An Open Letter to “That Guy.”

Dear That Guy,
Like you, I am a huge Cubs fan. Like you, I’ve been telling people “next year! Next Year!” as long as I can remember. Like you, I am crushed that they aren’t going to the World Series. Again.
Unlike you, most of Chicago (and the world, really) could give a shit about me. That’s where this letter, from some guy you’ll never meet and could probably care less about, comes in. See, I think we have a few things in common, and I just wanted to take a minute here and tell you that I think you’re getting a bunch of shit that you don’t deserve.
I used to be on this big cult TV show that had lots of very passionate fans. Many of those fans absolutely (and irrationally) hated the character I played on that show. Most of them wrote me nasty letters and heckled me whenever I’d show up at one of their events, they never called my house, or tried to hurt me, but I can sort of imagine what you’re going through. That thing that makes a sports fan wear only paint and a diaper to a ball game when it’s 15 degrees outside? It’s the same thing that makes a Star Trek fan wear the same unwashed uniform for 5 days in a row at a big ass con.
I’ve read that just about every Cubs fan in the world is giving you hell for going after that foul ball. Well, That Guy, last time I checked, baseball fans like to catch foul balls. It’s something we do, like paying too much for terrible beer and screaming at a player for not picking up that slider that we’re so certain we’d be able to hit if they’d just put our fat asses in the game. Hell, I’ve been going to 20 or 30 games a season at Dodger Stadium for almost 30 years, and I try to catch a foul ball every single time I’m there. I’ve even had my hot wife flirt with the teenage bat boy in a pathetic effort to score one. To date, I am still empty-handed. But that bat boy, Jesse, is convinced that my wife’s going to leave me just as soon as he gets out of high school.
Anyway, That Guy, enough about me. This is about you.
It’s not your fault that the Cubs lost game 6. It’s not your fault that Dusty Baker probably left Prior in too long, or that Alex Gonzalez chose game 6 to make his 11th error of the whole freakin’ year. It’s not your fault the Cubs stranded 7 runners. It’s not your fault that they lost game 7. It’s not your fault that Kerry Wood, normally one of the best pitchers in baseball, just couldn’t get it together in game 7. (That was a sweet fuckin’ homerun though, wasn’t it?! I was screaming and cheering so loudly I scared both of my dogs!)
In short, it’s not your fault the Cubs lost three in a row. As a matter of fact, I’m pretty sure it’s the players fault they lost three in a row. Even Dusty Baker said, “We didn’t lose the pennant, the Marlins won it. We were close and the Marlins took it from us, it’s as simple as that.” You’ll notice that he didn’t say “That Guy took it from us.”
Yep. You know, now that I think about it, I’m positive that it wasn’t your fault, and I’m pretty mad at anyone who’s giving you shit about the loss.
It’s pretty fucked up that those jackals in the news media printed your name, That Guy, and it’s even more fucked up that they disclosed your workplace and forced you to change your phone number. But don’t quit coaching the little league team, okay? Since you’re not a dad, you’re probably not coaching that team for your own personal glory, or doing it because it’s the only way you know how to relate to your son. You’re probably there for those kids, and you’re probably having a positive impact on their lives. What are they going to learn if they lose their coach, That Guy?! Think of the children, okay? Don’t be a quitter!
Tell you what. You keep coaching that team, and if you ever come to Los Angeles, I’ll get some hired goons, and we’ll take you out for a beer at one of the best pubs in the city. If anyone tries to fuck with you, those hired goons will kick their punk asses while we exchange high-fives. It will be sweet!
In the mean time, when someone gets in your face about the Cubs losing, you can say, “Hey! Wil Wheaton says back the fuck off!”
When they look confused and say, “Who the hell is Wil Wheaton?” you can just smile and laugh at them, because you know something they don’t.
Rock on,
Wil Wheaton
Life-long Cubs Fan,
living in Los Angeles

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169 thoughts on “An Open Letter to “That Guy.””

  3. I know a guy who knows That Guy, but to be honest I don’t know how he’s taking the whole issue. I know people are worried about him. I hope he chances to read this letter, Wil, because it’s good stuff. You make an awful lot of sense.
    Good stuff.

  4. That guy’s got it real rough… I would tend to disagree that any fan would reach for that foul ball… most fans paying attention to the game probably would have noticed big ol’ Alou comin straight at em at high speed. So it was a pretty big brain fart on “That Guy”s behalf. Having said that, the rest of the shitty play of the Cubs is totally not his fault. The ball that Gonzalez dropped could easily have been a double play ball, end of inning. World series here we come.
    Ahh well, next year. Hopefully the Yankees lose to the Sox, so we can try and get ONE curse lifted, at least.

