Cubs Fan: "Sorry"

CBS SPORTSLINE ^ | 10-15-03

[My Favorite Headache]

Unlucky Cubs fan says he's brokenhearted after deflecting ball Oct. 15, 2003 SportsLine.com wire reports

CHICAGO -- The fan who played in a key role in the Chicago Cubs ' collapse in Game 6 of the NL Championship Series apologized Wednesday, saying he was brokenhearted.

With the Cubs five outs from advancing to the World Series for the first time since 1945, Steve Bartman tried to grab a foul ball, preventing outfielder Moises Alou from catching it. That helped the Florida Marlins rally for an 8-3 victory to tie the NL Championship Series Tuesday night.

COMMENTARY Fan didn't lose Game 6 for Cubs -- Cubs did by Scott Miller

•What's Your Take? Tell Scott your opinion!

"I had my eyes glued on the approaching ball the entire time and was so caught up in the moment that I did not even see Moises Alou, much less that he may have had a play," Bartman said in a statement.

"Had I thought for one second that the ball was playable or had I seen Alou approaching, I would have done whatever I could to get out of the way and give Alou a chance to make the catch."

The 26-year-old Bartman was escorted by security guards from Wrigley Field after he was threatened by angry fans and pelted with debris.

Bartman apologized to Cubs fans everywhere, adding he was "truly sorry from the bottom of this Cubs fan's broken heart."

"I ask that Cub fans everywhere redirect the negative energy that has been vented towards my family, my friends, and myself into the usual positive support for our beloved team on their way to being National League champs," Bartman said.

Hours after the Marlins forced the decisive seventh game, Bartman was the talk of the town.

Angry broadcasters castigated him. A local newspaper found in an Internet poll that thousands of people blamed him for playing a role in the Cubs' loss. Even the governor weighed in.

"Nobody can justify any kind of threat to someone who does something stupid like reach for that ball," Gov. Rod Blagojevich said.

In Florida, Gov. Jeb Bush said an offer of asylum to Bartman might be a good idea, and an oceanfront retreat in Pompano Beach offered him a free three-month stay if he needed to get out of Chicago.

Earlier in the day, neighbors and other fans had various opinions on whether Bartman should have tried to catch the ball.

"If you are a fan who's been around for a while, you just know not to interfere with a player," said Don Emond, 66, a longtime season-ticket holder who was at the game. "I think these fans like that are sort of selfish or they don't really care about the consequences of what happened."

Bartman was described by neighbors as a youth baseball coach and such a big Cubs fan that he traveled to Arizona to see the team in spring training.

Don Kessinger went after countless popups near the stands while playing shortstop for the Cubs in the 1960s and '70s.

"I think he did what 40,000 people would have done," said Kessinger, now in the real estate business in Oxford, Miss.

Even Alou, who was initially furious, seemed to soften later.

"I kind of feel bad for the guy now, because every fan in every ballpark, their first reaction is they want a souvenir," he said. "Nobody's going to think about the outcome of the game."

AP NEWS The Associated Press News Service

Copyright 2003, The Associated Press, All Rights Reserved

[4Freedom]

Ok, you're a Cub's fan and you're locked in a room with Saddam Hussein, Osama Bin Laden and Bartman 'the goatboy'.

You have a gun with only two bullets.

What do you do?

You shoot 'the goatboy' twice.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

It's more than a game.

You get to adjust your crotch in public and no one thinks different.

[Agnes Heep]

I noticed in the photo that every fan's eyes were focused on the ball. The guy needs to be given a serious break!

[Dog Gone]

I think that pretty much sums up their mood.

I guess I'll go into the other room and check the score. It was 3-3 last time I checked, which means goatboy has a 50-50 chance of living until next weekend.

[qam1]

At before he came forward didn't everybody think he was a 12 year old? So it was dumb for this guy to come forward because he could have remained anomoymus while the people with the pitchforks were out looking for a Sixth grader.

Well if the Cubs win I don't think anybody will care

[lodwick]

Yep.

The country's going down the tubes, and we worry about this.

Cheers.

[John H K]

He didn't "come forward" his name was published by the Sun-Times (who found out who he was) before he spoke in public.

[Orangedog]

Rome is burning, but Nero is playing the fiddle...he's watching the play-offs!

