"A Prayer for Steve Bartman"

[Sammy Sofa]

At the very least it will help me relive the only halfway decent playoff run in the last 102 years of our franchise's history.

 

Wait, all of the last 102 years? That was better than the 7 times during those years that they actually made it to the WS?

 

In UMFan's defense, there were no playoffs for any of those. They simply won the league and went to the WS.

 

BACK WHEN MEN WERE MEN.

[UMFan83]

At the very least it will help me relive the only halfway decent playoff run in the last 102 years of our franchise's history.

 

Wait, all of the last 102 years? That was better than the 7 times during those years that they actually made it to the WS?

 

In UMFan's defense, there were no playoffs for any of those. They simply won the league and went to the WS.

 

That's exactly what I meant. I mean I'm sure 1945 was fun but there was no playoff run, just a 6 game playoff exit. That playoff run was just about as enjoyable as 2008's I'm sure.

[Sammy Sofa]

So then if those don't count, then it's not an issue of the "most enjoyable playoff run in 102 years" then since there weren't playoffs during that whole time. Can't have it both ways.

[fivepercent]

Yeah, I brought myself to read that - still hurts.

 

I really hope they win it in Bartman's lifetime so he can get the forgiveness that he shouldn't even have to deal with.

 

How many Cub fan's are still hung up specifically on Steve Bartman? I think a large portion are over it and have already forgiven him. I'd love to see him do an interview or something and come to a game.

[SouthSideRyan]

How many Cub fan's are still hung up specifically on Steve Bartman?

 

Not nearly as many fans of other teams.

[Sammy Sofa]

As many Cubs fans as there are that realize that Bartman ultimately isn't to be blamed for '03, there's probably even more that still hate him and think he's some kind of super villain. I think we'd be giving the majority of a very large fanbase too much credit otherwise.

[MWV]

At the very least it will help me relive the only halfway decent playoff run in the last 102 years of our franchise's history.

 

Wait, all of the last 102 years? That was better than the 7 times during those years that they actually made it to the WS?

 

In UMFan's defense, there were no playoffs for any of those. They simply won the league and went to the WS.

 

That's exactly what I meant. I mean I'm sure 1945 was fun but there was no playoff run, just a 6 game playoff exit. That playoff run was just about as enjoyable as 2008's I'm sure.

That series went to 7 games.

[UMFan83]

So then if those don't count, then it's not an issue of the "most enjoyable playoff run in 102 years" then since there weren't playoffs during that whole time. Can't have it both ways.

 

Those don't count because they didn't advance at all. If they had won and "advanced" to a championship, then it would be a great playoff run.

 

Edit: Fine, "relive their only playoff run ever as a franchise."

Edited May 4, 2010 by UMFan83

[fivepercent]

As many Cubs fans as there are that realize that Bartman ultimately isn't to be blamed for '03, there's probably even more that still hate him and think he's some kind of super villain. I think we'd be giving the majority of a very large fanbase too much credit otherwise.

 

I'm sure theres still a good few out there considering the size of the fan base, but I believe most are over it and there would be no harm in him showing up in public to a game or something. From my experience it's the very casual fan that brings it up any more like it's some relative story.

[Sammy Sofa]

As many Cubs fans as there are that realize that Bartman ultimately isn't to be blamed for '03, there's probably even more that still hate him and think he's some kind of super villain. I think we'd be giving the majority of a very large fanbase too much credit otherwise.

 

I'm sure theres still a good few out there considering the size of the fan base, but I believe most are over it and there would be no harm in him showing up in public to a game or something. From my experience it's the very casual fan that brings it up any more like it's some relative story.

 

Most of the fanbase is made up of casual fans.

[chuckywang]

As much as that night hurt, Game 7 hurt twice as much. But now I'm long over both.

[SouthSideRyan]

As many Cubs fans as there are that realize that Bartman ultimately isn't to be blamed for '03, there's probably even more that still hate him and think he's some kind of super villain. I think we'd be giving the majority of a very large fanbase too much credit otherwise.

 

I hate on Cubs fans as much as anyone, but I think you're off on this. There have been 2 division crowns since then, along with a team in 2004 that everyone thought was stacked that fell on its face down the stretch. The masses have plenty of other things to be bitter about/people to hate. 2003's a distant memory with a team full of guys they don't care about/hate. Except for Kenny Lofton, man did they love them some Kenny Lofton.

[Sammy Sofa]

I'm not saying that a ton of people are sitting around with active vendettas against Bartman, but you bring him or 2003 up to the average Cubs fan and sit back for some hilarious tantrums.

[Guest]

Yep. Definitely a good read. Sucks that the ending never changes, though.

 

who's fault is that?

 

I don't know. Marty McFly? The Terminator? Anyone with a time machine will do.

[Old Style]

The only people I ever hear bring up Bartman's name are fans of opposing teams. I get it quite a bit in Texas because there are a lot of Cub fans here (Chicago transplants and WGN fans from their youth) and both Texas teams pretty much suck balls.

[UMFan83]

I'm not saying that a ton of people are sitting around with active vendettas against Bartman, but you bring him or 2003 up to the average Cubs fan and sit back for some hilarious tantrums.

 

Really? If anyone that's what I'd think an outsider would expect an average Cub fan to act like if they brought him up, but would be shocked that the fan responded with a shoulder shrug.

 

I've been to at least 100 Cubs games since 2003, and I cannot honestly recall one time that Bartman's name was brought up. And that's among a crowd of the drunkest, averagest Cubs fans you can find. Actually, the only time I do remember Bartman being mentioned at Wrigley since 03 was in 04.