  5. Bravo, Wil. The guy remained in the stands, and went for the foul ball quite legally — it was just a horrible stroke of luck that he bobbled it out of the player’s hands. It sucks, but it happens.
    Besides, Dusty said that he expected the Cubs to make it to the Series next year, not this year. And why is everyone ignoring the fact that they actually made it to the NL pennant playoffs? Damn, that is SO much better than what they’ve done since the eighties — we should be happy that the Cubs are finally showing signs of being a championship team.
    So, we’ll all chime in and say, “Next year.” But this time, we actually mean it.

  6. Wil & friends:
    I…I’m still heartbroken. As much as I would like to believe that karmic disruption and not the vagaries of playing the modern game of baseball were responsible for making it 9N+1 years, I can’t fault the gentlemen either. Although, after what happened to that kid with the Yankees a few years back…
    I must agree with Wil, and add an observation: Perhaps upset, Cubs fans are also some of the friendliest people in the world. They will forgive, but having come so close, it may take some time.

  7. I’m not a baseball fan. I wasn’t paying any attention until NPR broadcast a story about ‘That Guy’ in game 6. (Okay it was only mentioned in passing) And fine, I knew about your website from techTV but hadn’t been here yet. And so during lunch a random websurf happened to bring me here, and I read your letter. I think that’s cool. But Wil, how dare you not let me resize this comments window!!!!!! I didn’t buy this huge monitor to look at puny windows!!!! C’mon man!!!!!
    Ok, that’s it. =) Peas.

  8. Fans are always bitching when they lose games.
    They blame the players, the coach, the owner.
    They never blame themselves.
    Now their loss it truely their fault. The Fans lost the game and the series and they should take responsibility.

  9. the kid a couple of years ago helped the home team. no one was gonna drive up from baltimore to slap him…besides…in that series, just like this one, there was more blame to go around than just a ball-happy fan.

  11. you might already know this, wil, but you rock.
    ditto to everyone here for pointing out that they
    would have lost anyhow.
    *sigh*
    next year…

  12. Thank you SOOO much for writing that. It makes me so angry how people can turn into Lord of the Flies over such an insignificant thing (in the general scheme of things) This poor man did what anyone would do when a projectile comes at them.
    Thank you for showing compassion.

  13. Good for you! I LOVE what you wrote and it’s so true. I think it’s horrible how the media (my husband says a radio station disclosed That Guy’s personal info) just gave up That Guy’s private information. How dare they!
    And boo to those blaming That Guy for the Cubs choking. I was rooting for them too (even though I’m an A’s fan) and it’s terrible that they’re blaming a fan instead of the team that lost.
    Alas.
    Next year! We’ll all be in it next year!
    Go A’s! 😀

  16. Wil
    The letter is great and I hope “That Guy” gets to read it.
    It is a sad day when we blame 1 fan for catching 1 foul ball for a team losing a game.

  17. While I agree with your sentiment, I don’t think it’s very realistic to be able to keep his name out of the media, especially with the internet where it’s at. I mean, everybody saw his face. We was wearing the t-shirt of the team he plays for, so all of the people in that league probably knew who he was. He works in a 1,000+ person office. Over half of the city of Chicago was watching the game. Just how do you exactly figure this wasn’t going to become public information?

  18. I feel for that poor fan. The drunken Cubs fans (and you know who you are) are going to blame him for this loss until next season, if not forever. On another note, I am pretty disapointed in The Smoking Gun spilling the beans on this guy’s life. I love that web site, but I thought it was pretty irresponsible.

  19. I will always be a life-long fan of Chicago sports because it is the city I was born into. My beautiful city has gone through a drought of disappointing moments.But, also great triumphs.I seen so many talented baseball players that came to Chicago:Ryan
    Sanberg,Frank Thomas, Sammy Sosa, Mark “Gracie” Grace,Ozzie Guillen, Kenny Lofton,and of recent Estaban Loiza,Mark Pryor,Kerry Wood,Magglio Ordonez,and yes maybe Paul Konerko. I include the South Side players because I have been a life-long suffering Sox fan, we were this “close” from going to the playoffs.It may not be the same as The Cubs losing their chance to advance to the World Series. But, it f—–‘hurts like hell. Wait til next year? I hate that phrase. It should be wiped out from our vocabulary. I really really thought the Cubbies were going all the way. My alligence stays with the White Sox but, my heart breaks for the Cubbies.
    As for the fan from Game 6, it is going to blow over. Chicago does forgive.
    Ron Santo said that if he never gets into the Hall of Fame, that’s fine. But, when they retired his number in Wrigley Field. Then he could die a happy man. I know Santo wanted his Cubbies to go to the World Series. I guess he has to (not that phrase).I just leave it at that.
    A long-suffering fan who knows all to well,
    Lily Jones
    Life-long White Sox fan,
    Chicago, Illnois

