Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1   Report Post  
Sandman
 
Posts: n/a
Default "Holy Cow!"

Chicago Eatery to Destroy Infamous Ball
By BENNIE M. CURRIE Associated Press Writer
published 10:06 PM - DECEMBER 19, 2003 Eastern Time

Here's one way to try to end the Cubs' curse: Destroy the ball that was in
the middle of one of the team's most heartbreaking defeats.

That's exactly what Grant DePorter wants to do.

DePorter, a friend of Harry Caray and managing partner of the late
broadcasters' area restaurants, paid $106,600 at auction Friday for the foul
ball that disrupted the Cubs' possible run to the World Series.

"We want to create some closure to the way the season ended," DePorter said.

The ball is to be destroyed in an act of exorcism. It is earmarked for death
on Feb. 26, when the restaurant organizes a worldwide toast to Caray.

DePorter plans to ask fans for ideas on how best to banish the ball.

"Harry Caray was a true Cubs fan, and we think he'd want us to do whatever
we can to make it easier for fans to put this thing behind us," he said.

Cubs fan Steve Bartman deflected the ball in Game 6 of the National League
championship series on Oct. 14. The ball appeared headed for the glove of
Cubs outfielder Moises Alou, but he was unable to catch it after it
ricocheted off Bartman's hand.

The Florida Marlins rallied to win the game, and the Cubs then lost Game 7
and their chance to reach their first World Series since 1945.

DePorter wants to make sure that if Cubs fans can't control the fate of
their season they can at least control the fate of this ball.

"We weren't about to let it get into the hands of a Marlins fan," he said.

The auction was handled by MastroNet Inc. of suburban Oak Brook.
Thirty-seven bids had been made on the ball by the time the auction closed
about 4 a.m.

MastroNet said the seller was a 33-year-old Chicago attorney identified only
as Jim. According to the company, he was sitting near Bartman and picked up
the ball when it bounced his way.

The ball was authenticated using affidavits, ticket stubs and other
information, MastroNet said.

DePorter said he was pleased his bid surpassed that for the ball that
skipped through Bill Buckner's legs in the 1986 World Series, helping the
New York Mets beat the Boston Red Sox. Actor Charlie Sheen paid $93,500 for
that ball in a 1992 auction, and author Seth Swirsky bid $63,945 to acquire
it in 2000.

"The Cubs fans' sorrow is worth more than the Red Sox fans' sorrow,"
DePorter said.

DePorter said Bartman will be invited to attend the event when the ball is
destroyed.

Messages left Friday by The Associated Press with Bartman and his spokesman
were not immediately returned.

He has sought to avoid the limelight since issuing a statement shortly after
the fateful game, saying he was "truly sorry from the bottom of this Cubs
fan's broken heart."



Reply
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules

Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Not happy with the bass in my trunk. Help? Doug Car Audio 86 August 3rd 04 04:23 PM
Line-in head unit Ross Vandegrift Car Audio 0 October 12th 03 05:57 PM
George's holy war Lionel Audio Opinions 6 September 15th 03 01:05 AM


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 10:44 AM.

Powered by: vBulletin
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©2004-2024 AudioBanter.com.
The comments are property of their posters.
 

About Us

"It's about Audio and hi-fi"