Return to Transcripts main page
Live From...
Cubs Fans to Destroy Famous Foul Ball
Aired February 26, 2004 - 13:16 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.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: They couldn't get Bilsiances's (ph) goat, but in just a few hours, Chicago Cubs' fans hope to do away with their latest demon, or jinx, or curse, whatever you want to call it, long before the first pitch on opening day. We get the warm-up from Julien Cruz of our CNN Chicago affiliate, WGN.
Julien, this is the day about exorcising demons, right?
JULIEN CREWS, WGN: That's what we're hoping for here in Chicago. As practically the entire free world knows by now, this ball is set to be exploded in a controlled and pressurized explosion this evening about 7:31 p.m. Central Time, right here at Harry Caray's restaurant.
Of course, this is the infamous game six ball, the ball that some folks around the country have called the Bartman ball, after Steven Bartman, the Cubs' fan who was at Wrigley Field, and he reached out and tried to grab that baseball, and of course, you know, he's had a difficult time. Steve Bartman has not talked to reporters. You know, he felt like people were blaming him for what happened. But folks here at Harry Caray's are actually having pro-Bartman rallies in support of him. You know, people say anybody would have reached out for that ball, it's not his fault, the Cubs' debacle that followed was due to a bunch of miscues. And people here in Chicago, for the most part, don't seem to be blaming him for what happened.
But this ball is set to be exploded. Folks are really, really excited about this. Here in Chicago, and across the world, there are reporters here from all around the world. And this explosion will be broadcast live.
Now, Gil Rivera is a very talented Harry Caray impersonator. And, Gill, how do you feel about all of this?
GIL RIVERA, HARRY CARAY IMPERSONATOR: Hi, Julien. Hello, everybody.
You know, today, I had a young man come up to me, he said, hey, Harry, what's the deal with this curse, and this ball, and this Stevie Batman guy? And I said, let me tell you something, you punk. And there's no such thing. And the ball's going to be dead in a couple hours, and just leave little Batman alone. He's a fine young man and a good hitter. You know, This is all about having fun today and raising money for charity. All right. That's all I got to say, Julien.
CREWS: Gil, thank you for talking to us. But, Miles, as you can see, people are really jazzed about this, and folks in Chicago are joking around and they are calling this ball the dead ball walking. It only has hours to live.
O'BRIEN: That was quite an impersonation. And please pass along our kudos to him. But was there ever any talk about sacrificing a goat?
CREWS: The goat, you know, the goat is -- that's a sore point with a lot of people. The goat is still alive and well. The owners of that goat, they say that they purged the curse from the goat, the goat has nothing to do with the curse according to Sam Cyanus (ph) at Billy Goat's tavern.
O'BRIEN: All right, I want to you to sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" as we head off the sunset. Julien Crews, enjoy the sights tonight as they explode the ball for all the world to see, and hopefully, this will do it for the Cubbies. Take care.
CREWS: Thank you for having me.
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 February 26, 2004 - 13:16 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: They couldn't get Bilsiances's (ph) goat, but in just a few hours, Chicago Cubs' fans hope to do away with their latest demon, or jinx, or curse, whatever you want to call it, long before the first pitch on opening day. We get the warm-up from Julien Cruz of our CNN Chicago affiliate, WGN.
Julien, this is the day about exorcising demons, right?
JULIEN CREWS, WGN: That's what we're hoping for here in Chicago. As practically the entire free world knows by now, this ball is set to be exploded in a controlled and pressurized explosion this evening about 7:31 p.m. Central Time, right here at Harry Caray's restaurant.
Of course, this is the infamous game six ball, the ball that some folks around the country have called the Bartman ball, after Steven Bartman, the Cubs' fan who was at Wrigley Field, and he reached out and tried to grab that baseball, and of course, you know, he's had a difficult time. Steve Bartman has not talked to reporters. You know, he felt like people were blaming him for what happened. But folks here at Harry Caray's are actually having pro-Bartman rallies in support of him. You know, people say anybody would have reached out for that ball, it's not his fault, the Cubs' debacle that followed was due to a bunch of miscues. And people here in Chicago, for the most part, don't seem to be blaming him for what happened.
But this ball is set to be exploded. Folks are really, really excited about this. Here in Chicago, and across the world, there are reporters here from all around the world. And this explosion will be broadcast live.
Now, Gil Rivera is a very talented Harry Caray impersonator. And, Gill, how do you feel about all of this?
GIL RIVERA, HARRY CARAY IMPERSONATOR: Hi, Julien. Hello, everybody.
You know, today, I had a young man come up to me, he said, hey, Harry, what's the deal with this curse, and this ball, and this Stevie Batman guy? And I said, let me tell you something, you punk. And there's no such thing. And the ball's going to be dead in a couple hours, and just leave little Batman alone. He's a fine young man and a good hitter. You know, This is all about having fun today and raising money for charity. All right. That's all I got to say, Julien.
CREWS: Gil, thank you for talking to us. But, Miles, as you can see, people are really jazzed about this, and folks in Chicago are joking around and they are calling this ball the dead ball walking. It only has hours to live.
O'BRIEN: That was quite an impersonation. And please pass along our kudos to him. But was there ever any talk about sacrificing a goat?
CREWS: The goat, you know, the goat is -- that's a sore point with a lot of people. The goat is still alive and well. The owners of that goat, they say that they purged the curse from the goat, the goat has nothing to do with the curse according to Sam Cyanus (ph) at Billy Goat's tavern.
O'BRIEN: All right, I want to you to sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" as we head off the sunset. Julien Crews, enjoy the sights tonight as they explode the ball for all the world to see, and hopefully, this will do it for the Cubbies. Take care.
CREWS: Thank you for having me.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