  20. Thanks for the comments. What That Guy is going through is just wrong. It’s not like he interfered with a fair ball. It was into the stands, he, (and everyone around him) thought that he had a NLCS souvenier.)
    To blame the actions of one fan for a three game meltdown is not only wrong, but myoptic.

  21. Hi, my name is Dave, and I’ve almost been That Guy.
    It was only a local league game, not the world series race, but it was for the local league championship. The stands were packed, the SRO spots were full, and all the local media outlets were there. You see, I used to live in a small town, where local league baseball was like the fucking NBA.
    The home team was up by one and pitching in the bottom of the ninth, two outs. The visitors had two on (2nd and 3rd) and their biggest slugger at bat. He swung mightily at the first two pitches and fouled them back. His third swing connected, and sent the ball sailing high, and right towards me on the right field line. I put on my glove, started reaching for the ball as it came down, and jumped back.
    Why? Because out of the corner of my eye I saw our right fielder running at me full speed, leaping for the ball.
    I pulled back, he caught it, we won.
    I’m not saying that what That Guy did was wrong, but if he’d had even a sliver of vision anywhere but on that ball, game 6 might have turned out very differently. He did what every baseball fan wants to do, but what he should have done is pay a little more attention. It’s not his fault the Cubs lost, but he certianly didn’t help.
    The media fucked up bigtime by making him the scapegoat, and for that they collectively deserve to be fucked with a piledriver and 16 feet of curare tipped wrought iron fence and no lubricants.
    This has been $0.0125 from an observer’s point of view.

  22. Well said Wil,
    I have to admit I missed the game, but I heard all about it even up here in Canada!
    “That poor guy”, I like that Jeb Bush offered to put him up in florida for 3 months… That was cute, but doesnt really help what the media is doing to him… I can see the fans reacting if that had of been the series winning catch… sure, string him up then! But it was not… and the marlins went on to win that game and the next… The Cubs didn’t lose because of a fan… the Marlins won because they were lucky! REMEMBER, it is just a game!
    Oh and I loved your character on “That Show”… Hell I even liked Toy Soldiers… (insert butt kissing sound here) Sign me up for goon duties if that guy ever takes you up on your offer!

  23. Yeah. I knew the Cubs would lose the series when I saw that play. Not because of the curse, not because that fan cost them the game (which we all know he didn’t) but because the Cubs are the best in baseball in at least one category… choking. They have done it for years. This year they just postponed their meltdown until post season play. I love the Cubbies for that.
    Signed, a Cardinals fan
    P.S., so much for the great fans at the Friendly Confines of Wrigley.

  24. Where can we apply to be a hired goon. I promiss, if you hire me, i wont be a disgruntled goon, and beat the crap out of the dude for fucken up the game for all of the cub fans. And costing us the world series.
    I might just shove him out of a moving car (pure accident of course).

  25. I love the end where you say, “When they look confused and say, ‘Who the hell is Wil Wheaton?’ you can just smile and laugh at them, because you know something they don’t.”
    Very funny! 🙂
    -m

  26. Well said, Wil. That Guy didn’t do anything that any one of us wouldn’t do if we were there that game.
    Not that I’d be there at that game. I freakin’ hate baseball. 😛
    (Very good blog entry, by the way)
    (oh, and YAY Comments!)

  29. Lifelong Cubs fan living in Milwaukee here. I feel bad for That Guy, I really do. That said, the image of him reaching out and deflecting that ball from Alou’s glove is permanently burned into my retinas, much like the ground ball that skittered under Leon Durham’s glove way back when, and Steve Garvey’s back-breaking home run. That Guy is definitely not responsible for the Cubs’ meltdown in Game 6. But the image pretty much sums up everything that went wrong in the game. It was just an incredibly unlikely and oddball thing that happened, as were Alex’s error and Prior’s sudden loss of composure. You can’t hate That Guy. About all you can do is shrug and say, “Wow. Who could have seen that coming?”
    Laura

