I think that everyone that is blaming Bartman for losing the world series is stupid! Yes, he made a dumb mistake, but everyone does do that. The Cubs would have lost regardless of whether the guy caught the ball or not. I am a Cub fan, and yes, it would have been great to see them in the World Series. Don't blame someone else for your mistake though. We all would have done it. Admit it!

I love this guy. He should move to St. Louis, he'll be a hero here.

Didnt Alex Gonzalez make an error a few plays later that really opened the flood gates ?? - How soon that was forgotten and never talked about again ..

I think this guy's problem is the problem with all of us. We often act first without thinking. I don't know that much about baseball but I think it involves analyzing the other teams abilities and the current status of the game, just as one does in chess. If you're on defense and you're the shortstop, you analyze the other player's known abilities and tendancies that are on base as well as the batters abilities and act/react accordingly. Steve Bartman (as well as all fans) should have analyzed whether while the other team is batting should they just reach out for any ball that may affect their team. Any bit of forethought instead of the "me, me, me" that predominates most peoples thinking would have prevented this incident and the Cubs may be World Champions now. Had the situation been reversed then fans should analyze do they want to affect the outcome of the game. Isn't it a form of cheating to take advantage of being at home other than the advantages attributed to cheering and support? The flight and path distribution of hit balls must be very close to random inside of the limits of physics. Should randomness decide game outcomes in this sense or should players ability? I checked OK because Steve Bartman is no worse or better than any of us. It's time for all of us to start thinking before acting. Not just when attending baseball games.

I seriously fell really bad for this guy. If you were there listening to your cd, not really paying much attention(or if he was i dunno) and all of a sudden a baseball was flying towards you would you go for it? i know i would. If u critisize this guy u r a moron with no heart at all. you know you would go for it too soooo don't even anoy this kid. it was a MISTAKE! everyone else around him were trying to get it and he was lucky. it is not his fault the cubs lost the game. i seriousaly wanted the cubs to win (YANKS ALL THE WAY :)) but this is the coaches 1st year and theres plenty more good stuff ahead of this team i see them champs next year. anyway dude you would make the same mistake so shut up and forgive this kid ustupid idiots

My rating means his mistake was bad, not that he's bad. Like most others I have utmost sympathy for the guy, he made a mistake, we all do. He doesn't deserve the infamy, name release, hatred etc... Did he cause the loss in game 6? If you assume that Alou would have caught that ball (Alou says almost 100% sure) there would have been two outs in the 8th with only a man on second. No momentum change, the fans still excited and cheering, the Cubs not distracted, not dealing with men on first and third with only 1 out. Any answer is speculation. My answer is that it's very likely that his unfortunate involvement in that play caused the loss. A 3 run lead in the 8th with 2 outs and momentum on the Cubs side, is a scenario that says very likely the Cubs would win. An absolute sure thing? Definitely not. His name should have never been released. Yes the other fans that tried to do the same are just as guilty but a little luckier because they didn't succeed. How many people in the front row, mostly diehard Cubs fans, would have made the same mistake? Tough tough question. I've seen many plays during the season where fans have done similar. I've seen many where they got out of the way. I would expect fans in the area at such an important game to be helping by yelling get back, leave it alone, put your hands down, he has a play, etc... That ball was in the air for several seconds, enough time for that. Were fans yelling that? I'd love to know. I personally think probably less the half the folks in the front rows would have made the same mistake. FORGIVE THE GUY. HE HAS MORE THAN PAID FOR THE MISTAKE. IF YOU SEE HIM, TRY TO CONSOLE HIM.

He didn't cause that loss. I am a Cubs fan and I screamed at my TV when that incident happened, but that particular play did NOT cause even ONE run in that inning. I agree that he's a bit of a dumbass. But consider: even if he got out of the way of Alou, not only would he have to think in a split second to do so, he'd ALSO have to think quickly enough and prevent all the other fans around him from grabbing at the ball. Bartman could just as easily have sat back, but then the guy sitting next to him would probably have gotten a hand on that ball anyway. The Cubs blew it in that inning and they blew it in game 7 too. Thankfully, it's not the end of the world for the team since most players will return for next season, and this year was Dusty's FIRST season as Cubs manager. They can only improve from here.

I feel REALLY bad for this guy--I mean, seriously, if he didn't catch it, the people next to him would have, it could have been anybody. I can't imagine how horrible this guy must feel, but if it's any consolation to this guy, practically every radio and tv station (with a few exceptions) has been sympathetic to this guy, too.

I have an offer to make to Steve Bartman on behalf of all of us down here in Miami: Since all of Chicago pretty much wants to kill you, I suggest that you leave town and move down here to Miami. We all love you down here for setting in motion our Marlins second visit to the World Series. We'll give you a new house, a new car, and a new life! And if the Marlins win the World Series; then we'll give you a mansion by the beach. It sure beats Chicago doesn't it?

I feel sympathetic to the guy.He was one of several fans reaching for that ball.I imagine his life will be hell for awhile and he will be dubbed a scapegoat by others. I was rooting for the Cubs and was sorry they did not get the chance to go on the to World Series. I have no doubt this poor fellow will have to deal with some who will blame him.I know how cruel people can be and how they love to lash out at others.

This guy rules. Great cheap walkman...complete disregards for the rules....and the ability to single-handedly ruin his favorite teams' future.

Everything Magellan wrote about this incident makes good sense. The Press should not have publicized his name. I have liked the Cubs all my life and wanted very much for them to go to the Series this year at last. But none of us should blame this fan for causing Florida to score EIGHT runs against the Cubs. The Marlins would have won that one anyway.

This poor guy. I can't imagine a worse thing for a die hard fan than accidentally contributing to such a historic loss. By all accounts this is a good kid - a baseball coach for kids, a huge Cubs fan, a student of the game. How many of the rest of those Cubs fans would have reached for the same ball? 80%? 90%? It's so easy to jump on somebody else... I'm glad to see the Cubs players taking the high road. The Cubs organization should allow this kid to throw out the first ball next year - as an apology for the abuse he has suffered, and as an opportunity for Cubs fans to show they are not a lynch mob. Of course, I would plenty of security... just in case.