Any Cubs fans out there?

[Brian]

I received my free

bottle of NPA today. Thanks a million Bruce! Even with freebies, your customer service is excellent.

[img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] It took only 3 days!

Brian

[Bruce]

You\'re

welcome.
My motto has always been \"no sense waiting around to take care of something\" Just increases your

chances of forgetting to do it or screwing it up.

B

[oscar]

Bruce,

Sox prez

Lucchino (Skywalker) characterized the Yanks as \"The Evil Empire\" as the result of their questionable player

acquisition policies. I especially liked the SI parody where they likened Steinbrenner to Jabba the Hut calling him

something like \"Grabba the

Buck\".

http://www.bostondirtdogs.com/2003/

Star_Wars_12.28.02.htm

O [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[Bruce]

</font><blockquote><font class=\"small\">Quote:</font><hr />
Bruce,

Sox prez Lucchino (Skywalker)

characterized the Yanks as \"The Evil Empire\" as the result of their questionable player acquisition policies. I

especially liked the SI parody where they likened Steinbrenner to Jabba the Hut calling him something like \"Grabba

the

Buck\".

http://www.bostondirtdogs.com/2

003/Star_Wars_12.28.02.htm

O [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

<hr

/></blockquote><font class=\"post\">

Bingo! And we have another winner. Email me your prefered item and

mailing address.

You know, they pulled a nasty on my beloved Mariners during the midseason trading, and it

just dawned on me that it could have been intentional just to dispose of the team that was predicted to go to the

world series.

Bruce

[franki]

The only games I

will able to watch are those on Tuesday and Wednesday (game 6 and 7), so let\'s hope they\'re still playing by

then.. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

[Brian]

I remember it well.

There is no love loss between Red Sox, and Yankee ownership. They did a star wars thing as an intro to last nights

game.

The Yankees are a big market team.(The Biggest) The Red Sox are the 3rd largest market team and they

can\'t compete against Stienbrenner\'s money. How can a small market team, such as the Twins, compete against

these guys. That\'s why the Yankees, are who they are. If they want someone, they get them, because no one else

can compete.

I expect the sox to take the first 2 at Fenway. They have one of the best home records in baseball

this season. They lost just 28 times at home. The Yankees will definitely have problems beating the sox at Fenway.

[img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Brian

[Bruce]

Go Sox!
B

[Bruce]

That one was waay too

close for comfort. The Marlins are used to winning nail biters; the Cubs are not. The Marlins were previously 8

and 0 in extra inning games. The cubs were 0 and 66 in games that they were losing at the 8th inning. Both strings

broken in last nights 5-4 llth inning Cubs win. Now even if the Marlins win both of their remaining home games, the

Cubs will be able to pitch their 2 aces for the last two games in Wrigly Field. If the Cubs can take either of the

next two games, that should put it on ice. Tonight will be the toughest with the \"D Train\" on the mound for the

Marlins. He is much loved by fans. I\'m looking forward to seeing him pitch myself.

Sox should have fun in

Fenway today. Pedro against Clemmens. No love lost in Fenway for Roger I don\'t imagine with his various

remarks. He is going to feel pretty lonely out there on the mound.

Bruce

[Elana]

Go Marlins!!!!!!!!!

[img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[franki]

So, after

yesterday\'s win, the Cubs are now with one leg in the World Series (little dutch expression

[img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif[/img] ).

[img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

[Bruce]

Yes, good news for

the Cubs. They need just one more win to go to the World Series and they could get that today (game starts at 1 PM

Pacific time). So, keep an eye out here freebies fans. We\'ll have a new trivia quiz the moment the Cubs clinch

the NL title (assuming they actually do).

Brian,
Dude! What\'s goin\' on in Fenway? I thought Pedro was

going to blow the doors off Clemmens. I have to admit he did a pretty good job on one of the Yankee coaches

though. Looks like he had some judo lessons or something. You got some pretty nasty fans out there too. I\'m

starting to think we might be better of playing in NY. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Bruce

[Brian]

I agree with you

Bruce. There was no need of what transpired at Fenway on Saturday. There was no reason for Pedro to throw a

Garcia\'s head the way he did. To throw a 72 year old man to the ground is unthinkable. Zimmer may have come after

him, but he should never have reacted the way he did.

It wasn\'t a fan that jumped into the Yankees bullpen!

It was a Fenway Park employee. (Grounds Keeper) I think the fans were the only ones who acted properly.

If I were

Grady Little, I\'d suspend Pedro for the rest of the play offs. There is no excuse for what he did. Keep in mind

however, the Yankees aren\'t exactly innocent here either. They added plenty of fuel to an already burning fire.

The 2 teams have hated each other for many years. Games like yesterdays is not uncommon between the two.

Brian

[Bruce]

Jeff Nelson was one

of the pitchers in the Yankees bullpen I believe. He played for the Mariners most of the season, so I am well aware

of his behavior. He\'s a jerk and I was glad to see him go.

