Catching a ball only takes a second ~ "Catching Hell" can last a lifetime

Bartman.  What does that name mean to you?  Do you even know who I'm talking about?  Maybe you're thinking about the Simpsons.  Maybe you have no idea.  However, if you're from Chicago or love the Cubs, you probably know who and what I'm talking about.

I like baseball, but it's not my favorite sport.  I'm from Ohio and rooted for the Red and the Indians when I was growing up.  I'm not a lifelong Cubs fan.   I've always told myself that I wanted my own Wiki page, but I guess I should be careful about what I wish for.  For those of you that don't know or need some background, here's a link to the Steve Bartman incident.  If you'd rather cut and paste the link to stay in this window, here you are:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Bartman_incident.

October 14, 2003.  Steve Bartman instinctively (i.e. along with  the people sitting near him) tried to catch a foul ball.  Unlike other people around him, Bartman got a piece of the ball and unfortunately, Moises Alou missed the catch.  After that, depending on who you talk to, EVEN THOUGH the Chicago Cubs were leading at the time, Bartman cost the Cubs Game 6, and the National League Championship series (i.e. even though there was a Game 7 that still needed to be played).

I'm not going to go into the specifics of the game.  Check the box scores and play by play and you'll see that the Florida Marlins' bats were HOT and that the Cubs were making mistakes.  I'm a gambler by nature and I believe in luck.  I believe in coolers, that dice have memory, and some dealers have signatures.  I'm not going to blame Bartman for the Cubs demise, because I also have an appreciation for the technical nature of baseball and interest in sports psychology.

I find athletes fascinating in their ability to come from behind to win and at other times choke away leads.  I think athletes and other high-achievers can follow their own self-fulfilling prophecy through hard work and WILL.  I believe that the crowd can influence the outcome of a game as well.  Ever been in sleepy arenas or in a crowd where everyone is yelling and hyped up?  Don't tell me that that doesn't play a factor in the minds of the players and vice versa.  Regardless, I do believe in luck, both good and bad.

I have no idea what it would feel like to have so many people in a ballpark dislike me.  I have no idea what it would feel like to have people seek me out to harm and to abuse me.  I have no idea how Bartman, aside from his apology, has managed to stay silent about his feelings towards the entire incident.  To be the object of a ballpark and city's REJECTION had to be incredible (i.e. in the literal sense of the word).  Individual people can be cruel, but to be the target and victim of individuals with a "gang mentality" has to be terrifying.  No one wants to be the butt of a joke, and to have people dress up like you for Halloween had to be a surreal experience.



I screened Alex Gibney's latest film, "Catching Hell", last week as part of the AFI/Discovery Channel Silverdocs film festival in Silver Spring, Maryland (i.e. Washington, DC).  I screened it because sports have obviously slowed down for me and I wanted to review another film.  I was also curious about the Bartman story because I didn't know it.

"I'd rather eat rat poison than relive that moment," was the comment I received from my friend, Bryan Erwin.  ****  This is a picture of us, when a group of us went to the Cubs home opener in 2010.  Bryan lives and dies with each Cubs W or L.  I immediately thought to invite him when I decided to attend the screening and I couldn't have been more shocked by his reaction.  After all these year, the mere mention of the Bartman incident opened up old wounds.

To the casual observer, sports are on the periphery of one's life.  However, for the devoted fan, sports are a part of his/her soul.  You feel the game in your bones.  Your heart races, drops, and or skips a beat if you're full ingrained in the action on the field, in the ring, on the court, etc.

People cope in different ways.  Some people internalize, some people externalize, and other will point to someone and assign blame.  In a time when television and digital cameras are as prevalent as hot dogs, there's no such thing as anonymity.  Big brother or someone is almost always watching so you better be camera ready...  If your moment is "compelling enough", a replay of the video or your photos with show over and over and over and over and over...

Unfortunately for him, Bartman's video and pictures in the cubs hat, green turtleneck, and headphone are burned into peoples' brains.  He has had more than his 15 minutes of "fame".  Just last week I was watching Pardon the Interruption, and Bartman's name came up.  Maybe it's time we "let it go" and learn a lesson from the experience ~ that is, after you watch the movie.

The narrator of the film poses an interesting question as the film weaves in the story of  the Boston Red Sox  organization and the Bill Buckman story.  Maybe as suggested, once the Chicago Cubs win the World Series, Bartman will be forgiven.  However, will Bartman forgive Chicago?  I guess we will never know, because he isn't talking...

According to producer, Gary Cohen, "Catching Hell" will air on ESPN on September 27.