[Revolting cat!]

Shouldn't 'pologize.The loosers lost (loosed?) and that's the end of the story. They're just about to loose tonight too! Go Fishes!

[kcar]

At the risk of pissing off the Pope, I'm not a baseball fan at all, but your comment,"It's just a game!", has got me routing for the less-"sensitive" side here...

[Dan from Michigan]

The fan better move to St Louis.......

[Orangedog]

Bartman 'the goatboy'

I feel sorry for the guy. It's bad enough that the Cubs fans are going to burn down his house, demolish his car and make him fear for his life for the next 20 years, but he will also have to spend the rest of his life with the nick-name "Goatboy." I wouldn't live a day of his life on a dare.

[discostu]

Yeah we should all obsess on the problems of the world that we can't solve and get ulcers and die early of heart disease. God only knows relaxing for a few hours and sharing some time with friends and family is a complete and total waste, forget psychological health SOME ONE SOMEWHERE IS HUNGRY.

If you don't like sports fine STAY AWEAY FROM SPORTS THREADS. Nobody here needs or wants your obnoxiously stated idiotic position. Let people have some fun, everybody relaxes someway, you, at least our way of relaxing doesn't involve being a complete ass and insulting people needlessly. Shouldn't you be spending this time doing something constructive?!

[NovemberCharlie]

And why is it that baseball coaches have to wear the same uniforms as players??

I think it's a rule that if you want to be on the field, you have to be in uniform. Managers and coaches are not excepted.

[Orangedog]

Yeah we should all obsess on the problems of the world that we can't solve and get ulcers and die early of heart disease. God only knows relaxing for a few hours and sharing some time with friends and family is a complete and total waste, forget psychological health

Funny, the sports fans in Chicago haven't seemed to be relaxing with friends and family very much lately. And "psychological health?!" Looks more like neuroses to me.

If you don't like sports fine STAY AWEAY FROM SPORTS THREADS. Nobody here needs or wants your obnoxiously stated idiotic position.

Nobody?! Read the thread...several people here see it the way I do.

at least our way of relaxing doesn't involve being a complete ass and insulting people needlessly. Shouldn't you be spending this time doing something constructive?!

Yeah, nothing insulting in your post [/saracsm]. And by you, obsessing over a guy catching a ball during a GAME is contructive?!

[discostu]

Well if you'd watched a game or two you'd have seen THOUSANDS of Cubs fans relaxing and having fun with friends and family in and around Wrigley. But of course since you snobbishly look down on people that enjoy sports that doesn't count in your shallow pathetic world. It's very good psychological health, they had some fun, they had some catharsis and now they get back to life.

Yes there are a handful of dorks on FR that feel the need to jump onto sports threads and tell everyone about how they're too good for sports, just because you have followers doesn't make you right.

It wasn't an insult because you ARE being a complete ass. If you find the truth insulting change the truth. You claim you feel have a need to stamp out idiocy everywhere you see it, spend more time in front a mirror. And FYI I'm not obsessed with anything, most people enjoy sports without obsessing, you refuse to understand that because then you could no longer fluff your ego by casting insults. And while you continue with your insulting idiocy ROME IS STILL BURNIN. QUICK PUT IT OUT ONLY YOU CAN SAVE THE WORLD.

[Prodigal Son]

Yep. From the rule book:

3.15 No person shall be allowed on the playing field during a game except players and coaches in uniform...

[Gal.5:1]

Cubbies just lost the last 4 games; hubby is very grumpy right now!

Love is never having to say.. uh never mind.

[Orangedog]

But of course since you snobbishly look down on people that enjoy sports that doesn't count in your shallow pathetic world. It's very good psychological health, they had some fun, they had some catharsis and now they get back to life.

OK, Doctor Freud...keep talking about being psychologicaly healthy after two whack-job posts.

Yes there are a handful of dorks on FR that feel the need to jump onto sports threads and tell everyone about how they're too good for sports, just because you have followers doesn't make you right.

Grow up, junior. If you can't take some ribbing, then gfy.

you ARE being a complete ass.

Opinions vary.

[Jorge]

you snobbishly look down on people

your shallow pathetic world.

you ARE being a complete ass.

What nice person you are.