Results tagged “bartman”

A few days ago, we mentioned ESPN had produced a documentary on the infamous Steve Bartman for their "30 For 30" series and readers seemed to share the same exasperation we felt when reading the news: just let it die already. Anyone who blames Bartman for the Cubs falling apart in the 2003 NLCS didn't watch the 2003 NLCS. And now it seems the Cubs players involved in that playoff series feel the same as we all do.

Almost six years later and the bespectacled, headphoned pariah of Cubs baseball (though unfairly so) will once again be trudged up courtesy of ESPN. The World Wide Leader is in the midst of putting together its "30 for 30" campaign, featuring 30 sports-related documentaries to celebrate the network's 30 years on air. And one of those documentaries will focus on the beleaguered Bartman. The doc was written and directed by Alex Gibney who earned accolades for his Oscar-nominated doc "Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room." NBC 5 reports, "The sports channel said that Gibney’s documentary will attempt to answer the question: Can Bartman ever forgive Chicago?" A more salient question would be: can Chicago ever forgive Alex Gonzalez for having a lead glove and Moises Alou for a bit of over-reacting?

It was five years ago tonight that Steve Bartman made his infamous grab for a foul ball in the left field stands at Wrigely. We all remember. And while we here at Chicagoist have gone on record before calling curses a load of bunk, it's still, for better or (mostly) worse, an iconic moment in Chicago baseball history. We'd just like to remind you, though, that even though everyone points to this as a turning point in the series, there's still the issue of Alex Gonzalez muffing a sure double-play ball and the bullpen collapsing later in that game. Oh, and it was also Game Six. Just like the Buckner play during Red Sox-Mets in '86. The Cubs still had a Game Seven to win the series (just like the Sox) but blew a 5-3 lead to lose that game as well. The lesson here? Blame the bullpen. Always blame the bullpen.

Chicago Police Officer Michael Ciancio, arrested yesterday for soliciting bribes from tow truck drivers, received up to $800 a week with his scam.