11/05/24
October 03, 2007
Leave Steve Bartman Alone!: Now that the Chicago Cubs have returned to the playoffs, Sun-Times columnist Jay Mariotti thinks the scorn heaped on Steve Bartman for the foul ball grab has made the infamous fan darker, sadder and lonelier. "I'm sorry," Mariotti writes. "And, really, Cubdom should be sorry, too. Without knowing his identity, I scolded him in print for acting like a dummy fan who should have known better. Next thing you knew, crazy message boards on Major League Baseball's Web site were outing his name, turning an ugly scene at Wrigley -- who can forget Bartman burying his head in his jacket while beer and obscenities were hurled? -- into the beginning of his new, unfortunate life."
I agree. Bartman's weren't the only sets of hands going for that foul ball. He was just the unfortunate one to have gotten to it first. If Alou keeps his cool, maybe the Cubs don't implode. If Gonzalez fields the ball, he turns the double play and the inning is over. If Baker does what a manager is supposed to do and talks to Prior to make sure he's settled down after all of this, maybe he pitches his way out of the inning. If Kerry Wood holds the lead in the 7th game, and so on. Or perhaps if the Cubs weren't so......Cubbish, none of this would ever have happened. Ah, I'll just settle back, cheer for the Cubs again, and brace myself for the pain of yet another heartbreak, or the shock of finally pulling it off. Although, I worry that if the Cubs do win, there will immediately be hundreds of thousands of people who finally cash in on their promise to "Die happy if the Cubs ever win the World Series again".
posted by bolo165 at 02:04 PM on October 03, 2007
Perhaps in addition to blowing up the Bartman ball, if Cubs fans burn down the Billy Goat Tavern, execute a goat, and fry up a black cat, maybe then they can finally win. That's much easier than say, actually putting together a farm system and a team that can compete on a consistent basis, year in and year out.
posted by bolo165 at 02:09 PM on October 03, 2007
Dear Jay, How about a little less apology and a little more shut the hell up. Sincerely, Steve
posted by The Crafty Sousepaw at 02:27 PM on October 03, 2007
Just so I have it clear: Jay Mariotti thinks his column was the entire reason Cubs fans were upset with Bartman, he now needs a column because there was no game yesterday, so he "apologizes" and also thinks he speaks for "Cubdom" and they listen to him. If only he were a really serious Buddhist monk.
posted by yerfatma at 02:36 PM on October 03, 2007
My brain feels so violated after reading that preachy, smarmy, hypocritical "column". I think the only thing that will make me feel clean again is to feel Jay Mariotti to a wood chipper.
posted by lil_brown_bat at 02:49 PM on October 03, 2007
Touching either is equally enjoyable.
posted by yerfatma at 03:05 PM on October 03, 2007
Er. Um. That was supposed to be feed. Bad typing day...
posted by lil_brown_bat at 04:00 PM on October 03, 2007
The whole Bartman thing was just an convenient excuse for a team that choked and couldn't handle the pressure. Blame the guys with the uniforms that couldn't manage to handle playing baseball after that incident, not a guy in the seats. That's why they call it the "Friendly (?) Confines." As for Mariotti, he really thinks he's something else, and each appearance on "Around The Horn" only reinforces his view of himself.
posted by dyams at 04:29 PM on October 03, 2007
Isn't Mariotti one of those loud mouth jerks on ESPN's 'Round the Horn'? The people who know nothing about everything and spend half an hour yelling at each other? We get that down here. A wood chipper's too good for him.
posted by owlhouse at 05:23 PM on October 03, 2007
Mariotti is just like all of you; writes his garbage and hope someone reads it.
