What doesn't kill them...

A blister emerges. A hand shatters. A bullpen prodigy loses his mojo. From Rogers Park to Grant Park, a collective premature sigh echoes: The wheels have finally fallen off the Cub Bus.

The Cubs have faltered since the All-Star break, this much The Report is willing to admit. Following a who's who of Wrigley's finest at All-Star weekend in which eight Cubs were named to the NL squad, the team sputtered in series in Houston and Arizona, and escaped a home series with the Marlins in a 2-2 tie. In the first five games out of the gate, the Cubs managed a paltry 13 runs against the likes of Brian Moehler and Yusmeiro Petit. Oh, and nine of those runs came in one lopsided game.

But for each Northsider that thinks that "Next Year" has already passed, that the goat is wagging its tail mockingly, or any number of cute variations on Cubs lore, The Report has one thing to say: Relax.

If history is any indicator of the truth, then the Cubs are as on track as they ever were. Look no further than the boys of 35th and the Dan Ryan. In 2005, when Ozzie and company began August by losing 12 out of 18 followed by a gut-wrenching stretch in mid-September where they lost 8 of 14, the lumps proved to be a much-needed reality check. Soon after their bout with the loss column, they began on a tear that saw them ride into the postseason on a five-game win streak and ride out hoisting the Commissioner's Trophy above their heads after an 11-1 playoff spree.

Heck, even Odysseus had to overcome the Sirens. By now sports fans should be accustomed to the fact that those who prance through the regular season unscathed are destined for failure. Quick, name one pitcher on the 2001 Mariners. Stumped? So is everyone else. By the way, they won 116 games. Lou Piniella's Mariners rode a season of minimal conflict into the ALCS, and their lack of adversity showed in an ugly series against the World Series-bound Yankees. In an ideal Cub-fan world, the aura of dominance that has surrounded the Cubs at times this season would stay with the club from March to October. Unfortunately this is not the case, and ironically enough it will ensure a better chance for postseason success. Hear that, death bell tollers? It's a phenomenon that transcends sports, just ask the Patriots.

So the next time you see someone on the El fuming about how the Cubs dropped a series to a team far out of the playoff race, just pat them on the back, offer your empathy, and give them the lowdown.

Bears training camp preview

The Report Answers 4 burning questions

1) Will Brian Urlacher be healthy enough to be a factor in all 16 games ?

Yes. Amid concerns of neck problems and arthritis of the back, Urlacher will finish the season with another Pro Bowl berth to his name and a Defensive MVP-type season. The Report heard from agent and longtime Urlacher friend Bryce Karger at Urlacher's football camp in Lake Forest, Il. that his back is in good shape, enough so to perhaps play an occasional round of golf.

2) Who will end up with the starting job, rookie Matt Forte or free agent signee Kevin Jones?

Kevin Jones is a big, strong back who has shown the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. Problem is, so is the highly-touted Forte. Given his performance in minicamp, in which he wowed coaches with his play and veteran-like attitude, Forte will have a leg up on the oft-injured Jones going into Bourbonnais. Count on the Tulane product to post solid enough numbers to get the lion's share of touches going into Week 1 in Indianapolis.

3) Who will win the starting QB job?

It'd be easy to give the Lovie Smith "You'd like me to share that with you? I bet you would" response, but the fact remains that someone will have to come out on top by the end of camp. Based on his one-year contract and history of surprising offseasons, the reigns will be handed to-gulp- Rex Grossman once again.

4) Who will be the biggest surprise of camp?

Look for the coaching staff to speak volumes about a defensive cog that is fully healthy after two seasons of limited action. No, Nebraska fans, it isn't Mike Brown. Defensive tackle Dusty Dvoracek will be the biggest surprise of camp and will open eyes come Week 1.

Harden's second start a gem

Well it wasn't the dry heat that stymied the Cubs' bats last night (Chase Field features a retractable roof), nor was it the allure of a mysterious "pumpkin"-bearing train a la Minute Maid Park, to quote Mr. Piniella.

Chalk this one up to the Rich Harden factor.

The Cubs' recent acquisition was given a no-decision despite a stellar performance yet again, this time at the hand of the 1st Place Diamondbacks. Harden has been given his share of disappointments thus far (see Marmol, Carlos), but if there's one thing Cubs fans have learned from the first two showings of the Rich Harden Experience, it's that the show goes on no matter what.

Harden was baffling through seven innings, using his patented mid-80s changeup to rack up a total of 10 Ks with only two walks. His mix of breaking balls and sneaky high 90s fastballs was enough to hold the Diamondbacks hitless through five. However, with no outs in the 6th, late-May call up Alex Romero drove a 1-2 pitch into the right field bleachers to break up the no-hitter.

Despite the gaudy statistics, Harden had control issues at times, even throwing a pitch to the backstop with Chad Tracy on first and the struggling Chris Young at the plate. In fact, five of his ten strikeouts came with full counts.

The Cubs continued their offensive slump into the 8th and 9th innings, and were unable to muster a run despite having men on with no outs in both frames. Side note: Derrek Lee grounded into his Major League-leading 20th double play to record the first and second outs of the 9th inning.