Menifee man uncovers pal's 23-year-old Cubs prediction

Menifee resident Marcos Meza and his daughter Apryl show Marco's 1993 high school yearbook, which includes his classmate Michael Lee's prediction of a Chicago Cubs World Series championship in 2016. Menifee 24/7 photo: Kristen Spoon

This is the story of a friend's good memory, the power of social media, and a crazy, 23-year-old prediction.

Menifee resident Marcos Meza has made himself and an old high school classmate social media sensations this week after posting on Facebook a picture of a page in their 1993 Mission Viejo High School yearbook.

Since Meza made the post on his personal Facebook page and sent a link to several media outlets Monday morning, the post has gone viral. Meza and his friend have been the subject of stories and video reports on WGNTV, KTLA, ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, Huffington Post, Inside Edition and more.

Why, you ask? Because Michael Lee's 1993 prediction, posted as a caption under his senior picture, was that the Chicago Cubs would win the World Series in 2016.

It's no wonder Lee's long-ago prediction, uncovered by Meza, has attracted so much attention. The Cubs indeed are in the World Series, and for the first time since 1945. They are tied 1-1 in the best-of-seven series. If they defeat the Cleveland Indians, they will become World Series champions for the first time since 1908.

And Michael Lee's almost forgotten prediction, brought to light by Meza, will become famous. If the Cubs lose ... well, no one wants to think about that.

"I never knew why," Meza told Menifee 24/7 about the reason Lee chose 2016 in his prediction. "I always thought it was random. But in the WGN interview, he said he had a dream about it when he was a kid. That's why it's gotta happen."

Lee is no longer taking media requests for interviews. Meza said he was assured by Lee that Lee was not upset that his old friend brought up the prediction, which Lee said he had all but forgotten about. Growing up in Chicago, Lee was a huge Cubs fan and continued his allegiance when his family moved to California. Now back in Chicago, Lee is "overwhelmed" with the publicity Meza's post has given him, Meza said.

Meza said he first reminded Lee of his prediction in 2009, when the two reconnected on Facebook.

"He's not a social media guy," Meza said about Lee. "He's on there maybe twice a year, posting about the Cubs or the Bears or the Blackhawks. Then his one post this year, on Aug. 8, he posts that photo I sent him from the yearbook, but nothing else. A few of his friends were like, 'Is this real? Did you Photoshop this?' Then he writes, 'Thanks to Marcos Meza for reminding me about this quote a few years back.' "

That's where it was left until Monday, the day before the World Series began. Disappointed that his Dodgers didn't make the Series, Meza decided to cheer for the team his friend predicted would win it all.

"I posted it Monday, and Tuesday it just got out of control," Meza said. "I told my wife that if anything, Menifee 24/7 would do an interview and I'd be happy with that. But pretty soon it became more about me turning down requests for Mike.

"When Mike went into hiding, I became the next best thing. It was fun on Tuesday. By Wednesday, I was drained. I woke up and had another 20 or 30 requests and it wasn't as fun anymore."

Meza said he has had to defend himself and Lee against accusations that the whole thing is a hoax. At the same time, he's heard from people claiming that his exposure of the prediction will jinx the team's chances to end its long championship drought.

"I'm not a jinx guy. I'm not a superstitious guy," Meza said. "I told Mike if the Cubs lose, I'll take the blame. But right now I just say, 'Go Cubs!' And I'll fly back for the parade."

Menifee 24/7 conducted a video interview with Meza today. You can view it on our Facebook page.