posted by stickman at 05:40 PM on October 03, 2007
Even if Bartman or the 30 other people around him didn't hit the ball, Moises Alou had (and still has) a reputation for being a terrible outfielder and we don't know if he would have caught the ball. Secondly, Alex Gonzalez booting that ground ball was the real reason to be pissed off at anyone. Thirdly, they had another game, its not like that was the last play of the world series, there was a game 7 so Jay actually did have some good points. Lastly, the cubs and the cubs fans have never blamed the team for losing anything. Take the blame and sack up, maybe try to win something important in this century. And yes, quit blaming Bartman
posted by spoosh09 at 05:52 PM on October 03, 2007
Mariotti is just like all of you; writes his garbage and hope someone reads it. I am rubber. You are glue. Whatever you say bounces off me and sticks to you. For this and other prufundities, do continue reading our garbage.
posted by THX-1138 at 05:58 PM on October 03, 2007
I think Marriotti should be totally tossed out of the discussion. We can never let Bartman off the hook. He should have been imploded with the ball. We did not execute him, but we can't let this go, until we win the World Series.
posted by SFValley_Dude at 07:53 PM on October 03, 2007
We can never let Bartman off the hook. He should have been imploded with the ball. We did not execute him, but we can't let this go, until we win the World Series. Correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems to me you're saying Steve Bartman should have been killed for trying to catch a foul ball at a baseball game. Am I understanding you correctly? If not, please enlighten me.
posted by tommybiden at 08:12 PM on October 03, 2007
Was it a blown call? I believe it was. Did it turn the game? Quite possibly. Blown call? How so? The ball was in the stands (or on the edge of it). At that point, it's fair game for anyone to touch it, so "fan interference" can't be called. We're not talking Jeffrey Maier here...
posted by grum@work at 09:24 PM on October 03, 2007
That is a lot of ifs there, bolo165. I do have to admit, it would be nice to see them go all the way. I agree, grum. From the picture, I do believe that guy could have caught that ball had not Jeffery Maier interfered. But then, what do I know? :) And yes to getting off Steve Bartman's case.
posted by steelergirl at 09:37 PM on October 03, 2007
owlhouse, Mariotti isn't just one of the loudmouthed jerks on Around the Horn, he's the loudmouth jerk de tutti loudmouth jerks. He's the reason AtH is a bastion of noise over signal and self-important assholiness. Without him, there's a decent idea for a show in there. With him, it's an excuse for everyone to collect a paycheck and get into clubs or whatever. He's Stephen A. Smith, except Smith can couch his yapyapyap in some kind of never-heard-before brand of "jive," which the suits at the Worldwide Leader seem to believe adds credibility, of that there can be no doubt, there can be no question, of that you can be sure. No, scratch that. Mariotti makes Stephen A. Smith look like, if not a genius, at least a functioning and insightful sports columnist. Ah, the hell with it. A pox on both of them. And, yes to getting off Steve Bartman's case.
posted by chicobangs at 01:01 AM on October 04, 2007
Was Bartman playing shortstop for the cubs?no.is he the one who threw the wild pitch?no.was he the only idiot reaching for that ball?stop me if you heard this:no.the cubs lost because of the nine players,or at least two of them on the field.the same reason they may win or lose this year.players make plays.
posted by mars1 at 02:48 AM on October 04, 2007
We can never let Bartman off the hook. He should have been imploded with the ball. We did not execute him, but we can't let this go, until we win the World Series. Who, exactly, is "we?" I'm eager to find out what your role in such a monumental victory would be. I'm not a big fan of sweeping generalizations, but I feel safe saying this: anybody who thinks Steve Bartman cost the Cubs that game, that series, or their shot at a World Series championship, is a stone idiot who knows nothing about baseball. Leave the friggin' guy alone, and get on with your lives!
posted by The_Black_Hand at 07:33 AM on October 04, 2007
No, scratch that. Mariotti makes Stephen A. Smith look like, if not a genius, at least a functioning and insightful sports columnist. Woah, slow down. That's just crazy talk there. No one could pull off that magic.
posted by SummersEve at 10:26 AM on October 04, 2007
O.K., so what's the excuse for last nite? They lost with there ace pitcher starting. They're choking already. Oh yeah I forgot Bartman, the curse, the goat, it's always something they're the C U B S !
