Statement From Cubs Fan Steve Bartman

Associated Press via Fox News Channel ^ | Wednesday, October 15, 2003 | Steve Bartman

[Hegewisch Dupa]

Beer's on me - even though we did beat ya in the season series...(thank the gods of the game we didn't have to face Prior)

[Chummy]

There's always next season; same to you, too, and particularly for the football team for which you may root!

[Peace will be here soon]

You think it maybe possible that I go to all these baseball games is because I thoroughly enjoy "the game of baseball". If you need your favorite team to be playing to enjoy the excitement and atmosphere of a ballpark, then your just a fan of one of the teams playing, that doesn`t make you a baseball fan, definitely not a knowledgeable one. You can be a Cubs fan, Yankees fan, Red Sox fan, etc.. thats all and good. But to really understand and enjoy the game, and call yourself a "knowledgeable fan", you must know the game. I think what it boils down to is I am just on a different level than you. A level you have yet to understand. You pointed out you had this great , wonderful experience at a ball game once, well, I have had that experience 1000 times !! And ,it never gets old. Sitting here right now I have chills thinking about what Yankee Stadium will be like this Saturday night. Sure, I have my favorite teams, I am a diehard Cardinals fan through and through. But I don`t need my favorite team to be playing to feel the excitement and get enjoyment out of watching a game. For a real baseball fan , the game is the excitement, not just one team.

[Chummy]

That's why I love Chicago and its people so much; you all make me feel so much at home when I visit!

[Chummy]

Amen!

[Peace will be here soon]

I never questioned your emotional connection with baseball, I only disagreed with your anology of comparing it with sex , and that Bartman is not a true "knowledgeable" Baseball fan.

[Peace will be here soon]

Thank you. I needed that.

[newgeezer]

You make a lot of assumptions.

One thing is clear: all the best baseball fans are Cardinals fans.

[Peace will be here soon]

"One thing is clear: all the best baseball fans are Cardinals fans"

---

I can`t argue with that ! Go Cardinals !!!

[newgeezer]

In this selfish, thoughtless act,

To have been selfish, he had to have considered the situation and concluded that his getting a baseball was more important than his Cubs getting the out. Although that's not completely impossible, I think it's extremely unlikely.

If the act was thoughtless, it's because he didn't give any thought to the possibility and/or benefit of getting out of the way.

In my opinion, it was a thoughtless act, not a selfish one. I believe what he said in his statement.

[newgeezer]

For what it's worth, here's a little more perspective. For me, other sports can only try to occupy the void between baseball seasons. There's just something magical about baseball. I could go on but, I trust you know what I mean.

And, although I wasn't at any spring training games, saw only a half-dozen regular season games this year, and missed every post-season game, don't assume it's because I didn't want to be there.

[Chummy]

Alright, let's move past opinions and seek what is published in Merriam Webster: "selfish" is defined therein as "...seeking or concentrating on one's own advantage, pleasure, or well-being without regard for others." Synonyms of selfish include "self-centered, self-concerned, self-interested, self-seeking, self-serving" and the idiom, "looking out for number one."

It's apparent to me THAT FAN -- who blocked out the rest of the ballpark and fans and game with the headset, lunged out at the ball without regard for anyone but himself -- concentrated on his own advantage, pleasure, or well-being without regard for others. Having no regard for others is also inconsiderate, or "thoughtless" to some.

To be selfish does not in any way require that one considers the situation; that would be the precise antithesis of the poor behavior he exhibited initially, newgeezer. Does a toddler who wants thattoynow, the one a sibling is playing with, give any thought to the situation? Does a boorish adult who shoves their way past you in the grocer's line give any thought to the situation, in other words including you?

Again, he DID apologize. I'm among the many who still do not believe what he did was right, but have accepted his apology and am looking forward to next season.

What THAT FAN did right was step up to the plate, accept responsibility for his action, and apologize.