Enough about Steve "Cub Fan" Bartman already!

[Nailzberg]

Most the fans I know aren't blaming him. We know he didn't blow the game. But they are making it seem like he's Public Enemy No. 1 here.
The national media likes this story. Drunks at the game have no replay to watch, they just go on the word of mouth spread throughout the ballpark. And when they spill into the streets a reporter comes up and asks their reaction to the fan, not their reaction to the game, what kinda soundbites are they gonna get? The kind they want to get. The media pushes this kinda story. (Just saw the story plugged again on CNN, as "Cubs cry foul." Sorry CNN, but Alou and Baker both said post-game that they feel sorry for the guy and the reaction he'll get, because the collapse of the game was not his fault. So why do they say Cubs Cry Foul?)

Let's be honest. People here are upset with the fan. It would have been the second out. But, good teams overcome that and get the outs anyhow.

But we are upset with Alou for blowing his cool and unsettling the team.
And we are upset with Gonzalez for blowing an easy play, because he allowed Alou's blow-up to get in his head.
And we are upset with Dusty for leaving Prior in when his arm was obviously tired.
Did the one fan cost us the game? No. We know that. The Cubs fans know that. A lot of incidents happened last night that could have caused the Cubs collapse.
And we are looking at today and not last night. The media has no better story than an easy story, so that's what you get.

Personally though, I'm sick of hearing the Cubs fans being ridiculed for being crybabies and scapegoating this guy. He wouldn't have been scapegoated if FOX didn't spend the entire night showing the fan's face, and if ESPN wanted to research tonight's pitching matchup rather than take a ready-to-eat story.

That's my rant. EAMUS CATULI! Steve Bartman, I promise I won't send you nasty e-mails if we lose tonight.

[GainesT1958]

1. Ah, but...

"For want of an out..." :eyes:

Still--GO CUBBIES in Game 7 tonight! :D

B-)

[Nailzberg]

2. Yeah, it is fun to have someone to blame,

But everyone knows you can't lay it all on him. He's easiest to blame. Especially with all the coverage. The guy's like Richard Jewell.

[StaggerLee]

3. You can blame me if the Cubbies lose tonight

I left work early to watch the game at home yesterday and the Cubs and Bosox both lost.
I am leaving work early again today to watch the games. If they both lose again then it's obviously my fault.

Am I a dick or what?

[Nailzberg]

5. I actually blame myself.

I busted out the victory toothpicks at the beginning of the 8th for everyone in Ranalli's. These weren't from my nailbiter chewing stash, but my victory stash. I should know better than to claim victory early. My fault. Sorry Cubs fans. I blew it.

[Guaranteed]

4. Oh come on

This is hilarious! It's the best fun I've had in weeks. I've been laughing all morning.

[Submariner]

6. I thought we'd be reading his obituary by now

what's taking so long to knock him off?....too many witnesses? :)

We feel your pain. Go CUBS!

[SiouxJ]

7. I haven't had enough . . .

give me ANYTHING to knock Kobe off the front page! I'm fucking sick to death of seeing him every time I turn on the news!! Urgh!!!

[Nailzberg]

8. Friend interviewing on Fox at 3pm

After writing my empathetic statement about this situtation, I was IM'ing my fellow Cub Fans and discovered a guy I know coaches in the same league as Bartman and will be interviewed by Fox. I'm actually excited to watch Fox. How weird is that?