 

I went to today's debacle and was extremely disapointed except for one hilarious thing that Miguel Cabrerra did during the second inning.

 

Bottom 2, 1-0 Marlins, Moises hits a pop foul to LF near a recently famous spot around Wrigley. That spot is of course the Bartman spot. Miguel goes over to the LF wall just to track it, but the ball is well foul.

 

As the ball was hitting the stands about 7-8 rows deep, Cabrera leaps up to "catch" the foul and when he obviously doesn't catch it, he throws his glove down in complete mocking of the Alou-Bartman incident in game 6 of the NLCS.

 

When it first happened you could actually hear Wrigley bust out in laughter followed by some good booing about 5 seconds later when it truely hit them what Miguel did.

[SouthSideRyan]

Oh, and [expletive] Duchie Caray for her whoring herself out even more than usual with that blowing up of the Bartman ball [expletive] at Haray Caray's.

[bukie]

I don't know about anybody else, but I yearn for the good times of 2003 at this point.

[SpongeWorthy]

I'm not saying that a ton of people are sitting around with active vendettas against Bartman, but you bring him or 2003 up to the average Cubs fan and sit back for some hilarious tantrums.

 

Really? If anyone that's what I'd think an outsider would expect an average Cub fan to act like if they brought him up, but would be shocked that the fan responded with a shoulder shrug.

 

I've been to at least 100 Cubs games since 2003, and I cannot honestly recall one time that Bartman's name was brought up. And that's among a crowd of the drunkest, averagest Cubs fans you can find. Actually, the only time I do remember Bartman being mentioned at Wrigley since 03 was in 04.

 

I went to today's debacle and was extremely disapointed except for one hilarious thing that Miguel Cabrerra did during the second inning.

 

Bottom 2, 1-0 Marlins, Moises hits a pop foul to LF near a recently famous spot around Wrigley. That spot is of course the Bartman spot. Miguel goes over to the LF wall just to track it, but the ball is well foul.

 

As the ball was hitting the stands about 7-8 rows deep, Cabrera leaps up to "catch" the foul and when he obviously doesn't catch it, he throws his glove down in complete mocking of the Alou-Bartman incident in game 6 of the NLCS.

 

When it first happened you could actually hear Wrigley bust out in laughter followed by some good booing about 5 seconds later when it truely hit them what Miguel did.

 

Miggy was so blotto at the time he doesn't even remember doing it.

[J.R.]

First time I've ever felt empathy for Bartman.

 

Good read.

[bcl412]

At this point 2008 playoff debacle pisses me off more than 2003.

[UMFan83]

At this point 2008 playoff debacle pisses me off more than 2003.

 

Easily. And not just because the pain is newer. I was slightly depressed for a couple of weeks in 08. In 03, a couple of days...although mostly because I lived near Boston at the time and got to watch all the Red Sox fans suffer the next day.

[Old Style]

At this point 2008 playoff debacle pisses me off more than 2003.

Not even close for me and three words explain it all: FIVE OUTS AWAY

[UMFan83]

At this point 2008 playoff debacle pisses me off more than 2003.

Not even close for me and three words explain it all: FIVE OUTS AWAY

 

See the biggest reason why 2008 stung more is because by Memorial Day we were almost on playoff cruise control (with some bumps in the way). Everyone was just kinda waiting for the postseason, and expecting great things because that was a terrific team. In 2003, the playoff race was half the battle. Remember at that point, the Cubs had made the playoffs just 1 time in the last 14 years. So making the playoffs with a team that lost 90 games the year before was a significant accomplishment. I don't think many would have hung their heads if the Cubs lost game 5 in Atlanta. It was of course very painful because we all believed we were going to do it. In 2008, we had made the postseason the year before, making the playoffs wasn't a big accomplishment for us. We all just waited several months for the playoffs to start, and when they did, the team basically flatlined and in the blink of an eye it was over.

[cubsfan5150]

At this point 2008 playoff debacle pisses me off more than 2003.

Not even close for me and three words explain it all: FIVE OUTS AWAY

 

See the biggest reason why 2008 stung more is because by Memorial Day we were almost on playoff cruise control (with some bumps in the way). Everyone was just kinda waiting for the postseason, and expecting great things because that was a terrific team. In 2003, the playoff race was half the battle. Remember at that point, the Cubs had made the playoffs just 1 time in the last 14 years. So making the playoffs with a team that lost 90 games the year before was a significant accomplishment. I don't think many would have hung their heads if the Cubs lost game 5 in Atlanta. It was of course very painful because we all believed we were going to do it. In 2008, we had made the postseason the year before, making the playoffs wasn't a big accomplishment for us. We all just waited several months for the playoffs to start, and when they did, the team basically flatlined and in the blink of an eye it was over.

 

Yeah, you know 2003 was just freaking magical throughout. The taking of 4 out of 5 games against the Cards is a series that I'll always remember, clinching while I was on a plane to teh Middle East, and the NLDS was classic. Everyone will always remember Sammy's HR off Urbina in game 1 on the NLCS too. Just magical all the way through, even the way it ended. As upset as we were, it was just too magical to be pissed, it was more of a belief thing.

 

2008 on the other hand, you knew we were making the playoffs half way through the season and when we just totally dumped in the playoffs yet again, it was awful. What made it worse for me was that (if I remember correctly), we basically didn't play hard vs the Brewers at the end of the season, and had we won that series, we'd have played the Mets in the first round as opposed to the Dodgers, whom I didn't think we matched up well against. And well, we didn't.