NEWS » a frenzy of celebrations - just as 2016 has for

Only in 2016 could a team being denied their first title in 68 years still result in a fairytale drought-breaker.When Cleveland led Chicago 3-1 midway through the seven-game World Series, they looked certain to claim their first championship since 1948.Instead, they now have the longest drought in MLB history, after the Cubs snapped their own 108-year drought with their 8-7 10th-innings win in the series-deciding seventh game in Cleveland on Wednesday (Thursday AEDT) to take out the series 4-3.Chicagos title drought dated back to 1908, and was the longest-running in US professional sports history.Folklore said the franchise were suffering from the Curse of the Billy Goat, after the owner of an animal kicked out of the stadium during their most recent World Series appearance in 1945 told the teams owner theyd never win again.That spell has now been broken.The city of Cleveland has known a thing or two about breaking their own curses this year too.At the turn of 2016, the citys professional sporting drought had dated back to 1964, or a combined 147 seasons of the NBA, MLB, NHL and NFL.But that all changed when LeBron James produced the block of a lifetime on Andre Iguodala to help the Cavaliers to a four-point win in the deciding Game Seven against Golden State to deliver the franchise their first championship since joining the league in 1970.But neither or those will go down as the greatest drought-breaker of 2016.Leicester Citys was the longest of them all, their spectacular English Premier League title their first top-tier league trophy in their 132-year history.While every other global drought-breaker in 2016 had at least gone close to the title before, the Foxes entered the season 5000-1 outsiders, aiming to starve off relegation.Instead, they went on a miracle run, losing just three games to wrap up the title with two weeks to go.In August, Wellingtons Hurricanes also claimed their first Super Rugby title in their 21-season history, defeating a Lions side in maiden final.That came before the magical first weekend of October in Australia when Cronulla and the Western Bulldogs ended the longest-running droughts in their respective sports.In their first AFL grand final since 1961, Luke Beveridges men overcame a two-point half-time deficit to Sydney to run out 22-point winners - claiming their first title in 62 years.A day later, Cronullas dream of a maiden NRL title in their 50th season looked shot when Melbourne took the lead in the final 20 minutes.But a late Andrew Fifita try, combined with a last-ditch defensive effort on their own line sending their supporters into a frenzy of celebrations - just as 2016 has for long-suffering fans all over the globe.2016 TITLE DROUGHT-BREAKERS* Leicester City (English Premier League) - 132 years* Chicago Cubs (Major League Baseball) - 108 years* Western Bulldogs (AFL) - 62 years* Cronulla Sharks (NRL) - 49 years* Cleveland Cavaliers (NBA) - 46 years* Hurricanes (Super Rugby) - 20 yearsAdam Henrique Ducks Jersey . How great will be revealed in the next couple of days at the board of governors meeting in Pebble Beach, Calif. Giovanni Fiore Jersey . -- If Henry Burris has his way, he will be the starting quarterback to lead the Hamilton Tiger-Cats back to the Grey Cup next year. http://www.authenticduckspro.com/Jeansebastien-giguere-ducks-jersey/ . The Celtics closed out their first preseason under Stevens on Wednesday night with a 101-97 victory over the Brooklyn Nets, who rested a lot of their lineup including former Celtics Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce. Korbinian Holzer Ducks Jersey . This should be celebrated because it will not always be this way. With the amount of money given to players by their clubs these days, it is a wonder that so many of those teams allow the sport to continue to take away many of their assets so they can play for a different team in the middle of their season. Rickard Rakell Jersey . Brandon Morrow allowed five runs on six hits over three innings. He struck out two, walked one and hit a batter. Edwin Encarnacion had a two-out, bases loaded two-RBI double in the third inning.BOSTON -- The Kansas City Royals keep finding different sources for timely hits during a red-hot August.Raul Mondesi hit a bases-loaded triple and Eric Hosmer added a two-run single during an eight-run sixth inning, lifting the surging Royals to a 10-4 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Sunday night.Salvador Perez hit his third solo homer in two games for Kansas City, which took two of three at Fenway Park and got its 17th win in 21 games.You can ride guys like (Kendrys) Morales when they get hot or (Hosmer) when they get hot. But if youre going to have any kind of sustained winning streak, its got to be everybody, Royals manager Ned Yost said. Its got to be a different guy every night.After nearly falling out of the playoff race, the defending World Series champs have cut their deficit to Cleveland in half and are 5 1/2 games back in the AL Central. They also cut 6 1/2 off their wild-card deficit.David Ortiz hit his 534th career homer, a solo shot, for the Red Sox, tying Jimmie Foxx for 18th on the career list. Boston has lost four of five.Matt Strahm (2-0) pitched 2 2/3 innings of hitless relief for the win.Eduardo Rodriguez (2-6) gave up five runs in 5 1/3 innings before the bullpen allowed five more in the sixth.As hot as they are and the momentum theyve been able to create, it was a tough, tough sixth inning, obviously, when you put eight runs up on the board, Boston manager John Farrell said.The Royals chased Rodriguez and regained the lead in the sixth after the Red Sox moved ahead in the fifth.Alcides Escobar had an RBI single before Mondesi rocked his triple to the outfield-wall triangle in center off Matt Barnes. Cheslor Cuthbert had a run-scoring fielders choice grounder before Lorenzo Cain added an RBI single.I was just looking fastball. I know he throws hard, Mondesi said. I was looking fastball and I got it. Put a good swing on it.Robbie Ross Jr. relieved and gave up Hosmers two-run single off tthe Green Monster before getting the final two outs.ddddddddddddIt unfortunately didnt go the way I hoped, said Barnes, who was charged with five runs and didnt get an out.Boston capitalized on center fielder Paulo Orlandos error to score three times off starter Yordano Ventura in the fifth. Chris Young singled and Orlando dropped Sandy Leons fly at the track, putting runners on second and third before a walk.Brock Holt drove in the first run with a groundout before Xander Bogaerts two-run single.Ventura gave up four runs -- three earned -- in 4 1/3 innings.Ortizs 31st homer went into the bleachers behind Bostons bullpen in the fourth.Perez homered off a billboard above the Green Monster.TRAINERS ROOMRoyals: C Perez took a foul ball in the chin area after it bounced in the dirt and up under his mask, but stayed in the game.Red Sox: RH reliever Koji Uehara (strained chest muscle) is still expected to throw a bullpen session Monday.FAMILY MATTERRed Sox 2B Dustin Pedroia left the team after a death in the family. Hes expected back after Mondays game starts following the services, so he wont be on the bereavement list that requires three games missed.GOING HOMEDespite the late night, Yost was glad to be heading back to Kansas City.Im glad to go home, he said. I hate we get in at 4 oclock in the morning. We didnt get here until 4:30. And leaving here, not getting home until 4. But well be fine.UP NEXTRoyals: RHP Dillon Gee (5-7, 4.55 ERA) is set to start Monday against New York RHP Michael Pineda (6-10, 5.02) when they open a three-game series at home against the Yankees.Red Sox: RHP Rick Porcello (17-3, 3.23) looks to become the first Red Sox pitcher in 70 years to open a season 13-0 in Fenway Park on Monday against the Rays. RHP Matt Andriese (6-5, 3.71) is set to start for Tampa Bay. ' ' '