Bartman remains foul topic

Chicago Cubs fans have a long memory, which they need to recall the last time the team won a World Series or even played in one.

Rubbing salt into a still-festering wound, ESPN has announced plans for a documentary on Cubs fan-turned-scapegoat Steve Bartman.

Bartman notoriously tried to catch a foul ball during the 2003 National League Championship Series against the Florida Marlins, interfering with Cubs outfielder Moises Alou's attempt to catch the fly with Chicago just five outs from reaching the World Series for the first time since 1938 1945.

Florida scored eight times in the inning, going on to win the game, the NLCS and the World Series.

ESPN's proposed documentary title: "Can Steve Bartman ever forgive Chicago?"

Derrek Lee, who was part of the Marlins' rally and now plays for the Cubs, said Bartman has been absolved by most knowledgeable fans and a documentary would only make things worse for him.

"It's a nonissue. It didn't change the game, no matter what anyone says," Lee said. "He did what any fan would've done, and there were five other people trying to do the same thing. He just happened to get his hand on it. At the time, we saw Moises get upset, but it's a play that happens quite a bit.

"Now let it go."

Cubs third baseman Aramis Ramirez has let Bartman off the hook, too.

"(Alou) had a chance to make that play, but the ball was in the stands," Ramirez said. "Otherwise, they would've called the batter out (for fan interference). After that, (Alex) Gonzalez made an error and they scored five more runs, so it wasn't Bartman's fault. We just didn't get it done."

Still, Cubs fans aren't likely to forget about Bartman anytime soon. After all, this is a city that continues to blame a cow for starting the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.

• VOTE FOR LOU -- Great news for college football fans: Former Notre Dame football coach Lou Holtz might run for Congress in Florida.

A Republican strategist, who requested anonymity, said Tuesday that Holtz could decide in the next several weeks whether to run for a central Florida congressional seat held by a Democrat.

Holtz, 72, has never run for office, but a shift to politics at least will keep him away from being a college football analyst for ESPN.

His bias for Notre Dame -- which he led to the 1988 national title -- will have to be subdued in the land of Gators and Seminoles.

• SHOTS WITHOUT NEEDLES -- The head of a Russian soccer fan club strongly suggests followers of its national team take precautions when heading to Wales for next month's World Cup qualifier.

The fear is swine flu, but he thinks the malady can be warded off with shots -- not of vaccine but whiskey.

"Welsh whiskey is on offer to Russian supporters as a disinfectant," said Alexander Shprygin, head of the national team's fan club. "This will relieve any symptoms."

COMPILED BY JEFF WOLF LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL