CURSES! Cubs, Red Sox to rule. (cover story)

The Chicago Cubs will reach their first World Series since 1945 and win their first since 1908, with Steve Bartman and manager Dusty Baker riding twin billy goats down Michigan Avenue in the victory parade. The Boston Red Sox will extend their Series championship drought to 86 years by falling in the Curse Classic, but they, too, will be liberated after beating the New York Yankees in the American League Championship Series, re-signing Pedro Martinez and Nomar Garciaparra and sensing, once and for all, that the end of their misery is near. The only problem with a Cubs-Red Sox World Series is that one curse will end and another will continue. INSETS: Rosenthal's predictions;Misery loves company;HAUNTING THE RED SOX;TAUNTING THE CUBS