  30. Forgive my lack of eloquence.
    Wil,
    You really are “The Man” .It sucks when bad things happen to genuinly good people. Ive been reading your website for a long time now and this may be the single best post you’ve done. It’s kinda wierd how you seem to popup in my liesure/entertainment life. I was born in ’70 so were not far off in age(I always wanted a brother). Stand by me was one of the defining movies of my adolecent years, Star Trek has always been a staple and something my wife also got hooked on. It has always painted a pretty optimistic view of the future. I’m a huge gamer so when G4 went on the air, I was there. PooF….so are you. somewher along the line I found WWDN and then you found yourself on my fav puter show, The Screen Savers. WIERD.
    But Cool
    Chad

  31. Well done, Wil. I agree with Tracy that you should send it to the editors of the Chicago newspapers to give everyone in that city a jolt of reality.

  38. Wil,
    I don’t know who I feel more sorry for. That Guy or the dry cleaner that had to eventually wash that dirty star trek uniform. Hopefully, That Guy will one day get his own talk show someday. If he’s brave enough, maybe Leno or Letterman can include him in a segment.
    I yelled GO CUBS!!.. and they went.. :*(
    Eric B

  39. Right on, Wheaton. Well said.
    And Wil, don’t sweat it bro, you were one of my favs. You are partially to thank for my being an engineering student today!!
    Who needs to be a cultural icon when you got a hot wife anyway?! 🙂
    Thanks, Wil.
    Derm

  40. Well written, Wil.
    Those guys who hated you from the teevee were just jealous because their girlfriends all had crushes on you but wouldn’t give them any play.
    The guys who hate That Guy are just pissed because their team choked at a pivotal moment in the NLCS and they want a scapegoat to blame.
    Both totally irrational, emotional reactions that fade with time.

  41. First let me say that I in no way condone any acts of violence against “that guy” or against anyone else stemming from an occurence at a sporting event. Nevertheless, here it goes. I have two foul balls from MLB games. Didn’t catch either. Baseballs are scary. Baseballs hit by MLB players are REALLY scary. Most people’s first instinct is to turn away and cover. One must TRY to catch one. If “that guy” had been PAYING ATTENTION and THINKING, as a Cubs fan he would not have TRIED to catch it. He didn’t catch it because it’s almost impossible to barehand catch with one hand a fly ball hit by a big leaguer. It’s also a great way to break a finger. My moral is twofold. First, please use your head at MLB games! Second, if you want a foul ball so bad, let it bounce and scramble for it, it’s worked for me.

  43. I posted something similar, but not quite so elegant, on my blog at http://www.bmonday.com
    http://www.bmonday.com/200310archive001.asp#1066267736001
    I ran some sims to see what would have happened had Alou made the catch. The Cubs still lose.
    However, if you take away the big-ass error by Gonzalez, the Cubs go into the 9th with a 1-run lead and likely win the game.
    Yet, the fans, and the media, choose to blame the fan, instead of the player who is paid $5M a year to catch routine grounders hit right to him.
    The fan at least had the gonads to stand up and apologize for what part he had in the loss. Where is Alex Gonzalez’ apology?

  44. Well, enough people have mentioned it here, and even more have e-mailed about it . . .
    So how do I go about getting this letter to some newspapers?
    I think I’ll e-mail it to the ESPN Radio guys (heart them, man. they’ve made the 90 hours a year I waste in traffic feel like 88 hours), but other than that, I don’t know how to do it.

  46. Is there a Chicago paper to which
    you could send your wonderful letter?
    It would be great if it could be
    printed in a paper in That Guy’s
    home area and reach the hometown
    fans who are prolly giving him the
    worst of it.

  47. Hey I’m in Australia and even **I** heard about “That Guy”!!
    Wil, I looked at the Chicago Sun-Times website and there doesn’t seem to be any address shown there that you can send your letter to. Any readers living in Chicago who can help Wil out with a snail-mail or email address??

  48. Great open letter. There’s nothing like a scapegoat for (the majority of) the media to sink their teeth into. Way to champion the “that guy” Wil.

  49. You know what, everything happens in this universe for some reason. Let’s just say, hypothetically of course, that That Guy hadn’t done what ANYONE would have done, and reached out for the foul ball. Who’s to say that the team wouldn’t have won, and then in the frenzy that became the whole of Chicago, a pregnant woman would have been knowcked down in the crowd and mis-carried the child who was to be the man who cured cancer. C’mon guys…is a pennant really worth the cure for the worst medical enemy of man? You have to look at it all in perspective. Who knows how many chain of events were set off, or avoided by That Guy. Give him a break, man, he’s a fan. Nothing more, nothing less.

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