Full Court Press

Love the "no personal attacks" caveat.

Roman responds: We would put that in for anybody, including you. Did you watch?

why would anyone need to ask question? he hates reinsdorf and ozzie, and pretty much everything else now that I think of it.

Does this mean you'd like to have a live chat with Julie B.? And no, didn't watch the Cubs. Although I see now that they are about to lose, so I guess I didn't miss much.

Roman responds: No, I meant did you watch Jay's chat?

Jay, there's really no question, Mariotti spews his venom on the Sox' organization everytime he writes an article. It's obvious he hates Reinsdorf & Co. Why don't you spew on the owners of the Cubs, at least Reinsdorf has brought championships to this city! He talks about the radio guys, what about all your cheap shots and bs! Mariotti is joke and I can't believe the Sun Times keeps him on board. Why don't you just write about your beloved Cubs and leave the Sox alone? Why do you hate Reinsdorf??

Roman responds: He did answer that during the chat.

it wuld be hard to chat with Jay without asking him if he was born with such a nasty disposition or if he worked at it so it was best to just stay away.

How did this go Roman? I was at work and couldnt participate. I like Jay, and I'm a Sox fan.

Roman responds: It went pretty well, but it will be better the next time. Unfortunately, there was a technical glitch that prevented us from recording it and keeping it on the site. And I'll give you guys more advanced notice of our next chat.

I want to thank Jay for the brilliant article on Bartman. He hit the nail right on the head. The question I have is this; I'm 56, live in New York, have been an abused and mocked Cub fan since 1960 (my all time hero is Ernie Banks) and want your opinion as to whether or not I'll be alive to see the Cubs win a World's Championship. I have high blood pressure, medication for which I take before watching Cubs games. 1969 took 2 years off my life; 1984 an additional 5 and 2003, 5 years. My father lived to 88, but he wasn't a Cubs fan. Thanks. By the way, I root for you to win each day on Around the Horn. You're much better than the others, especially Woody.

Live Chat BCulz and a Bottle of Rum?

I have a great question for Jay!

Jay, you keep suggesting the Cubs trade Jason Marquis for Coco Crisp. That'd be a great move for the Cubs!

My question is: Does Boston's Theo Epstein have a say in trades his team makes? If the answer to that question is "yes", then I have a follow-up!

Where did you get the idea that a team with control over 6 starters (granted, injury-prone) better than Jason Marquis and two solid swingmen would have any interest in Marquis?

On a side note, do you consider the feasibility of any trades you suggest?

Thanks, and feedback appreciated!

"I want to thank Jay for the brilliant article on Bartman."

I assume you're kidding. First off, it's the CHICAGO MEDIA that somehow created this latest in a series of Cub curses. This just in Gary, it wasn't Bartman's fault they lost!!! The lazy writers and columnists like JM perpetuated yet another myth then since they're too lazy and lame to call out the baseball reasons they lost to begin with. Did Bartman somehow get in the way of the last 5 outs of game 6? Did he bat against Kerry Wood in Game 7?

Roman responds: Wait, was that Jay out there slamming down his glove after the Bartman play? Was the media the reason they had to escort Bartman out of the park? Reminds me of a Chris Rock bit, when he makes fun of people who always make the media look like the bad guys. Like a guy is at the ATM, and he better be careful that the media isn't behind him about to mug him. That damn media. Plus, it's been written a million times that if Gonzalez fields an easy double-play ball, Bartman is just a footnote. It was in all the papers.

I was wrong romo...the media has NOTHING to do with perpetuating this lowest common denominator story. Like none of the print or TV media was at Harry Carey's for the ball zapping. And the media never writes about the zany goat or black cat.
You're right - It was probably written a million times that if Gonzo fields that ball they win...there have also been about 2 million stories about Bartman.
By the way...how did his name get out there? Couldn't have been the media...
Bartman a "footnote"??? You can't be serious about that.

Roman responds: If Gonzalez turns the double-play and the Cubs go on to the World Series, Bartman obviously is a footnote.
And I'm not saying we don't perpetuate these problems, but we weren't the ones who booed Bartman out of the park with security. We did give up his name. I feel bad for the kid.
All I'm saying is it's never just the media. Just like people saying it's the media who gives Rex a hard time, when he's booed mercilessly at Soldier Field and on sports talk radio by fans.
I think fans in general are harsher than the media. Go to a sports bar some day, and see who's screaming at the televisions when someone makes a mistake. Won't be a reporter.
That's not to say we're never a bunch of idiots. For God's sake, all you have to do is remember Richard Jewel.

It's not just Marriotti...the media has created the entire "Bartman is the latest curse" ad nauseum.

I think a column in the trib also referenced Jay using Bartman as a punchline more than a few times. You're right - some meatball fans were screaming for his head. The same meatball fans who would have done the same thing and tried to catch the ball.

Agree...just takes us original South-siders awhile to agree with people.

Someone should open up a bar in Wrigley called

"Curses"

??

Roman sez: "That's not to say we're never a bunch of idiots."

Actually, that's an illusion created by Jay Mariotti.

He's an entire bunch of idiots, all by himself.

It's as though he were in a house of mirrors at a carnival. It only appears as though there's more than one of him.

Mercifully ... there isn't.

Roman, do you ever read the Trib? Rick Morissey pointed out today that Mariotti "has mentioned Bartman in 107 columns since Game 6 on Oct. 14, 2003.....that averages out to a mention of Bartman once every two weeks for 4-1/2 years."

That's a little excessive, don't you think? Obviously you're right when you say the media didn't boo the poor guy out of the park, but they are the ones who have kept this ridiculous story alive all this time. And personally, I think this whole Bartman thing is exactly what the media loves, including Rick Morissey. He's also still writing columns about the poor guy, albeit calling for a mass apology, but still using it to his advantage. The fans read the papers, so it is up to you guys to once and for all quit publishing his name over and over again. He's not a criminal or a politician or an athlete or anyone worth mentioning in that many columns for an innocent mistake.

Roman responds: Good post. Who wrote it?

No Jay bashing allowed, huh?

I'm loving the censorship here, especially as it pertains to posts that are neither vulgar nor inaccurate.

Keep up the good work.

Roman responds: Take it easy. I thought Ricky had posted it.

Jay, why do you go through such lengths to prove that you are not a 'homer'?? Couldn't you just once on ATH, sit back and say "that's my Bears."???
Why don't you ever speak of Nascar on ATH, yet love to talk about golf...and why we are on the topic of fat 'athletes', why
even talk about the Tigers? Couldn't someone besides Mr. Cowlishaw
spark a Nascar conversation?
Oh......and please tell Mr. Modrowski, that why we all respect his choices of entertainment, his blog is not the proper place to talk about UFC. Thanks, and have a good day.

Hey where's my comment from last night? It's better than Stuck's....

'Curses' A New Wrigleyville Pub Coming Soon!

I was getting worried, that Roman and Ricky were busily planning to launch my new Cubs bar without me.

I am in for at least a third!!!

My first ever "good post" and I forgot to put my name on it! Told ya it was better than Stuck's.

I don't see where anyone referred to my post as 'better'. Someone is a bit paranoid....or jealous. Bculz...what r you doing here?....a thread in another topic is about to get racial.