THE WIRK

Red Sox v A's at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum ~ It's as bad as people say it is

Last night I ventured to Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum (i.e. which opened in 1966) to watch the Boston Red Sox play the Oakland A's.   I went to the venue, specifically to check out a new venue and see what people are talking about when they complain about the venue.  I've never seen the Oakland Raiders play a home game.  With the NFL Lockout, ,proximity of the venue to where I reside, and my desire not to return to the Coliseum any time soon I probably won't be back for a game for quite a few years.  ****With any luck, Oakland will have a new stadium/ballpark by then.  I have my fingers crossed for Cisco Field in San Jose!

I was told I could take BART to the game, but I decided to drive.  $17 later I was in the parking lot.  People were throwing footballs and grilling.  The tailgating looked fun, but I had to get a ticket so I went straight to the box office.   As I walked towards the ticketing windows, I couldn't help but notice that Oracle Arena (i.e. the home of the Golden State Warriors) looked so much newer.  Little did I know that was just the beginning of my surprise... 

Ticket in hand for a seat 10 rows off the field, by the A's dugout, I was ready to walk the concourse and see what the Coliseum had to offer.  As I walked the lap around the concourse I was underwhelmed.  The path is narrow, and I wonder whether 6 adults holding hands could stand the width of the concourse.  This isn't conducive to fans who are trying to navigate the crowds to find their seats, consume concessions, and/or shop.

For baseball there are numerous concession areas that are vacant.  Further the upper deck sections are covered by a tarp.  My guess is that these seats don't sell.  Aesthetically, I think it's a good solution.  I just think it's sad to see Rickey Henderson and Dennis Eckersley's names up top, representing an "old and busted" venue.  Yes, I said it.

I caught the opening pitch after visiting the concession stand to grab my customary order of a hotdog and nachos.  The concessions lady was a happy lady and that was nice, since I was already a bit disappointed that I had made the trip to the game.  ****  Further, I was reminded that I was on the West coast when I saw Red Vines amongst the candy selections. 

I stopped in the ladies room.  That was a necessity, but a mistake.  I've seen restrooms at rest stop and train stations that are cleaner and more modern.

As the night grew chillier and the lights came on, I began to feel some "charm" for the venue.  Unlike Red Sox manager, Terry Francona, my night at the park didn't end early.  Francona was tossed after arguing with the home plate umpire in the top of the 4th.  Actually, around the time Francona left, I felt like leaving the park, but I stuck it out until the top of the 8th.  ****  I'm not one for leaving games early, but I'd seen enough and wanted to get out of there.

I left with the A's in the lead and a score of 1-0.  I am not familiar with the A's, but I was impressed with the pitching of Brett Anderson.  He ended up pitching a shutout for 8 innings.  I also didn't know that Hideki Matsui is an A, until last night.  In the bottom of the 1st inning, I saw Coco Crisp score.  As I mentioned, I left at the top of the 8th.  As a result of that poor decision, I missed the 4 runs that the A's scored in the bottom of the 8th.  C'est la vie.

I still need to download the pictures I took of the venue and at the game, but my computer can't pull them off my camera right now.  The irony... 

If this venue was an amusement park it'd be called "NO FLAGS".  On a 5 star-rating system, it gets 0 stars.

Today I've been telling people that knew I went to the game last night about my adventure.  They're laughing and telling me, "Told you."  Literally.  That's what they're saying.  Honestly, most of the fond memories these locals have of that venue have to do with the tailgating in the parking lot or some story they remember from the 1980s.  Needless to say, unless you have a time machine and/or you're a baseball fanatic, pay the $17 and hang out in the parking lot.


THE WIRK

Injured Boston Red Sox Mickey Mouse ~ 2010 MLB All-Star Game

Poor Mickey!  He was beat up, but he's still smiling...

The 2010 MLB All-Star Game Mickeys are in Anaheim to help celebrate the All-Star festivities.  Poor Boston Red Sox Mickey was vandalized!  It was housed in front of the Discovery Science Center.

Here is a picture of the injured Mickey Mouse (i.e. complete with cast and ice pack).  Poor guy!  ****  Photo courtesy of a reader of TheWirk.com.

If you're a Red Sox fan and a Disney fan, you can own a healthier version of the figurine.


THE WIRK

2010 MLB All-Star, Boston Red Sox Mickey Mouse vandalized

I completed the 2010 MLB All-Star Game Mickey Mouse Scavenger hunt (i.e. in Southern California) and it's been brought to my attention that the Boston Red Sox Mickey Mouse has been vandalized.

According to the following MSNBC article, the Boston Red Sox Mickey Mouse has been sent back to Disney for repair.  The statue was vandalized on Friday and removed on Monday.

Come on, people.  It's a statue and it was in front of the Discovery Science Center.  If you don't like the Red Sox or any other team's statue, can't you just walk away from it?  Let the kids enjoy it.


THE WIRK