One thing is certain Wednesday night: The Chicago Cubs or Cleveland Indians will finally end a long championship drought.Much harder to predict is the player most likely to win World Series MVP honors.After a back-and-forth struggle thats now gone the distance, both teams have several legitimate contenders heading into Game 7. Whoever takes home the trophy -- which started being awarded in 1955, years after Chicagos and Clevelands last championships -- will become the first winner in franchise history.Rarely have so many candidates stood out at once. Arizona Diamondbacks pitchers Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling shared the 2001 award, two decades after a trio of Los Angeles Dodgers split the prize: Ron Cey, Pedro Guerrero and Steve Yeager.Perhaps co-MVPs are a possibility again -- thats what happened in the NL Championship Series last month, when Cubs teammates Javier Baez and Jon Lester were selected.Heres a look at 12 players who could join a list of October royalty that includes Hall of Famers from Frank Robinson and Johnny Bench to lesser-known surprises like Pat Borders and David Eckstein.---COREY KLUBERIf theres a favorite going into Game 7, its probably the Cleveland ace. Kluber is 2-0 with a 0.75 ERA and can become the first pitcher to win three World Series starts since 1968 MVP Mickey Lolich for Detroit. Set to make his second consecutive start on only three days rest, the 2014 AL Cy Young Award winner has struck out 15 and walked one in 12 innings. If he throws another gem and the Indians win, Kluber is a lock. If he falters, the field is wide open.ANTHONY RIZZOAfter a slow start, Rizzo has come on late in the Series and is a big reason the Cubs have won two in a row. The first baseman is batting .364 with six runs, four RBI and three doubles. He had three hits in Game 6, including a two-run homer. Another big night at the plate could win it for Rizzo.FRANCISCO LINDORJust like Rizzo, the Indians young shortstop is 8 for 22 in the Series. Hes also walked three times, stolen a base and knocked in two runs.AROLDIS CHAPMANThe hard-throwing Cubs closer has taken on an expanded role with his team facing elimination. Chapman had not entered in the seventh inning since 2012 before doing it in Games 5 and 6. He pitched a career-high 2 2/3 innings Sunday night to save a 3-2 win that sent the Series back to Cleveland. Then he got four outs in Game 6 before exiting in the ninth with Chicago comfortably ahead. He has a 1.42 ERA and nine strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings and has thrown 62 pitches in three days. But he said hes 100 percent ready for Game 7.JASON KIPNISAfter growing up a die-hard Cubs fan outside Chicago, the Cleveland second baseman has been a major thorn in their side. Kipnis is hitting .308 with two homers, four RBI and five runs.JAKE ARRIETAThe 2015 NL Cy Young Award winner had a spotty postseason history -- until this World Series. He is 2-0 with a 2.38 ERA in two road starts, pulling the Cubs even both times. He took a no-hitter into the sixth inning of Game 2 and was handed a large lead early in Game 6. He has allowed five hits and struck out 15 in 11 1/3 innings -- and said hell be available out of the bullpen in Game 7 if needed.CODY ALLENWhile bullpen mate Andrew Miller has garnered much of the attention this postseason, Allen has been even more dominant during the World Series. Clevelands closer has racked up 10 strikeouts and a save in four scoreless innings. If Game 7 is close, expect to see Allen on the mound in a high-leverage situation.BEN ZOBRISTAfter helping Kansas City to a title last year, Zobrist is having another strong Series, this time for the Cubs. He is hitting .391 with four runs, three walks and two extra-base hits.ANDREW MILLERNot to be forgotten is Miller, the ALCS MVP and perhaps the biggest single reason behind Clevelands postseason run. The 6-foot-7 lefty is 1-0 with a 1.69 ERA and eight strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings during the Series. He pitched in three of the first four games but has sat out the past two. That means Miller will be well-rested for Game 7 and could be called on by the middle innings for a particularly long outing.KRIS BRYANTProbably the favorite for NL MVP this season, Bryant began the Series in a 1-for-15 slump. But he homered in Game 5 to get Chicago going and did it again two days later as the Cubs won again. The 24-year-old slugger had four hits in a Game 6 romp and suddenly is batting a respectable .273. He did make a pair of errors at third base.ADDISON RUSSELLThe 22-year-old Cubs shortstop did most of his damage in Game 6, and what a night it was. Russell hit a grand slam that broke things open and tied a World Series record with six RBI thanks to a pop-fly double that dropped between two Indians outfielders. He is hitting .250 with eight RBI.KYLE HENDRICKSA great performance in his Game 7 start for Chicago could conceivably make Hendricks the MVP. The right-hander, who led the majors with a 2.13 ERA this season, pitched 4 1/3 scoreless innings for a no-decision in Game 3. He came up huge in Game 6 of the NLCS, beating Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers 5-0 to give the Cubs their first pennant since 1945. Ecco Scarpe Saldi . -- Cam Newton pranced into the end zone, placed his hands over his chest and did his familiar Superman pose. Ecco Scarpe Italia . It was the second consecutive win for the Pacers (2-5), who lost their first five preseason games. Jeff Teague led the Hawks (1-5) with 17 points and eight assists and Al Horford had 12 points and seven rebounds. Mike Scott scored 15 of his 17 points in the second half. http://www.eccoitaliascarpe.it/ . The return match will take place next Wednesday. Udinese leads Fiorentina 2-1 in the other semifinal. Napoli staged a second-half comeback from two goals down after Gervinhos opener and a stunning strike from Kevin Strootman. Ecco Italia . -- Whether Jeremy Hill deserves a prominent role in LSUs offence this early in the season is a matter for debate. Ecco Scarpe Negozi Italia . "Four now," Carl Gunnarsson told the Leaf Report proudly following a 5-2 victory over New York on Tuesday night, the clubs fifth straight at home. Jessica Fox has rebounded from her Olympic experience, beating a world-class field to win canoe slalom gold in the C1 at the fourth ICF World Cup in Prague.The Australian finished almost seven seconds ahead of the next best paddler, the Czech Republics Katerina Hoskova.Fox, who won bronze in the K1 at Rio, said the win justified her decision to keep competing straight after the Olympics.Its partly the frustration of unfinished business, Fox said.I hadnt planned on doing the last two races, but after Rio I decided I still wanted to paddle and race, plus I love Prague and havent raced in Tacen in a couple years and that is one of the most challenging races.Fox has a liking for the Prague course, winning the C1 World title in 2013.While C1 was not on the Olympic program in Rio, it will be introduced in 2020 and Fox has indicated she would like to contest both disciplines in Tokyo.dddddddddddd.Fox said she has not spent too long thinking about missing gold in Rio. I move on fairly quickly, she said.I have had time now to reflect on my race and Im really proud to have achieved a second Olympic medal.Our sport is tough, and the weather conditions were pretty hard to deal with on race day.I feel that I was really well prepared, fit and paddling really well in the lead up to the race. I had no regrets.I guess my only frustration is that I wasnt able to unleash it all during the final and felt I had to hold back a little because of the wind. ' ' '