Posted on 10/28/2003 7:31:46 AM PST by Grig
Crushed Chicago Cubs fans are dressing up for Halloween like Steve Bartman, the unlucky fan who may have cost the team a chance at the World Series.
Juan Monreal Jr., who dressed up as Mr. Bartman last Saturday night for a house party, was greeted by five more Bartmans when he walked in. "I thought there was going to be another guy dressed up as Steve Bartman, but five guys, I didn't expect that," said the 15-year-old sophomore who lives in Brookfield, Ill., about 23 kilometres west of Chicago.
The costume is simple. Just look like Mr. Bartman, whose image appeared worldwide after he prevented Cubs left fielder Moises Alou from catching an eighth-inning foul ball.
His uniform is a Cubs cap, headphones, a dark sweatshirt and glasses.
Dressing up like Mr. Bartman is a way of expressing disappointment about the Cubs' losing their shot at winning the World Series yet again, Mr. Monreal said.
"The way it happened, it's like he is part of the curse. That's the way everyone in Chicago's going to see it."
The sweatshirt Mr. Bartman wore to the Cubs game featured a logo for the Renegades, an elite youth baseball program he helps coach in Niles, Ill. The organization was selling sweatshirts for US$35 each through its Web site last week with assurances organizers would do their best to have all orders "shipped out in time for Halloween." The shirts are now sold out.
"I'm not in love with the idea," said Roger Shimanovsky, whose son used to play for the Renegades. The organization is something to be proud of, not something that poke fun at, Mr. Shimanovsky said.
"He did exactly what everybody else in the world would do. If you and I were sitting there, we would have gone for the baseball, too. Anybody that says they wouldn't is lying."
At least one entrepreneur has also been selling "replica" Steve Bartman sweatshirts through eBay for US$35, with special shipping arrangements available in time for Halloween.
Mr. Bartman was pelted with debris, threatened and verbally abused before he was escorted out of Wrigley Field by team security. He released a statement last Friday saying his family and friends have also been threatened and harassed.
Shortly after Mr. Bartman interferred with the play, the Florida Marlins staged a comeback to win the game, and eventually the championship series.
They went on to win the World Series.
mvallis@nationalpost.com
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