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American Morning
Cubs So Close, Yet So Very Far
Aired October 16, 2003 - 07:26 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Oh, they were so close, and still so very far today. Fans of the Cubs familiar with that phrase wait till next year now. It's just a whole lot more painful this time around. Last night, the Florida Marlins really played great baseball yet again. An amazing comeback to win the pennant in the National League. It keeps the Cubs away from the World Series for 58 years running now.
The unintended help from the fan in Cub -- in game six, rather, Cub fans, the long suffering theme continues, snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.
Dan Bernstein a Chicago talk show host with Sports Radio 760. That's the score of the station in Chicago.
How is the mood today in the now winded city this morning, Dan?
DAN BERNSTEIN, SPORTS RADIO 670: As you can imagine, as the city is waking up, there is the same romanticization going on of this long history that has been so romanticized over the years that it's the curse and it's the legacy. And really there were a lot of bad plays made and there were some bad decisions made. And the city is dealing with the questions, do they lose because of their history or is the losing just adding to the history?
I tend to believe it's the latter. But it's going to take a day, I think, for fans to really sort out how they feel, other than just in the dumps.
HEMMER: Do you think it's out and out depression on this matter? Do you think they're resigned to the fact that it's 58 years and counting and, heck, they're going to have to wait another year for one more shot? BERNSTEIN: Well, the waiting another year is sort of a different question than being resigned to the fate of a Cub fan. And that was something that was being asked had the Cubs gone to the World Series, had they won the World Series, how do the Cubs sell the Cubs, because they're so intertwined. The losing, the disappointment so endemic to the supposed character building of being a Cub fan.
I think what could happen is some of the newcomers, like what they call bandwagon jumpers, do get their first full sort of shot to the solar plexus to teach them what it's been like for people who have been rooting for this team for many, many years.
HEMMER: Yes, and that's a heck of a shot, too. So few excuses, though, when you're up three games to one in a series like this. I understand yesterday every local TV station was in the front yard of this fellow by the name of Steve Bartman. He was the fan who interfered, some say, in game six.
He released a statement. I'll share it with our viewers now. "I'm so truly sorry from the bottom of this Cub fan's broken heart. I ask that Cub fans everywhere redirect the negative energy that's been vented toward my family, my friends and myself into the usual positive support for our beloved team."
That's from Steve Bartman.
What's the reaction now, two days after we saw this two days ago? BERNSTEIN: My reaction is I feel terrible for that kid. I just feel absolutely awful. Nobody should be subjected to what he was subjected to after that occurred. Fans should be pointing the finger in other places rather than that fan. I think Dusty Baker's decision, Sammy Sosa missing a cutoff man, Alex Gonzalez dropping the ball after that -- what that guys has had to endure is really a shame. And the best reason to root for Kerry Wood and the Cubs last night was that people would get off that poor guy's back.
HEMMER: The Marlins are a pretty good team, aren't they? Oh, yes. BERNSTEIN: The Marlins are a terrific team.
HEMMER: I'll tell you what... BERNSTEIN: They're a terrific team.
HEMMER: Yes. Dan, listen... BERNSTEIN: I think that the fact...
HEMMER: We're out of time and I apologize about the interruption here. A slight delay there.
But good luck to the town getting over this hangover.
Dan Bernstein is from 670 The Score, sports radio there in Chicago.
Thanks, Dan. BERNSTEIN: Thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired October 16, 2003 - 07:26 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Oh, they were so close, and still so very far today. Fans of the Cubs familiar with that phrase wait till next year now. It's just a whole lot more painful this time around. Last night, the Florida Marlins really played great baseball yet again. An amazing comeback to win the pennant in the National League. It keeps the Cubs away from the World Series for 58 years running now.
The unintended help from the fan in Cub -- in game six, rather, Cub fans, the long suffering theme continues, snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.
Dan Bernstein a Chicago talk show host with Sports Radio 760. That's the score of the station in Chicago.
How is the mood today in the now winded city this morning, Dan?
DAN BERNSTEIN, SPORTS RADIO 670: As you can imagine, as the city is waking up, there is the same romanticization going on of this long history that has been so romanticized over the years that it's the curse and it's the legacy. And really there were a lot of bad plays made and there were some bad decisions made. And the city is dealing with the questions, do they lose because of their history or is the losing just adding to the history?
I tend to believe it's the latter. But it's going to take a day, I think, for fans to really sort out how they feel, other than just in the dumps.
HEMMER: Do you think it's out and out depression on this matter? Do you think they're resigned to the fact that it's 58 years and counting and, heck, they're going to have to wait another year for one more shot? BERNSTEIN: Well, the waiting another year is sort of a different question than being resigned to the fate of a Cub fan. And that was something that was being asked had the Cubs gone to the World Series, had they won the World Series, how do the Cubs sell the Cubs, because they're so intertwined. The losing, the disappointment so endemic to the supposed character building of being a Cub fan.
I think what could happen is some of the newcomers, like what they call bandwagon jumpers, do get their first full sort of shot to the solar plexus to teach them what it's been like for people who have been rooting for this team for many, many years.
HEMMER: Yes, and that's a heck of a shot, too. So few excuses, though, when you're up three games to one in a series like this. I understand yesterday every local TV station was in the front yard of this fellow by the name of Steve Bartman. He was the fan who interfered, some say, in game six.
He released a statement. I'll share it with our viewers now. "I'm so truly sorry from the bottom of this Cub fan's broken heart. I ask that Cub fans everywhere redirect the negative energy that's been vented toward my family, my friends and myself into the usual positive support for our beloved team."
That's from Steve Bartman.
What's the reaction now, two days after we saw this two days ago? BERNSTEIN: My reaction is I feel terrible for that kid. I just feel absolutely awful. Nobody should be subjected to what he was subjected to after that occurred. Fans should be pointing the finger in other places rather than that fan. I think Dusty Baker's decision, Sammy Sosa missing a cutoff man, Alex Gonzalez dropping the ball after that -- what that guys has had to endure is really a shame. And the best reason to root for Kerry Wood and the Cubs last night was that people would get off that poor guy's back.
HEMMER: The Marlins are a pretty good team, aren't they? Oh, yes. BERNSTEIN: The Marlins are a terrific team.
HEMMER: I'll tell you what... BERNSTEIN: They're a terrific team.
HEMMER: Yes. Dan, listen... BERNSTEIN: I think that the fact...
HEMMER: We're out of time and I apologize about the interruption here. A slight delay there.
But good luck to the town getting over this hangover.
Dan Bernstein is from 670 The Score, sports radio there in Chicago.
Thanks, Dan. BERNSTEIN: Thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
