First and foremost, Chicago is a city of curses. The political scene is cursed with Daleys, the Blackhawks are cursed to have the biggest Scrooge of an owner in professional hockey, and, first and foremost, the Cubs are cursed by a billy goat who was denied entrance despite wielding his own ticket. Well, now the city’s police force has jumped on to the curse wagon, as it’s already begging Chicago baseball fans to “celebrate responsibly” despite the fact that the season hasn’t even started yet.

(This year, the goat might be off the hook.)

Yes, we get it: The cops are talking about celebrating regular season wins, not a championship. But no police force ever addresses regular season games. That’s what makes Saturday’s proclamation, as covered here in the CHICAGO TRIBUNE, such a shock: The department had the balls to go out and deliver it in the preseason. If they’re already laying the groundwork for “please don’t burn cars and couches!” speeches, Chicago officials clearly must feel that the Cubs and White Sox are heading to the playoffs, potentially to a World Series.

Of course, that only means one thing: They won’t make it there. And then Chicago fans can point the finger at someone new, too: Their own city’s police force. At least this year the excuse will be a little fresher.