Friday, February 27, 2004

"Bartman Ball" Blown Up

Chicago Cubs fans toasted Harry Caray as the infamous "Bartman Ball" was blown to smithereens. I don't know much about curses as a Yankee fan, but having minored in Psychology, one word comes to mind: displacement.

The Cubs were ahead of the Marlins after Steve Bartman caught the ball. If the players and fans had kept their minds on the game--not on that one play--they might have won and vanquished the curse.

Similarly, if Pedro Martinez had put the Red Sox ahead of himself, or if Grady Little had vetoed Pedro and gone to his excellent bullpen, the Curse of the Bambino might have been silenced. Instead of acting, making things happen, the parties in both cases let the outcome happen to them.

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