Forgetting Steve Bartman
On October 15th, 2003, the Chicago Cubs walked off the field for the last time of the legendary '03 season. On the 16th, I began my first Cubs blog. The blog, which still exists (and I swear to God I'm going to start updating it three times a week sometime soon), was called "A Cub Fan Nation." As heartbroken as I was by the final outcome of the '03 campaign, I was also inspired to write.
There was something in particular that I wanted from my blog. It is something that has never and will never happen. I wanted to get in touch with Steve Bartman. You see, I really, really felt like I related Steve. This is a guy who clearly must love the Cubs, and he is now forever associated with the biggest fan-related blunder in the history of the organization - and perhaps all of baseball. Can you imagine how heartbreaking it must be to feel that you are directly responsible for denying your team a World Series appearance?
Can you imagine how much worse it would feel if the reality of it is that Bartman was the least responsible catalyst that night? Steve Bartman didn't keep Dusty Baker's fat ass glued to the bench in the dugout while Mark Prior imploded. Steve Bartman didn't cut a hole out of Alex Gonzalez's glove. Steve Bartman didn't bring in Kyle Farnsworth, whose nickname should be "The Anti-Clutch Nightmare."
The sad thing about being a Cub fan is that, in a way, we are all walking, talking Charlie Browns. We are all the world's biggest loser. No matter how many millions of dollars we make, no matter how perfect our families become, we will always miss that proverbial football and hear the mocking laughter as we land ass-first onto the ground. Who better demonstraits that trait than Steve Bartman? Not only did he stop Moises Alou from making the catch, but Steve missed the ball! All he got from the experience was pelted by food and endless infamy. That is the epitomy of Cubdom.
I know that this is a very divissive subject amongst Cub fans. Some guys want to run Bartman over with their cars. Others want to take him out to dinner and explain to him how they know it's not his fault. Me, I just want to forget him. You can tell already that I have forgiven him, so putting Bartman in the past is the next step. I want to experience an October where I don't think about that play. Where I don't think about that collapse. The hilarious thing is that it's actually possible for that to occur, but it first requires the Cubs to actually win for once. Are you reading this, John McDonough?
Anyway, I have a plan to help us forget Bartman. I believe we need to promote a conspiracy theory. It wasn't Bartman's fault! He was just a hapless patsy! There is a greater force at work here, someone or something that is trying to keep the Cubs from accomplishing a World Championship.
To prove this point, we were able to secure a top secret photo from the incident which, from this angle, brings into serious doubt whether or nto Bartman was responsible for the ball at all. Have a look:
You can almost hear Bert screaming, "Ernie, noooooooo!"
Sooner or later, we will someday get over it, the same way Sox fans eventually got over Buckner. Until that time, Mr. Bartman, stay calm. Be Brave. Wait for the Signs.
smitty
"On October 15th, 2003..."
On my way to Wrigley that day I thought I had been given the best birtday present in the world. I would get to see the Cubs clinch the NL pennant.
Turned out to be worst "present" ever.
greg
jason, good point
Jason R.
Greg and Mike -
I think the answer lies somewhere inbetween. It is possible to be self-aware enough to make the correct decision as the ball comes towards you. However, going for the ball doesn't make you a bad fan. It can be a lapse of judgement based on the fact that we all want a foul ball to come our way and our instincts can do us wrong sometimes.
greg
sorry, jason that post was aimed at Mike. So instead that should be come on mike. Jason, my apologies.
greg
oh come on Jason. You know im not self absorbed like that that i would take the ball away from the fielder. But ill admit it, if a foul ball came to me that a fielder had no chance at, i would go for it. Who wouldnt do the same thing. Also, its a natural reaction to go for the ball if it is heading your way, you wouldnt have time to clear people out of the way. you are just saying that you would in hindsight. Also i think you are hinting that im another one of those yuppies. Which im not, i can confidently say i have played more baseball than anyone on this sight and i pay attention to the games closely. Dont worry about white sox fans, they are stupid in their own right. They dont support their team and then all of sudden there are so many bandwagon fans. They say they only support good baseball but thats not the case, otherwise they just dont care. They are passionless. Also, the whole nature of the teams are different. You have to seperate the tourists from the fans at wrigley. The cubs are a national team, the sox are not. but come on, admit that you would do the same thing as bartman and try not to show anger
Mike D.
Greg,
If I was in the front row, watching a tiring Mark Prior on the mound, and the 23rd out of the most significant game in 58 years was lofting toward the foul line, I can ASSURE you that the only thing on my mind would be that 23rd out. My arms would have been spread out on each side making sure our left-fielder could catch this 23rd out.
Around the same time of the Cubs' NLCS, during the BoSox-Yankees ALCS, a Yankee batter hit a fly ball down the right-field line toward Pesky's pole. The fans in that situation--not being ignorant dumbasses who go to the games because it's the place to be--all made room for Trot Nixon to reach over the wall and rob the Yanks of a home run.
To admit that you would take that time--of ALL THE TIMES IN THE WORLD-- to suddenly make the game about you and try to grab yourself a souveneir, well, there's not much I can say to that, other than if you're going to a potential pennant-clinching game, please do the rest of Cub Nation a favor and don't sit in the front row.
Part of my anger and disgust is due to the stereotype that Cub-haters (READ: WHite Sox fans) like to slap on Cubs fans--casually watching the game, but more into the park. To argue that this is not true and then see the epitome of this caricature—north shore yuppie bonehead not paying attention to the context of the game-—is an embarrassment that we will never live down.
What bothers me further is that fans will STILL, TODAY, reach over the railing for a foul ball when the Cubs are in the field. So it looks like nobody learned the lesson--as if it needed to be learned in the first place. Sure, it would have been nice if the Cubs had toughened up and picked up this thoughtless idiot, but they failed also.
Jason R.
Any mention of 2003 makes my chest hurt.
I can't even...nevermind.
greg
Its still ok to mention his name but we cant blame him. Some you guys are treating him like his name is the devil. Its not. Its ok to mention it, you just cant blame him. He did what we all would do. It very easily could have been anyone of us. And think about it, its not his fault, the only people that blame are the stupid ones who blame the billy goat curse. The curse is just to talk about. Its more cubs lore than anything else, that is what bartman is, just cubs lore, he didnt do anything that hurt the cubs. The cubs beat themselves. Thanks for posting an article that sheds light on this matter.
kurt
It's simple, Mike. I mentioned his name because his actions are directly responsible for me being a Cubs blogger, and the anneversary of that will be three years next week. I have nothing to let go, as I am not angry at him about what happened. I feel no emotional attachment to the guy whatsoever.
And, quite frankly, this article occurred because of the photoshop.
Mike D.
Please. Forget him. I don't even understand why you would mention his name. Whether you blame him or not, you're not doing him any favors by mentioning his name. Please. Let it go.
Tinker to Evers to Chance
I always thought Bert was the evil one.
Haight
I agree. Steve who? And like you said, Buckner was forgiven, and that happened on the field of play. Of course, the Sox winning in '04 has helped the forgiving process.
Leon Durham on the other hand.....