Bartman, the Yankees and Don Cherry

October 14th, 2003. The night Steve Bartman's life changed forever. The Cubs fan never knew when he went to his seat that night that he would become a part of Chicago and American sports history forever. With the Cubs leading the National League Championship Series 3-2 and holding a commanding 3-0 lead with  one out in the 8th, Bartman reached for this foul ball giving the Florida Marlins a life---a life that they turned into a Game 6 win and a Game 7 win the next night. Bartman became public enemy number one amongst Cub fans like me.

Thursday night, the ESPN 30 for 30 documentaries continued on TSN with "Catching Hell"--the Steve Bartman story. What a great two hours of TV. Footage of what happened around Wrigley when the incident happened and what happened afterwards, comments from those who were around him and the security staff that ushered him out of Wrigley Field. Bartman's life has not gotten back to normal---it never will. He has basically disappeared. He doesn't wish to speak about what happened this many years later and while he loves the Cubs, he has never been back. He won't even use a credit card because people will recognize him.

Its hypocritical of me to say this, but I still blame Bartman. He lit the match to the fire that happened. Yes, Cubs shortstop Alex Gonzalez deserves the blame for botching a tailor-made double play ball that would have ended the inning, but he gets off scott-free with  all the blame going Bartmans way. Who's kidding who, I would love to say something snide to Bartman if I had the chance, but I also know that when I go to Wrigley Field, the first thing I want to do is go to his seat and reach over the railing to see what it would have been like.

Its also hypocritical because I think of Paul McCallum's miss in the 2005 Western Final and how some Rider fans still hate him for that today. I don't blame McCallum. He never would have been in that position had Kenton Keith not fumbled deep in BC territory in what might have been a game winning drive or if Jackie Mitchell was able to cover Jason Clermont.  McCallum didn't light the match, but he did start the fire. Bartman lit the match, but Gonzalez started the fire.

If you get a chance, watch the show when it airs on TSN or TSN2 again. It will be worth your time.

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The Yankees are done and I couldn't be happier. I'm not the only one thinking that way. I thought Detroit had blown their chance when they lost Game 4, but back to back homers in the first inning was all the Tigers needed and then New York's two most expensive players---CC Sabathia and Alex Rodriguez failed and as a result Detroit plays Texas in the ALCS. Will the Yankees ever learn that money doesn't win championships and that you can't buy a title. The answer is no and this is why I will cackle with glee every time the Yankees lose in the playoffs.

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Roberto Luongo let in some greasy goals in the opener as Vancouver lost to Pittsburgh. Will Canuck fans be calling for Cory Schneider if "The Coov" gets off to a slow start. Luongo has to win over Canuck hockey fans who put some of the blame on him for playoff failures of the past. If Vancouver is suffering from a Stanley Cup hangover, Luongo will have the heat turned up on him big-time.

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James Reimer shuts out the Habs. Are Toronto media calling for Reimer to be the Vezina Trophy winner yet?

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Love  him or hate him, Don Cherry is polarizing and many listen to him on Coach's Corner. After three months off, he went off on Thursday night. You can catch that right here . I don't disagree a lot with what he said when it comes to never seeing hits like Scott Stevens  used to deliver again, but Cherry came off as advocating head shots which is something you just can't do anymore. Cherry doesn't like the way the game looks and said fans shouldn't have to pay 175 dollars to see what transpired in Toronto Thursday night. Where he went over the top though was his personal attack on former thugs like Chris Nilan and Stu Grimson where he went after them for blaming their personal problems on their on-ice thug-like activities. That was low. Nilan and Grimson are both responding on the Fan 590 later today so it will be interesting to hear if they take the high road and what they say. I wonder if the CBC will have anything to say to Cherry. Likely not!

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I thought the Riders got off a little light on Thursday. With a former player (Jeff Fairholm) suggesting they have quit while TSN's Dave Hodge said they have pulled the chute with TSN's Michael Farber saying they have become an embarassment, I thought questions would be asked of that. They weren't. 

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Is it just me or do some people look rough when they are on HD? There is one national sports reporter that fits in that category.

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Thank goodness Access has a free preview of Centre Ice so I could see the banner raising ceremony in Boston. I thought that game would be on free TV but it wasn't. Is TSN not allowed to show a game when Hockey Night in Canada is? I'm guessing the answer is yes.

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Speaking of ESPN, LP reporter (and all around good guy) Will Chabun asks the following question on his Facebook account. Would you welcome ESPN to Canada if it meant TSN went broke? First off, that will never happen, but I do believe there is room in Canadian households for both ESPN and TSN. While TSN does pick up a lot of ESPN programming with Sportsnet and the Score also picking up games, there is no reason why the American sports giant can't come into our homes. I'd like to get Versus too for that matter.

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The Pats are home to Lethbridge tonight and Prince George tomorrow. The team deserves your support after starting 4-1 and getting ranked 4th in the latest CHL rankings. This early season success proves Chad Lang's game-plan is working and Pat Conacher's message has gotten through. I'm not saying this team is going to finish first in the East or win a league title, but they are a lot better than what many of us thought so go out and support them.

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I realize the world of media is changing, but I still think its dumb that newspaper and radio reporters have to carry around video cameras these days. I'm not the only one who thinks that and some of those who agree are media people.

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ESPN couldn't keep Hank Williams Junior after what he said could they? Fritzie from "The Dan Patrick Show" had some great mock headlines on this issue.  "Hitler and Misses---Hank swings for the fences" and Hank's comments not a Hitler with ESPN brass.

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If you are headed out this weekend, be safe on the highway wherever you may be.