Reaction to Catching Hell

ESPN Films continues to impress with it's recent line of documentaries and "Catching Hell," directed by Alex Gibney, could be the best yet. The two hour show discussed everything that went into that unfortunate night when Steve Bartman, like any fan would, reached for a foul ball that the Cubs' Moises Alou might have caught during the 8th inning of Game 6 in the 2003 NLCS. Alou didn't catch the ball and the Cubs' collapsed, giving up eight runs in the inning, and went on to lose Games 6 and 7. The Florida Marlins would beat the New York Yankees and Cubs' players, executives and fans were left to ponder what might have been. Gibney's film tugged at the heart and made me truly feel for Bartman, a man whose life has been ruined because of the unintentional incident. It was truly one of the saddest shows I have ever seen.

We all know what happened in that moment and the events that took place afterwards. However, what I didn't know was the immediate threats and chants that were made in Bartman's direction. Unless you were at Wrigley Field that night you can't understand how awful that scene must have been. I sat on the couch watching the segment of the film and I could feel anger swelling up in me. Some time during the madness the fans at "The Friendly Confines" forgot how to behave and they also didn't stop and think about what they would have done in Bartman's place. Any fan would have reached for the ball. Yet, the thousands who weren't in position to reach for it let a game become more than it ever should and Bartman was showered with beer, food and profanity laced tirades. And what did he do? He sat in his seat and didn't say a word. He was walked out of the park and people were able to see his face and scream at him, curse him and threaten to kill him. Kill him. That part stunned me. People actually stood there and yelled "Kill him!" and "Put a gun to his head!!" When does a game or a play become more than it should?

People have changed their opinions of the Bartman incident and some no longer put the blame on him. Others still see that play as the one that ruined the Cubs' chances for the NLCS. It was disgusting to watch the one fan who threw a beer on him sit there in his interview and smirk as he talked about what he did, not an ounce of remorse in his voice. Funny thing is, he would have done the exact same thing and I can guarantee that. It's instinct to reach for a foul ball and you don't consider the player coming at you or the situation in the game.

However, like the film said, we need a scapegoat. Somebody to point a finger at and somebody to pin the blame on. That play was shown so many times and it was easy to peg Bartman as the man at fault. I have always wondered how Alex Gonzalez feels about that. It was he who really started the mess on the field yet his error is forgotten. He literally would have been crucified in the same way Bill Buckner was but instead Bartman was thrown into the fire. The Cubs have nobody to blame but themselves for losing that series and I don't see why the fans didn't, and still can't, see that. Gonzalez made the error and then the pitching fell apart. They lost Game 6 because of it. Still, Game 7 was a new game and the Cubs even had the lead with Kerry Wood on the mound. They couldn't keep that lead and Bartman had nothing to do with that. But it was Bartman's fault to Cubs' fans and some of the media.

His life is ruined and there will never be another day of 'normal' for him. It's the saddest thing ever. Steve Bartman could never go back to a Cubs game with the way people treated him that night. I thought the best line in the film was at the end when Gibney said, "We're not waiting for fans to forgive Bartman. We're waiting for Bartman to forgive the fans." That is so true and I don't know if we will ever see that happen. To walk out of that stadium with your clothes drenched in beer and to hear people shout death threats and curse words in your face is something that seems unforgivable. And what was all of that for? One play in a Major League Baseball game. It seems fans are prone to blowing sports games and plays out of proportion.

After watching that film I don't know how anybody could still blame Bartman or even be mad at him for it. Gibney did a phenomenal job and his underlying message was a jab at the fans who were relentless in their venom towards Bartman on October 14th, 2003. The Cubs have yet to win a World Series and with the way the team looks now it seems that there isn't a championship coming anytime soon. However, a championship would be the best thing for this situation because once the trophy comes to Chicago the healing can begin. It's unfortunate that it's like that but it's the truth. Fans will not begin to forget Bartman until a championship is won. Time has lessened the anger towards Leon Durham and maybe the same can be said for Bartman, but neither man will be welcomed back to Chicago with open arms until the Cubs break the curse.

Fans have a tendency to put a little too much emotion into their favorite team's games and this is at the forefront of that discussion. Steve Bartman didn't want to interfere with Moises Alou but he did. And what does he have to show for it? A life that's been ruined because of thousands of pathetic "fans."