cubs-break-curse

 

This post is an excerpt from Culture Wars: In Search of Spiritual Jedi

 

If you’re ever having a bad day, just remember Steve Bartman.  I imagine that upon arising on the morning of October 14, 2003 he thought it was going to be a great day.  A lifetime Chicago Cubs fan, he box seat ticket in the left field corner behind the bullpen at Wrigley Field, where his beloved Cubbies were hosting the Florida Marlins in Game 6 of the NLCS. The Cubs were up 3 games to 2.  A win that night would send them to their first World Series since 1945, with the possibility of winning it all for the first time since 1908.

By the end of the seventh inning, Wrigley was one gigantic party and Steve was living a Cub fan’s dream.  He had never seen the Cubs in the World Series.  Their last appearance was 32 years before he was born!  The eighth inning began with the Marlins at bat and the Cubs leading 3-0.  With one out and a runner on second, Marlin Luis Castillo hit a fly ball that drifted foul, headed for the box where Steve was standing in celebration.  A fan’s dream!!  To catch a foul ball at a Major League game—and not just any game, but the game where your team clinches a ticket to the Big Dance!  Eyes glued to the ball, Steve reached out for it, never noticing that Cubs left fielder Moises Alou was charging toward the wall to attempt a leaping “highlight-reel” catch.

The next few seconds changed Steve Bartman’s life.  He didn’t make the catch.  Neither did Moises Alou, who slammed his glove to the ground in anger.  The Cubs pled for a call of fan interference, but video replay clearly showed that—while Alou had a legitimate chance to catch the ball—the ball was landing in the seating area and not on the field of play.  By the time the Marlins had scored eight runs in their half of the eighth inning to take an 8-3 lead, Steve was no longer at the ball park.  He left with a police escort, his head covered by a jacket to protect him from all the beer being thrown at him.  Instead of hearing cheers directed toward his beloved Cubs, he heard chants of “Kill him!” and “He cost us the World Series!”

Steve Bartman, forever known as the fan that cost the Cubs their trip to the World Series, still lives in Chicago and still receives threats, according to a longtime friend.  Of course, it was the nine Cubs who were on the field that could not get two more Marlins out before eight runs scored.  It was Cubs shortstop Alex Gonzalez who fumbled a routine ground ball that should have been an easy double play to end the inning when the score was 3-1 in favor of the Cubs.  But Steve got the blame in a culture that needs a scapegoat.

Culture Wars cover

Wouldn’t it be cool if the Cubs organization and the people of Chicago offered him an unconditional pardon now that they’ve won the World Series for the first time in 108 years?

Wouldn’t it be cool if we would be more gracious, both in victory and defeat? 

Wouldn’t it be cool if we saw every person as one whose life matters to God?

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Just an ordinary guy living an amazing life. Amazed by God and joining Him in His amazing activity in the world. Seeking the flourishing of fellow travelers. Author, Blogger, Speaker, Singer, CoachSultant, Husband, Dad, Grandpa.