posted by volfire at 11:05 AM on October 04, 2007
Jay Marriotti is a complete asshat. That guy makes me just shudder - and I've only ever read him! I can't imagine what my reaction would be to him on TV. I'd fear for my couchmates. Yes, even the twins.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 11:17 AM on October 04, 2007
He's Stephen A. Smith, except Smith can couch his yapyapyap in some kind of never-heard-before brand of "jive" Jive? Is this the 70's you jive-turkey? I dig that. Mariotti couldn't hold Stephen A. Smith's jock. At least Stephen A. has some credibility, Mariotti is just Woody Paige's bitch.
posted by BornIcon at 11:53 AM on October 04, 2007
Stephen A. : Mariotti :: K-Fed : Spears
posted by SummersEve at 12:16 PM on October 04, 2007
I am shocked, shocked to hear the astute and erudite ladies and gentlemen of Sports Filter take such violent exception to the brilliant and perceptive programming staff at the 4-letter network. May the Great Mouse of the RF spectrum hunt you down and shake every last bit of loose change from your pockets. Jay Marriotti an asshat? Steven A. Smith speaking in tongues? How can we say this? I find myself at a loss for words, so I will add only, "yup, that's about right". On Bartman, why the hell was he ever on the hook to begin with? Anyone who understands the least about the game knows that there was a lot more baseball for the Cubs to screw up. (Always remember that Artificial Intelligence is no match for Natural Stupidity. From Universal Laws of the Office.)
posted by Howard_T at 12:23 PM on October 04, 2007
Didn't the Cubs give up something like 8 runs after the Bartman thing? That was an utterly gutless collapse if ever there was one.
posted by psmealey at 12:25 PM on October 04, 2007
The Cubs are the most pathetic team in sports history. There is no such thing as a lovable loser and '07 will turn out the way it always has in utter dissapointment. Wrigley should be torn down, replaced by a high rise and the ChiSox made the only team in Chicago. Make those north side haters go to the south side to watch baseball where they would tremble in fear of the 'hood. We'll see how many trendy psuedo-celebs and has-beens show up to watch baseball then. The Cubs are a disgrace to MLB. HA!
posted by Brahdakine at 01:16 PM on October 04, 2007
I was in Chi-town last year on business when the Cardinals won the World Series and being from St. Louis, did I take the heat. This fan is going to take the high road and root for the Cubs and hopefully no incident with fan interference clouds the outcome.
posted by brickman at 05:43 PM on October 04, 2007
The Cubs are the most pathetic team in sports history. There is no such thing as a lovable loser and '07 will turn out the way it always has in utter dissapointment. Wrigley should be torn down, replaced by a high rise and the ChiSox made the only team in Chicago. Make those north side haters go to the south side to watch baseball where they would tremble in fear of the 'hood. We'll see how many trendy psuedo-celebs and has-beens show up to watch baseball then. The Cubs are a disgrace to MLB. HA! So what exactly are you trying to say?
posted by BornIcon at 05:54 AM on October 05, 2007
The Cubs are a disgrace to MLB. HA! ...because the Chicago White Sox club and their fans have always been the model of decorum and morality.
posted by grum@work at 09:34 PM on October 05, 2007
We can never let Bartman off the hook. He should have been imploded with the ball. We did not execute him, but we can't let this go, until we win the World Series. What's all of this "We" stuff from an obvious Colorado fan for?
posted by jojomfd1 at 01:22 AM on October 09, 2007
As a die-hard Cubs fan, I have always contended that no one should know Steve Bartman's name. If he didn't reach over the wall, then he did nothing wrong, and if he did, then the umpire blew the call, so get mad at him. (Blaming the umpire / referee / official is a good old-fashioned sports tradition.) Was it a blown call? I believe it was. Did it turn the game? Quite possibly. But the Cubs also blew a double-play chance later in that inning and blew a lead in Game 7, so it's not like everything came down to that play. So count me among the "Quit blaming Bartman" crowd of Cubs fans. As well as those who hope they win it this year so that most of those misguided souls who have blamed him can let it go as well (much like Bill Buckner was the happiest man on Earth in 2004 when he was finally let off the hook).