Steve Bartman is harder to find than a Mafia snitch in the witness relocation program.
Be that as it may, the Dayton Gems, members of the Central Hockey League and based in, conveniently, Dayton, Ohio, will be holding a “Salute to Steve Bartman Night” on Oct. 14 at the whimsically-named Cassano’s Italian Ice at Hara Arena.
The details, from Our Sports Central (via Off the Bench):
In honor of Bartman, and his infamous foul ball grab which arguably set off the biggest professional sports controversy in the past decade, the Dayton Gems will salute him and his rather unfortunate distinction by offering Bartman a free ticket to the game, to be left for him at the Hara box office, to celebrate the eighth anniversary of his notoriety.
In addition, any fans dressed as Steve Bartman, complete with Cubs hat, green turtleneck and wearing headphones, will also receive one free admission to the game. Gems team president Joe Greene spearheaded the idea, noting “while our staff will be dressed like Steve, and there will be baseball and Bartman themed contests and promotions going on throughout the night, we would like to remind our fans to refrain from reaching over the glass for stray pucks.” The team will also offer prizes and special recognition for the best dressed “Bartman” lookalikes in attendance.
You know, it hasn’t been the best couple of weeks for old Bartman. First, he was the subject of that documentary, Catching Hell, which presumably brought back all the bad memories, for Cubs fans — and probably Bartman as well — now this: a night saluting the lowest point of a person’s life in a hockey arena whose playing surface is named after some company’s Italian Ice. In Dayton, Ohio. Everything’s coming up Bartman!
I guess you could say that the entire event will be quite the gem. Get it?
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