RE temper problems: I was really impressed with

Pudge Rodriquez, the Marlins catcher. Sammy Sosa was fuming about a high and tight pitch, which wasn\'t as bad as

he thought probably anyway, but Pudge showed what a fine human being he is by calming Sosa down. Of course they

have a common language and culture, but most catchers wouldn\'t have bothered I don\'t think. Pudge is a great

guy, always cheering up his team members.

Cubs lost yesterday, by the way. Now they head back to Wrigly with

Prior and Wood to put on the mound. Inconceivable that we would fail to make the series, but I would just as soon

have put it away yesterday. Marlins are famous for coming from behind.

Bruce

[upsidedown]

Ouch! That was a tough

loss for the Cubs fans. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif[/img]

[Elana]

but not for Marlins fans!

[img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

GO MARLINS!!! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[franki]

Wow, 8 runs in the eighth

inning... [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif[/img] How did that happen?

[Bruce]

</font><blockquote><font

class=\"small\">Quote:</font><hr />
Wow, 8 runs in the eighth inning...

[img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif[/img] How did that happen?

<hr /></blockquote><font

class=\"post\">

I don\'t know. Now I am scared. I was following the Cubs like this in 1984 when they faced

the San Diego Padres in the playoffs. The Cubs demolished the Padres in the first 2 games only to watch the Padres

come back to win 3 straight \"must win\" games. (that was a best of 5 series) To make it even more scary, the

Padres had the same manager (now the most aged man ever to manage in the sport) as the Marlins have now.

I feel a

sort of dark shadow hanging over my head as the Cubs have not played in the World Series since 1945, 5 years before

I was born. Ronald Reagan was the radio announcer for the Cubs that year, just to give you an idea how long we are

talking about. I don\'t like to waste my prayers on mundane matters, but I\'m thinking about getting down on

my knees for this one. At least once before I die, I would like to see the Cubs win the world series.

Come on

Cubbies!

It all happens tonight! The 7th and final game of the National league championship. Don\'t miss it.

Freebies will either be on me or Elana. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Love,
Bruce

[Elana]

</font><blockquote><font

class=\"small\">Quote:</font><hr />
Freebies will either be on me or Elana.


<hr /></blockquote><font

class=\"post\">
Yeah...I got some freebies for you boys. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

May the best team win!

[img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[franki]

Gee, I just saw the

video... What a loser, that Cubs fan that prevented Alou from catching the ball. I read he had to be escorted out

by security, or he would have been beaten to death.. [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif[/img]

[Bruce]

</font><blockquote><font

class=\"small\">Quote:</font><hr />
Gee, I just saw the video... What a looser, that Cubs fan that prevented Alou

from catching the ball. I read he had to be escorted out by security, or he would have been beaten to death..

[img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif[/img]

<hr /></blockquote><font class=\"post\">

I felt like that

in the heat of the moment myself, but now I really feel sorry for that poor fan. Everybody is watching the ball,

and there is no time to think about whether the play could have been made or not. Fans always dream of catching a

ball that heads into the stands. It is true that he almost certainly screwed up a sure out, but everybody around

him was reaching for the ball too. You would have to be a very advanced life-form to have the quick-thinking and

discipline to stay out of the way. I don\'t place myself above that poor guy.

Bruce

[Elana]

I hope that his name

isn\'t made public. The poor guy shouldn\'t have to fear for his life over a baseball game.

[Bruce]

</font><blockquote><font

class=\"small\">Quote:</font><hr />
I hope that his name isn\'t made public. The poor guy shouldn\'t have to

fear for his life over a baseball game.

<hr /></blockquote><font class=\"post\">

Well, if the Cubs win

tonight, all will be forgiven. Who knows, maybe he could get spots on a couple of talk shows and become a celeb for

a week or two.

Bruce

[druid]

Ok me and Elana are gonna

get a big basket and fill it with oranges and mangos and send it to this guy.

[img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[Elana]

</font><blockquote><font

class=\"small\">Quote:</font><hr />

Ok me and Elana are gonna get a big basket and fill it with oranges and

mangos and send it to this guy.

<hr /></blockquote><font class=\"post\">

Druid...you are always so

thoughtful. Meet me at Wholefoods MArket in a half hour so we can make up our fruit basket.

[img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[Elana]

Cubs Fan

Who Tried to Grab Foul Ball Issues Apology
Says He Didn\'t See Cubs\' Alou Come Over to Railing
By DON BABWIN,

AP SPORTS


CHICAGO (Oct. 15) -- The fan who played in a key role in the Chicago Cubs\' collapse in Game 6 of

the NL Championship Series apologized Wednesday, saying he was brokenhearted.

Cubs fans -- and Moises Alou -- try

to catch a foul ball in the eighth inning of Game 6.

With the Cubs five outs from advancing to the World Series

for the first time since 1945, Steve Bartman tried to grab a foul ball, preventing outfielder Moises Alou from

catching it. That helped the Florida Marlins rally for an 8-3 victory to tie the NL Championship Series on Tuesday

night.

