ESPN ran a heavily-advertised documentary tonight called “Catching Hell,” about the captioned event. It included really impressive videography (subtracting and adding visual elements during replays) and background interviews, as well as after-the-fact media handwringing and an attempt to tie it into the biblical notion of scapegoating.
So all that’s well and good, but how did we get 2 fucking hours of analysis with essentially no mention of the obsessive, self-identifying relationship people have with what is really just a form of entertainment? We get a ton of audio and video of people telling him to kill himself, physical threats, things being thrown at him even as he’s hustled out of the stadium…but no effort at all to step back and ask what actually makes people act that way. Instead, it’s continually laid off to the city as a whole ["will Steve Bartman ever forgive Chicago?]. I’m sorry to tell you, Chicago…according to this documentary, you’re apparently just a complete bunch of angry but unified morons.
So here’s the thing, ESPN: instead of spending all that goddamn time talking to a Unitarian minister about a clever but completely incorrect analogy, how about making the effort to interview some psychologists about why people think it’s okay (desireable even!) to physically accost and threaten him?
Sports fans. What else can you say? There’s no logic.
It’s not safe for Bill Buckner to walk the streets of Boston. How many ton’s of guacamole in New England hit the living room wall when the Pats lost to the Giants. Donnie Moore killed himself.
It makes no sense. If you are not on the payroll of a team you still have to get up in the morning and go to your job (or these days try to find a job). Why people let their identity get so wrapped up in a pro team is a mystery.
Great… and the association with my username is back. I can almost guarantee I’ll get at least one threatening Private Message somewhere that I use this username.
I read a story about Pat Looney, who was next to Bartman, was also reaching for the ball and, but for the span of a few inches, would’ve become the target of the wrath of Cubs fans everywhere. It’s kind of unsettling to imagine coming that close to having your life turned upside down.
Buckner took this kind of treatment poorly. It led to severe depression, and at one point he attempted to take his life by stepping in front of a city bus.
The Buckner thing is certainly no longer true if it ever was, and Donnie Moore had a lot of personal problems besides giving up a home run in the ALCS.
Buckner has learned to laugh at himself, and did so in a recent and hilarious episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm. Both he and Bartman were unfairly treated, and ESPN did an excellent job in highlighting why.
As for the sociological reasons for the mistreatment, I chalk it up to pack mentality and needing to blame someone.
Actually, Buckner was treated well by Sox fans. He played with the Sox in 1990 and received a standing ovation on opening day. He threw out the first pitch on opening day 2008 (after the second WS win) and received a 4 minute standing ovation. He’s been treated fine by the fans, not so much by the media.
Yes, Bartman was hung by his balls and treated badly however Bartman moment was the pivoting point of the game if you watched. Yes, I’m biased and also I understand anyone could’ve done the same thing. But as a suffering Chicago Cubby fan waiting for a century also should’ve been smarter and should’ve known to stay out of the way. Hey, but then I say if Cubbies ever win Chicago will never be quite the same and will lose the city’s certain persona forever.
I’ve got an old college friend who’s spent several years writing stories for Simpsons comic books. I could drop him a line, if you like, and see if he can get a Bartman story into the next issue.
