ESPN to do a documentary on Bartman

**hurdleisu24** · 08-01-2009, 10:55 AM

Seriously Espn that kinda seems like a waste of money.

Steve Bartman, an accidental icon of Chicago Cubs futility, is getting thrust into the spotlight once more.
ESPN announced Wednesday that it has commissioned a one-hour documentary on Bartman, the Cubs fan whose attempt to catch a foul ball late in Game 6 of the 2003 National League Championship series was cast as some kind of catalyst in the long-hamstrung team's eventual collapse that year.
The revisiting of the Bartman incident and a look at its ugly legacy by Alex Gibney, writer-director of the Oscar-nominated "Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room" and the Academy Award-winning "Taxi to the Dark Side," will be part of ESPN's "30 for 30" series.
According to ESPN, Gibney will attempt to answer the question: Can Bartman ever forgive Chicago?

"30 for 30" has the cable sports network presenting 30 documentaries from various filmmakers, each covering a different topic from the past 30 years, to mark ESPN's 30th anniversary. The first is set to debut in early October, with the last scheduled for late next year.
The project is the brainchild of the estimable Bill Simmons, ESPN.com's The Sports Guy.

**SeattleClone** · 08-01-2009, 11:00 AM

Sweet.

**TarHeelHawk** · 08-01-2009, 11:20 AM

What a waste of time. I guess having one of their reporters stalk him for 2 years wasn't enough?

**cyfanatic** · 08-01-2009, 11:28 AM

Any idea of Bill Simmon's is worth taking a look at...he is very smart and very funny!

**eclone** · 08-01-2009, 11:53 AM

This whole 30for30 series is getting outstanding reviews. They got a bunch of famous documentarians and filmmakers and let them pick their own stories from the last 30 year (since ESPN's been around) and basically gave them carte blanche to make something good. How Simmons convinced the suits to keep their hands out of the creative process I don't know, but he seems to have succeeded.

Their webpage has a list of filmmakers and subjects... ESPN - ESPN Films - ESPN

**isuno1fan** · 08-01-2009, 12:24 PM

Not worth the effort

**superdorf** · 08-01-2009, 12:26 PM

I think they are asking the right question... Can HE forgive Chicago... Not the other way around.

I would love to see the day that Steve Bartman sings the 7th inning stretch at Wrigley field.

**AIT** · 08-01-2009, 12:28 PM

Originally Posted by hurdleisu24

According to ESPN, Gibney will attempt to answer the question: Can Bartman ever forgive Chicago?

I wasn't aware that question even needed answering. In fact, I'm pretty sure ESPN answered that question four years ago.

ESPN.com - E-Ticket: Searching for Bartman

It sounds like Bartman is just a Cubs fan who wants to get on with his life. I don't think any (serious) fans actually blame him for the Cubs losing.

**Bobber** · 08-01-2009, 12:33 PM

That was just a bad deal. It really was a game changing momement, but the Cubs did a fine job of ******* down their leg the rest of that series on their own. It would have been nice if Bartman would have not reached out, but it was an instinct thing. I probably would have done the same thing.

**CrossCyed** · 08-01-2009, 12:36 PM

When will they do a documentary on Alex Gonzalez' inability to field a ground ball?

**superdorf** · 08-01-2009, 12:42 PM

Originally Posted by CrossCyed

When will they do a documentary on Alex Gonzalez' inability to field a ground ball?

Yes. Good question.

**burn587** · 08-01-2009, 01:29 PM

It'll be an intriguing documentary to watch, especially if that article is any indication of what's to come. Something about watching a trainwreck like that is completely attention grabbing.