The Marlins also won Game 7 to advance to the World Series and cement Bartman\'s gaffe as a key moment

in the Cubs\' long, sad history.

\"I had my eyes glued on the approaching ball the entire time and was so

caught up in the moment that I did not even see Moises Alou, much less that he may have had a play,\" Bartman said

in a statement.

\"Had I thought for one second that the ball was playable or had I seen Alou approaching, I

would have done whatever I could to get out of the way and give Alou a chance to make the catch.\"

The

26-year-old Bartman, a youth baseball coach, was escorted by security guards from Wrigley Field after he was

threatened by angry fans and pelted with debris.

A police guard was posted outside the suburban Northbrook home

where he lives with his parents. His brother-in-law -- who read the statement to the media -- said Bartman was

\"hiding somewhere. He just wants to move on and he wants the Cubs to win.\"

Bartman apologized to Cubs fans

and ex-players, including Ron Santo and Ernie Banks.

\"I am so truly sorry from the bottom of this Cubs fan\'s

broken heart,\" he said.

\"I ask that Cub fans everywhere redirect the negative energy that has been vented

towards my family, my friends, and myself into the usual positive support for our beloved team on their way to being

National League champs,\" Bartman said.

His wishes were unanswered. The Marlins won 9-6, leaving Cubs fans

everywhere to ponder what might have been if Bartman hadn\'t gotten in the way.

He became the talk of the town

soon after the Marlins forced the decisive seventh game.

Angry broadcasters castigated him. A local newspaper

found in a Web poll that thousands of people blamed him for playing a role in the Cubs\' loss. Even the governor

weighed in.

\"Nobody can justify any kind of threat to someone who does something stupid like reach for that

ball,\" Gov. Rod Blagojevich said.

In Florida, Gov. Jeb Bush said an offer of asylum to Bartman might be a good

idea, and an oceanfront retreat in Pompano Beach offered him a free three-month stay if he needed to get out of

Chicago.

Earlier in the day, neighbors and other fans had various opinions on whether Bartman should have tried

to catch the ball.

\"If you are a fan who\'s been around for a while, you just know not to interfere with a

player,\" said Don Emond, 66, a longtime season-ticket holder who was at the game. \"I think these fans like that

are sort of selfish or they don\'t really care about the consequences of what happened.\"

Bartman was

described by neighbors as such a big Cubs fan that he traveled to Arizona to see the team in spring training.

In

brief comments to reporters before going inside his home, Bartman\'s father defended his son.

\"I

taught him well,\" Ted Bartman said. \"I taught him to catch foul balls when he comes near them.\"

Don

Kessinger went after countless popups near the stands while playing shortstop for the Cubs in the 1960s and

\'70s.

\"I think he did what 40,000 people would have done,\" said Kessinger, now in the real estate business

in Oxford, Miss.

Even Alou, who was initially furious, seemed to soften later.

\"I kind of feel bad for the

guy now, because every fan in every ballpark, their first reaction is they want a souvenir,\" he said.

\"Nobody\'s going to think about the outcome of the game.\"

[Elana]

GO

MARLINS!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Bruce]

I think I\'m

suffering from post traumatic distress depression itis or something like that. I actually woke up in the middle of

the night and couldn\'t get back to sleep.

I gotta go with the Marlins from here on out though. There are some

really lovable guys on that team: Pudge Rodriquez, the \"D Train\" et al. In the very beginning I watched Pudge

whupping the Giants and thought \"Cool, I just want the Cubs to get past the Braves, then I\'ll be happy with

whoever wins the NLCS.

I\'ll have to say the Cubs sure put out 150%. Dusty was a major boon this year and

some of the great players they picked up recently helpled too. Maybe just put a bull pen together and give it

another shot next year.

I\'m glad to hear the players forgive that fan. That\'s what fans do. I don\'t

think it ever happens differently.

Bruce

[Bruce]

</font><blockquote><font

class=\"small\">Quote:</font><hr />
GO MARLINS!!!!!!!!!!!!

<hr /></blockquote><font

class=\"post\">

Marlins won a big game last night in the 12th. Previously the Yankees had won 11 straight post

season extra inning games. Now 11-1 at the hands of the Marlins.

Go Marlins. We might even have a Marlin trivia

contest if they take the Series, so stay tuned!

Bruce

[franki]

Yeah, I watched the game

last night. Very exciting with lots of drama, the home-run of Cabrera, the last MLB game of Roger Clemmens (with 41

pitches in the 1st inning!! after that he regrouped himself) and of course the closing pitcher for the Marlins

(Looper) who stayed very cool and saved the game for the Marlins.



[img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

[Bruce]

Franki,
You are learning a

lot about baseball, aren\'t you? Is there much interest in the game in Germany? Do you hear that analysis of the

game in German or is it in English?

Bruce