rest several regulars when the series resumes Friday afternoon. RHP John Lackey (9-8, 3.35 ERA) is scheduled to face Brewers RHP Chase Anderson (8-11, 4.53).---Follow Jay Cohen at http://www.twitter.com/jcohenapAir Force 1 Mid Utility . The lawyers filed a 33-page amended complaint Tuesday in federal court in Manhattan, expanding on the suit originally filed Oct. 3 in New York Supreme Court. Arbitrator Fredric Horowitz last week refused to compel Selig to testify in the grievance, and Rodriguez then walked out of the hearing without testifying. Air Force 1 Sp Outlet . PETERSBURG, Fla. http://www.airforce1outletitalia.it/scontate-air-force-1-alte-graphic.html . -- Former San Diego Chargers safety Paul Oliver was found dead at his Atlanta-area home Tuesday night, and a medical examiner said Wednesday that the ex-player committed suicide. Air Force 1 Mid Bianche . MLS Commissioner Don Garber and Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez also will attend the session, which was announced Monday. The league has discussed placing its next two expansion teams in Miami and Atlanta. Air Force 1 Mid Just Do It . Aside from the trilogy main event title fight, there are a number of intriguing matchups in the heavyweight, welterweight and lightweight divisions.Conor OShea began his tenure as Italy coach in America but the November series signals the start of it on Italian soil.OShea -- brought into the Italian setup by FIR President Alfredo Gavazzi after the last, disastrous Six Nations campaign -- is ready to showcase the first signs of his Italy plan in front of the Azzurri supporters.From a tactical point of view, the recent addition of Brendan Venter as defence consultant is a key one. Since joining, OShea has stressed the need for an improved fitness level for all his elite players, but Venters knowledge of defensive systems should turn out to be one of the best, if not the best, piece of business by the Irishman since his recent appointment.The Azzurri will move to a different style of rugby compared to the previous regime, as ball retention and making territory will be central to their new approach. So expect a team that will move the ball less out wide and will instead try to control the game.This weekend, OShea welcomes back two of the most inspiring players in Italian rugby history as captain Sergio Parisse and his veteran teammate Leonardo Ghiraldini will be ready to make their much awaited return to the international stage after they missed the summer tour.The duo will add 200 caps worth of international experience to the squad but Alessandro Zannis injury prevents OShea adding a further 99.Parisse will become Italys most-capped player in November but there may be a lot more to celebrate this month.Having the All Blacks in town for the first time in four years, should signal the start of a party for Italian sport. Rugby-wise, though, a true gauge of Italys improvement will be the Tonga and South Africa games.The Azzurri sit in a disheartening 13th place in the World Rugby rankings, with Samoa less than one point behind, so a convincing win against Tonga -- on Saturday Nov. 26 in Padua -- is vital.But right in the middle of the November Test programme comes the South Africa clash and that game could change everything.Italy do not have history on their side, having lost all 12 meetings, conceding almost 600 points, scoring a mere 145. The closest results so far are a couple of 16-point margin defeats -- 6-22 in 2014 in Padua and 29-13 in 2010 in Witbank.The figures suggested there is little to be inspired by, but that is the game I believe Italy will turn into a pretty close contest.The Springboks are in the middle of a global change in players and playing style and could be there for the taking, especially in the key decision-making errors.Italy have options and variety at half-back. Edoardo Gori (53 caps) will be challenged by the growth of the finally in-form Marcello Violi (two caps) and the presence of former Under-20 scrum-half Giorgio Bronzini, one of the three uncapped players selected for the three Tests -- the others being prop Simone Ferrari and winger Andrea Buondonno -- in what appears to be one of the spots set for a major boost from the new selection policy.ddddddddddddt 10, while Tommaso Allan has regained confidence since joining Benetton Treviso from Perpignan, Italy look inspired with Carlo Canna and that duo offers OShea a couple of great options. Having two in-form fly-halves is something the former Azzurri coaches have never had available.Cannas reliability from the kicking tee is another huge plus for OShea. Though he lacks Test experience, his composure under pressure and ability to stay gives the team a confidence to keep a hold on the opposition in essential periods of the match.If recent Super Rugby form is anything to go by, South Africas pack has struggled under pressure and that should give the Italian kickers the opportunity to get points on the board while also slowing the game down and conserving precious energy for the final quarter -- that last point is where the Azzurri have traditionally been terrible. Having Venter there may very well complicate the job further for the Springbok attackers, especially in midfield.If you add to that the fact that Italian players are now much more used to international-level collisions and an improved competence in the breakdown area -- even more so since Italian clubs started participating in the Guinness PRO12 and the European competitions -- then you get a pretty encouraging picture of what may happen in Florence against the Boks.However, OShea will be without Michele Campagnaro and Leonardo Sarto in Italys backline as both recover from injuries focused on making an impact in the Six Nations. Campagnaros ability to put pressure on the oppositions defensive line will be felt -- especially if Allister Coetzee opts for physicality -- while Sartos form for Glasgow Warriors was encouraging on the wing.The huge problem, as usual, will be trying to avoid momentary lapses in concentration which have cost Italy games in the past.Despite background political turbulence in the boardrooms and the poor form in the PRO12, Italian rugby has never been in such good shape. The National Academy system and the work of Eccellenza coaches -- who have brought new training protocols and playing standards into the Country Elite Championship -- are producing a new generation of promising players.That work has intensified the competition for senior and emerging squads with an increasing number of options across the board.So, at the end of it all, would all the above be enough to beat the mighty Springboks? Well have to wait and see but it looks to be a now or never situation for the Italians against the mighty Boks. It is an opportunity to make history which may not reappear anytime soon for OShea and his new staff. ' ' '