Friday, October 17, 2008

POOR STEVE BARTMAN



This week marks the 5th anniversary of the Steve Bartman incident at Wrigley Field. It will always be remembered in Chicago Cubs baseball history as another one of those freak curse happenings.

For those of you who were living under a rock in 2003, Bartman was the 26 year-old guy in the left field grandstand who deflected a foul ball out of Moises Alou's glove and prevented him from making an easy out. The Cubs had a 3-0 lead and only 5 outs away from their first trip to the World Series since 1945. After this play they unraveled.

Was it really Bartman's fault the Cubs didn't go to the World Series in 2003? No. The Cubs played poorly from that moment on. Remember, they went on to a game 7 (which I was at) and they lost. They had a number of opportunities to win. But Bartman still remains the scapegoat.

I just read an article in the Palm Beach Post (I know weird place to read about Cubs baseball - but this did make national news) that did a great in depth story on the incident. To read the article, click here.

After reading this story, I feel terrible for the guy. His life has been changed for one lousy mistake. It isn't like he threw a live firecracker at his friend which resulted in permanent facial burns or drank a bottle of gin and killed an innocent person while he drove home drunk. He went for a foul ball at a baseball game...and he will never live it down - his life has been changed forever!

Laurie Holmes was sitting directly behind Bartman. (as reported in the Palm Beach Post)

"People ask me, 'Why didn't you stop him?' I say there was just no way to know what was going to happen. We were looking up at the ball," said Holmes, who is visible in photos of the play wearing a white coat and red scarf.

"We are definitely lucky for our sakes that Steve Bartman was in front us. Or I (might) have been the one vilified."

It could have been a number of people but it was this poor sap. I wish the best for him and his family. I hope the Cubs will win a World Series in Steve Bartman's life time so he can be invited to celebrate with the team and be exonerated for his mistake. After all, Chicago exonerated Mrs. O'Leary's cow for burning down most of the City of Chicago in 1871 - they should let Bartman off for trying to catch a foul ball - but only if and when the Cubs win the World Series!

No comments: