As we speak, thousands upon thousands of Chicago Cubs fans are lining the streets in preparation for the team’s long-awaited World Series victory parade, officially putting to end a drought that lasted 108 years.
Steve Bartman will not be among them, however.
Bartman, who infamously reached over the wall and interfered with a foul ball during the National League Championship Series in 2003, will remain tucked away while the city celebrates on Friday, saying through his lawyer that he does not want to be a distraction.
“We don’t intend to crash the parade,” Frank Murtha, a lawyer who has served as Bartman’s spokesman, told USA TODAY Sports on Thursday. “The one thing that Steve and I did talk about was if the Cubs were to win, he did not want to be a distraction to the accomplishments of the players and the organization.”
Although he’ll be watching from the confines of wherever it is he may be at the moment, Murtha did let it be known that Bartman is “overjoyed” with the team’s World Series victory and has enjoyed it as much as any Cubs fan would.
In aftermath of the team’s Game 7 victory over the Cleveland Indians, Cubs fans have taken to social media urging Bartman to reappear and join them in celebration. The vast majority have stated his transgressions have long since been forgiven, which was evident by a GoFundMe page set up prior to the team’s wildcard game aimed at encouraging Bartman to attend.
As he’s done with Friday’s parade, Bartman also declined that olive branch.
Whether or not Bartman ever resurfaces in Chicago remains to be seen, but with the sheer elation being shared by Cubs fans across the world, it’s clear his 2003 snafu is now water under the bridge. Should he want to show his face at Wrigley once again, it would appear he’ll be more than welcomed.
