ESPN Bartman Doc Leads to Media Navel Gazing

After many delays ESPN is set to air Catching Hell, Oscar-winning director Alex Gibney's documentary on Game 6 of the 2003 National League Championship Series and the fallout received by Steve Bartman for reaching out for that fateful foul ball.

As always when the name Bartman is evoked Our Town's media outlets rush to pound out more "who knew people would react like that?" articles with only a cursory mention of their participation in the scapegoating of Bartman. This time around, there's some genuine reflection to go with the navel gazing thanks largely in part because Gibney's deft direction throws it in their faces.

Sun-Times "Back in My Day" columnist Dave Hoekstra saw the film and appreciated the parallels between Bartman and former Cub and Red Sox Bill Buckner, who also had a fateful moment that, if things were different, could have lifted a so-called "curse" from a baseball club in the midst of a legendary World Series drought.

(Buckner, by the way, showed to be an amazing sport by sending up his butterfingers during the recently completed season of Curb Your Enthusiasm.)

As Hoekstra noted in his column, the Bright One was the first media outlet to publish Bartman's home address in an online article. Tribune columnist John Kass asked of Bartman in a column, “Do you realize what you have just done?”

The Tribune's K.C. Johnson looks at the amazing cocoon erected by Bartman friends, family and co-workers in the wake of that October night eight years ago. It's amazing that, in an age where we can have contact information at the click of a mouse, Bartman has become a recluse on the level of Greta Garbo or J.D. Salinger. Even more impressive: no one close to him has betrayed his trust.

Johnson also looks at some Cubs fans who were there that day and asks the one question all baseball fans, North or South side, should ask themselves before commenting on Bartman: "Would you reach out for the ball?"

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By Chuck Sudo in News on September 27, 2011 4:05 PM

Comments [rss]

Mimihaha

Steve Bartman didn't mess up a double play, nor did he leave Mark Prior in too long.

snoopoz

Some of those interviews with the fans who were close to Bartman made me furious, specifically the guy who went down to throw a beer at Bartman, and the bar owner who was next to Bartman. Even 8 years later, they're still acting like a-holes.

jhop79

In contrast, I really liked to woman who was working security that night who hid him out at her house until the coast was clear.
When she spoke about how she saw how devastated he was while he was putting the pieces together about what had happened, the look in her eyes broke my heart.

And when he left, she looked as if she honestly feared for that poor man's life that night.

snoopoz

Totally. Amazing that even 8 years later, she still gets choked up about it. Say what you will about Bartman, but the guy has acted with dignity since all this happened.

NoHorseInThisRace

Almost as bad, Alou comes across as a smug a-hole with no remorse. The director never bothered to ask him if he ever thought that : had he not thrown a temper tantrum along the lines of a three year old, dealt with it like all other rational players who have to deal with fan interference, shrugged it off and went back to doing his job, would anybody have ever remembered that play? I guess the implication was that Alex Gonzalez should be grateful to Moises Alou...

kieller

I wish this thing would go away for the man. Hasn't he lived through enough. If anyone honestly believes as a baseball fan they wouldn't have reached out for the ball they are lying or blind or scared of catching a ball. Moises Alou's reaction was despicable, and why is no one going after Alex Gonzalez for not doing his job on a routine ground ball. Thank you ESPN for extending this man's pain. Nothing but the highest integrity and reporting from you.

ChicagoD

Yes. Besides, with Alou's epic 3" vertical "leap" do you really think he would have caught that ball.

All in all, Prior was left in too long, Gonzalez sucked it up, etc. etc. Steve Bartman had NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.