Death Trap in the Windy City
Sportsbuy.com and the National Sports Collectors Convention have devised a way to get a lot of marketing without ever having to pay a dime.
Infamous Cubs fan Steve Bartman has been offered a cool $25,000 to show up to the National Sports Collectors Convention memorabilia show in suburban Chicago and sign 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.
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 a Web site with the proceeds going to a Chicago-based charity, according to a news release for the 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?
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As a Cardinal fan, I can't wait to see what the Cubs will blame not winning the World Series on this year!
The Cardinals have the best fans in baseball.... ask ESPN. Cardinal fans are respectful of the game and opposing players far more than any other team's fans..... ask ESPN. Cardinal fans bash the Cubs in fun, not in hate. Maybe someday the Cubs will win the World Series (NOT!) and then the Cardinal red we hold over their head will disappear for a while.
I don't Cub bash out of hatred. It is merely out of fun. It is only a matter of time before they do win the Series. I know that. Heck, this may be the year. I just don't want to see it because then it won't be as fun holding all of the Cardinal championships over the head of Cub fans.
I respect your decision to be a Cub fan. There are millions of people who like to root for the underdog.
Bartman.... I'm sure his life has been miserable, but why is he still in Chicago? He should have taken a big money deal and moved to Cancun. He could still watch the Cubs collapse every year on satellite. But I do feel for the guy. Man, I can't imagine having millions of fans instantly turn on me like they did him. I'm surprised the guy isn't in a mental hospital or dead.