OT: would you collect 25K if you were him???

[lights1961]

WOULD you show up if you were Bartman?? I would ask for a hell of a lot more than 25K!!

Rick

Wednesday, Jul 23, 2008 3:23 pm EDT

Cubs fan Steve Bartman offered $25K for just one autograph
By 'Duk
Sportsbuy.com and the National Sports Collectors Convention sure have devised a way to get a lot of marketing without ever having to pay a dime.

As you might have read on Deadspin, they're offering infamous Cubs fan Steve Bartman a cool $25,000 if he shows up to their memorabilia show in suburban Chicago and signs just one picture of him destroying the World Series dreams of Cubs fans everywhere getting tangled up with Moises Alou in Game 6 of the '03 NLCS.

From the Orlando Sentinel:


To collect the cash, all Bartman has to do is show up at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Ill., at 1 p.m. on July 31, prove his identity and sign a photograph of the infamous play. It will then be auctioned on the Web site with the proceeds going to a Chicago-based charity, according to a news release for the publicity stunt event.

"No one in sports memorabilia history has ever been paid $25,000 to sign one autograph — not Michael Jordan, Muhammad Ali, Joe DiMaggio, Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, or any other athlete,” said Mike Berkus, co-Executive Director of The National. "Steve Bartman has been a recluse for years, but we’re hopeful that he will accept our invitation and generous offer to appear ... We have personal security to provide to Steve at The National and to a destination of his choosing.”


It's an ingenious marketing plan, really, because I'm sure the organizers know they're dealing with probably the only man on Earth who wouldn't simply sign his name and then collect $25K. In the almost five years since his name became synonymous with the Billy Goat curse, Bartman has turned down every single interview request that has come his way and no doubt also said no to numerous book-TV-movie deals that were worth much, much more than what a bunch of baseball card dealers are offering here.

What's worth noting, though, is just how much attention just the mention of Bartman's name in a press release can draw. Can you imagine what it'd be like if he actually showed up for one of these stunts?

[ProgRocker53]

Oh hell yeah I'd do it.

Party at Prog's.

[bluejeangirl76]

When I first read "Would you show up if you were Bartman?" I thought of "Bartman" as in Bart Simpson, not Steve Bartman, Resident Nudnik.

From the Orlando Sentinel:

To collect the cash, all Bartman has to do is show up at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Ill., at 1 p.m. on July 31,

Great. And jack up traffic on my lunch hour - I work down the street.
That guy ruins everything.

[lights1961]

When I first read "Would you show up if you were Bartman?" I thought of "Bartman" as in Bart Simpson, not Steve Bartman, Resident Nudnik.

From the Orlando Sentinel:

To collect the cash, all Bartman has to do is show up at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Ill., at 1 p.m. on July 31,

Great. And jack up traffic on my lunch hour - I work down the street.
That guy ruins everything.

Rick

[conversationpc]

Cubs fans at this point are worse than Red Sox fans after Buckner let that ball go between his legs in the '86 World Series. Give it up already. The Cubs can't blame that guy on losing the playoffs that year.

[Saint John]

The Cubs can't blame that guy on losing the playoffs that year.

You're right. A side view of the play clearly shows that it was fan interference because Bartfag leaned over into the field of play and the umpire blew the call. But if Barfman hadn't leaned over Alou would've caught the ball so I say we hang both of them.

[lights1961]

The Cubs can't blame that guy on losing the playoffs that year.

You're right. A side view of the play clearly shows that it was fan interference because Bartfag leaned over into the field of play and the umpire blew the call. But if Barfman hadn't leaned over Alou would've caught the ball so I say we hang both of them.

and maybe alou would not of cought the ball???? in baseball you never know... plus the cubs pitcher after that play could not get anyone out...and was there not an error by the shortstop almost right after that?

Rick

[Onestepper]

I love the stories of Bartman supposedly living in seclusion after sneaking off to London because of all the death threats and media stalking him. There was a great article on ESPN a few years back that tore apart all of the myths around Bartman. The reporter walked right up to him as he was leaving his office job in downtown Chicago one day and ended up doing an extensive interview. The reporter asked him why it took so long for him to tell his story. Bartman just said something like 'you are the first one to ask for an interview since the initial media explosion'. Classic.

Now, I know I've heard the whole 'well you were the only one that asked for an interview...' line before...hmmm, who was that again?

[Saint John]

and maybe alou would not of cought the ball????

In the case of fan interference it wouldn't have mattered. And I believe he would have caught the ball.

in baseball you never know...

I "don't know" that the sun will come up tomorrow, but I'm pretty sure it will!!!

plus the cubs pitcher after that play could not get anyone out...

This is called a shift in momentum. Giving a team an extra out usually bites you in the ass!!!

and was there not an error by the shortstop almost right after that?

Yup...still haven't forgiven Gonzalez for that!!!

[WIX]

christ , he knows if he shows a cub fan will shoot him dead on the spot.

[Rhiannon]

Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Ill., at 1 p.m. on July 31

Hey, BJG, wanna do lunch at Potbelly's on Mannheim that day?

[Tito]

I never seen any side view that showed him over the field of play. Even Alou finally exonorated him before this season saying he couldn't have caught the ball.

[Tito]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoumAUfwnI8

[bluejeangirl76]

I never seen any side view that showed him over the field of play. Even Alou finally exonorated him before this season saying he couldn't have caught the ball.

And then he took it back. None of them can get their story straight.

And fuck Bartman. Its years-old news.
The only funny thing to me is that he still gets attention.
Its funny because no one would want attention for THIS.
I bet he keeps his hands to himself at all times now.

[Tito]

I never seen any side view that showed him over the field of play. Even Alou finally exonorated him before this season saying he couldn't have caught the ball.

And then he took it back. None of them can get their story straight.

And fuck Bartman. Its years-old news.
The only funny thing to me is that he still gets attention.
Its funny because no one would want attention for THIS.
I bet he keeps his hands to himself at all times now.

That's what I'm saying. People are still clamoring for him. Cash in now. No one is going to do sh-t to him.

Apparently he didn't learn: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROlUDAMvFuE

[Natalie]

The Cubs can't blame that guy on losing the playoffs that year.

You're right. A side view of the play clearly shows that it was fan interference because Bartfag leaned over into the field of play and the umpire blew the call. But if Barfman hadn't leaned over Alou would've caught the ball so I say we hang both of them.

and maybe alou would not of cought the ball???? in baseball you never know... plus the cubs pitcher after that play could not get anyone out...and was there not an error by the shortstop almost right after that?

Rick

Steve is that you???