Alou changes Bartman story

Posted: Wednesday April 02, 2008 07:34AM ET

After whipping down his glove like Tanner Boyle in "Bad News Bears'' and claiming he had an "almost 100 percent'' shot to catch the most notorious foul ball in baseball history, Moises Alou is coming clean. Four and a half bitter years have passed. Steve Bartman's life is in shambles. Mark Prior is pitching in San Diego, Dusty Baker is managing in Cincinnati, Alex Gonzalez is enjoying retirement and Kerry Wood is an unpopular closer trying to avoid his 12th disabled-list trip. And suddenly, perhaps stricken by Bartman-related guilt, Alou has decided to alter his view on what really happened that surreal October night in 2003. "Everywhere I play, even now, people still yell, 'Bartman! Bartman!' I feel really bad for the kid," he told Associated Press columnist Jim Litke, who ran into Alou at a Macy's department store in New York. "You know what the funny thing is?" he continued, perhaps as he passed the leather glove department. "I wouldn't have caught it, anyway.''

Chicago Sun Times

Steve Bartman, Moises Alou, Elsa/Getty Images

Steve Bartman, Moises Alou, Elsa/Getty Images

Buzz Meter

It's Hot!

Rank: 8

It's Not!

Bartman should have NEVER been blamed for anything. It was a foul ball. It wasn't Bartman who booted that double play in the same inning. Leave the kid alone.

Report Offensive Comment

All this time Alou let the guy's life fall apart without saying a thing. What a creep.

Report Offensive Comment

" wouldn't have caught it, anyway."

So why the hell did he wait all this time to say that? And why'd he jump like a little school girl when he couldn't catch it? Doofus.

Report Offensive Comment

Yeah, it is really a shame what happened to this guy. If Alou or anyone on that team would have stepped up and said that it was no big deal, this guy could have had a life. Instead he had to remain in hiding for the last 5 years. The cubs were SO at fault for this whole mess.

Report Offensive Comment

Judging by that picture, he would've had more than a good chance of catching it. Maybe what he menat to say was, "I wasn't going to pull a Jeter or Wright and scale the wall."

Report Offensive Comment

Judging by that picture, he would've had more than a good chance of catching it. Maybe what he menat to say was, "I wasn't going to pull a Jeter or Wright and scale the wall."

sacked92 | 04/02/08, 08:16 AM

When did Wright scale a wall?

Report Offensive Comment

When did Wright scale a wall?
Hi, I'm Troy McClure | 04/02/08, 08:20 AM

For that matter....when did Jeter??

Report Offensive Comment

When did Wright scale a wall?
Hi, I'm Troy McClure | 04/02/08, 08:20 AM

For that matter....when did Jeter??

Field Marshall Sunny Day | 04/02/08, 08:29 AM

I can kind of give him Jeter because he ran over that wall into the crowd. But when did Wright do anything remotely like that? Wright is quite overrated.

Report Offensive Comment

Any fan who would attempt to get involved like Bartman did is a complete moron - BUT - shouldn't Alou have come out with this ""I wouldn't have caught it, anyway" a little sooner in fairness to the guy? Geez. Classic Chicago Cub fodder here...

Report Offensive Comment

I can kind of give him Jeter because he ran over that wall into the crowd. But when did Wright do anything remotely like that? Wright is quite overrated.
Hi, I'm Troy McClure | 04/02/08, 08:32 AM

Your right. As is Jeter.

Report Offensive Comment

if I were Bartman I would say, Alou should have been able to catch that ball. but he and his team wrecked the series after that play. DO IT this year Cubbies.

Report Offensive Comment

Wright is quite overrated.
Hi, I'm Troy McClure | 04/02/08, 08:32 AM

Please elaborate, I'd love to hear this....

Report Offensive Comment

Aren't Cubs FANS as much to blame as Alou? If I'm not mistaken, there were threats made against the guy and he ended up leaving Chicago. They made his life a living hell as much as Alou's silence.

Report Offensive Comment

Bartman is about 20 minutes away from climbing the church tower with a deer rifle.

Report Offensive Comment

Any fan who would attempt to get involved like Bartman did is a complete moron - BUT - shouldn't Alou have come out with this ""I wouldn't have caught it, anyway" a little sooner in fairness to the guy? Geez. Classic Chicago Cub fodder here...

EastCoastKeith | 04/02/08, 08:35 AM

Bartman didn't do anything wrong. The ball was IN THE STANDS. Any other fan would have done the same thing.

Report Offensive Comment

Your right. As is Jeter.

Field Marshall Sunny Day | 04/02/08, 08:35 A

No arguments here.

Report Offensive Comment

Look at the photo, looks pretty catchable to me. I think Alou just feels bad for this guy

Report Offensive Comment

On the flip side, I'd like to see someone make a barehanded catch like Wright did.

Report Offensive Comment

Please elaborate, I'd love to hear this....

METS4LIFE | 04/02/08, 08:39 AM

I can elaborate by saying, he is a very good player, but the simple fact that he plays in NY makes him over rated. Look at Derek Jeter. He is an average player, but playing in NYC, people make him out to be the best ever or something. Wright is good, but he isn't as good as the media portrays him to be. Any knowledgable fan knows that. If he was in Kansas City, NO ONE would care about him. Therefore, over rated.

Report Offensive Comment
 

On the flip side, I'd like to see someone make a barehanded catch like Wright did.

Field Marshall Sunny Day | 04/02/08, 08:49 AM

Don't get me wrong, he is a great player, but a bit over exposed because of where he plays.

Report Offensive Comment

Add a comment

Remember to keep it clean. Bad words will get filtered, and offensive comments will be removed. More Guidelines


or cancel
Dan Patrick Weekly Challenge

Sign in or create an account to see Truth&Rumors about your favorite teams.

More Truth&Rumors