Steve Bartman: Raising Hell Documentary Only Fuels the Mystery

What does Steve Bartman think about Game 6 of the 2003 NLCS between the Chicago Cubs and the Florida Marlins?

It’s a question that sports fans have been asking for almost eight years now. Unfortunately, ESPN’s documentary Raising Hell could not provide us with the answer.

Created by filmmaker Alex Gibney, the two-hour film did a great job of showing how other fans were right there with Bartman attempting to catch the ball. It reminded us that there were plenty of others scapegoats to point the finger at such as SS Alex Gonzalez.

Yet there was only one guy that everyone blames. From fans, to broadcasters, to even manager Dusty Baker, everyone pinned the blown opportunity to win their first World Series since 1908 on one guy.  

Linda Holmes of npr.org describes the message of the documentary beautifully:

"

Catching Hell is a story about false narratives, the speed with which they develop, and the utter impossibility of turning them around once they've taken hold. That part of the film is what's genuinely frightening.

"

You get a chance to see the replay seemingly 100 times. Each angle provided shows you that more than just one pair of hands were reaching for the ball. Moises Alou, the left fielder trying to make the catch, admitted there were multiple hands impeding his glove.

Doesn’t matter.

That’s why Bartman needs to come forward once and for all. If he doesn’t want to conduct an interview, what about writing a tell-all book?

What was he thinking at the time? Why did his friends abandon him? Do you still root for the Cubs? Are you able to live a peaceful life at this point?

Let him control the message he wants to put out. That way there is no way to misquote or misinterpret anything about the situation.

Too bad that will never happen.

He has declined all media interviews and has essential gone into hiding, despite the potential to cash in on his unfortunate fame. The quiet computer programmer doesn’t want any part of the spotlight.

His silence has only fueled the legend of this story and Catching Hell is nothing more than a reminder of this iconic moment in sports history.

Maybe once the Cubs finally win a World Series Bartman will magically reappear. Until then...everyone is still wondering the same question:

What does Steve Bartman think about Game 6 of the 2003 NLCS between the Chicago Cubs and the Florida Marlins?