By Staff
Adam Robinson- Sports Editor
Steve Bartman-Do you remember this person or recognize this name? Maybe this will help out a little: Oct. 14, 2003, National League Championship game at Wrigley field between the Chicago Cubs and the Florida Marlins, game six, aisle four, row eight, seat 113 on the third base side.
Does this clear it up any? With the Chicago Cubs up 3-1 over the Marlins in the eighth inning, Marlin's hitter Luis Castillo was batting with one out in the inning and hit a foul ball down the third baseline right to Steve Bartman, a devoted Cubs fan, who tried catching the ball and supposedly knocked the ball from Cubs outfield Moises Alou.
After that, it was all down hill for the Cubs, who gave up eight runs in the inning and the Marlins sent 12 batters to the plate and won 8-3. The next night, the Cubs lost the game and the series to the Marlins who ended up winning the World Series over the Yankees.
So as the Bartman story goes, it added to the demise of the Cubs to go along with their “cursed” World Series adventures, or lack there of.
Well, Steve Bartman was ushered out of the stadium with security and had cops at his house for security, changed his phone number and has never been seen or heard from since.
Well, now Bartman has a chance to come out of hiding and show up at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Ill., at 1 p.m. on July 31, prove his identity and sign a photograph of the infamous play.
It will then be auctioned on the Web site with the proceeds going to a Chicago-based charity.
Will he do it or not? Should he stay or should he go?
It is easy to say yes you would do it if you were him and sign one autograph for $25,000, but think about all this guy has had to go through and endure.
I know it has been almost five years, but this kid probably has been traumatized. Can you imagine going to a Game six for your favorite team and just trying to catch a foul ball along with the others who were doing it and the ball finding you and you getting blamed for costing the Cubs a chance at going to the World Series?
I kind of hope he would go and do it and all would be forgiven.
You can't blame this kid for what happened, but who knows with people and their sports teams.
I guess for his safety he needs to just stay wherever he is, unless he has endured a total makeover and does not come out with his headphones on.
Closer to home, all our sports teams are done with ball play right now. I want to send out my congratulations to all our All-Stars and a job well done.
Thanks to all my stringers who assisted me with stories and stats from the games.
Starting next week, our area volleyball teams will begin their first official day of practice with our football teams beginning the next week.
Until Wednesday when we meet again here or out in the world of sports, God bless.