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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Wil,
The fan’s name is Steve Bartman. Head over and type that name into Google News, and you’ll get about 30 million hits, but the Sun-Times broke it. (Personally, I think Bartman gave them the info.)
He works for:
Hewitt Associates
100 Half Day Road
Lincolnshire, IL 60069-3342
(847) 295-5000
(847) 295-7634 fax
Of course, that’s about the only address for him that has been given out, so I imagine a postal letter that might be sent to him there might get caught in a deluge.
You might want to call and push the fame button a bit to get through to him or to make sure your letter doesn’t get rejected. 🙂
Mike
Ask and ye shall receive. It also helps to live in a library.
Anyone wanna send a letter to the editor to a Chicago paper? Here ya go! Good luck!
Chicago Sun-Times
——————–
http://www.suntimes.com/geninfo/feedback.html
(need to select “Letter to Editor” in recipient window)
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
401 N. Wabash, Chicago, Illinois 60611
312-321-3000
Chicago Tribune
——————
Contact the newspaper’s public editor, Don Wycliff, by e-mailing him at [email protected] or sending regular mail to 435 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago IL 60611
Well said, Wil. When I heard That Guy went into hiding, I felt even worse for him and his family. He doesn’t deserve to be treated that way. No one does.
Clara
Maybe someday I can forgive him. But not yet.
Just a few games ago I was bitching at a guy (well, at the TV, but you get my point) sitting close to home plate who didn’t get out of the catcher’s way on a foul pop. Guy struck out on the next play, but the point stands: If you’re sitting in the front row you have to know to get out of the way if there’s a play on the ball! It’s one of the few ways you can actually have a direct impact on the game.
Will,
I have to give you credit, it takes a lot to hang it all out there, dare to human, and really spek your mind, especially in an open letter like this.
I dig the fact that you take responsibility for your site, for building it yourself.
As for “That Guy,” well, had I been where he was I would have done the same thing, and there isn’t a sports fan breathing who could tell me “Man, I wouldn’t have done it if I were there” and actually expect me to believe it. Living just east of Green Bay, I know how obsessive sports fans can and do get, and I know that if anyone of the got the chance to get their hands on game ball, you better believe they’ be going after it.
Anyway, thanks once again. If you ever do run into “That Guy,” and you do get to going out for a few brews, try not to let the goons have too mcuh fun…
J
Outsanding Wil, nicely done.
Good onya Clara! Hey Wil, I’m assuming you’ll clean up the language a bit before you send the letter! :o) Although the swearing makes it funnier…. e.g. “back the f**k off” is a lot funnier than “back off” ;o)
did anybody notice that a hotel in florida offered that guy 3 months free plus free airfare, steaks and martinis?
check it out on fark…
I just posted an audio version of this letter in the audioblog. Link’s under my smilin’ mug on the main page 🙂
The interaction with lack of physical presence provided by the internet has desensitized people to the extreme that they usually don’t realize there’s another human being at the other side of the pipe. It’s usually all to easy to crap on other people and mock them.
It’s great to see that you’re doing otherwise, Wil. I’ve long thought yours is one of the more “human” (and “humane”) voices of the ‘net. Thanks for taking the time to make this point.
As for “that guy” well, hopefully he’s ok. This will die down eventually. People will find something else to get pissed about.
Great letter, Wil. As a transplanted Cub fan of many years, I wasn’t outraged at That Guy or even Alex Gonzalez. I was angered by Dusty Baker’s inability to have anyone warming up in the bullpen in the eighth innning of the _game that could send the Cubs to the World Series_!!!
Sorry for the gratuitous exclamation marks.
Anyway, I wish the Fish well; they certainly played hard and smart. If you are up in San Francisco when the Cubs are in town, I’ll buy you some overpriced garlic fries and we can root for the Boys In Blue together (Okay, a guy can dream, can’t he?)
That’s great…You have a lot of compassion and understanding, which is rare in this day and age. You also seem to have a fair sense of when it’s wrong to place the blame elsewhere. I hope “that guy” reads this!”
Word. Wordy McWord.
His email address is floating around on Livejournal. If you want, I can send it to you. I will do “That Guy” a favor and not post it here. ;D
Well, I’ve spammed ESPN, the Sun-Times and Salon. We’ll see if anyone prints it . . . wouldn’t that be cool?!
Wil, you said it. And others here have added to it. That Guy is a scapegoat for the Cubbies losing the series.
So, when are we going to take this guy out for those beers?!?!?!
Wil Wheaton says back the f**k off, and if Wil says to back the f**k off, you back the f**k off because you never know when there might be a Monkey nearby…
*Evil grin*
Awesome letter! I hope that he doesn’t have to move to Idaho like Bill Buckner did after the ’86 series.
And to “That Guy”…chin up and stay a Cubs fan. There’s always next year.
Wil,
Great letter! I was just saying today to some of my friends that last time I checked, baseball was a game, and no game is worth getting the kind of abuse that “That Guy” has been getting. Thanks for saying what has been on the minds and hearts of so many of us. I hope “That Guy” gets a chance to read your letter and the many comments that have been posted in his support.
Being in my position as a pastor on the “South Side,” when asked if I am a Cubs fan or a Sox fan I routinely answer that I am a Bears fan. That keeps me off the hook, and it also makes most people question my sanity. (I am, after all, the priest that played the Bears Fight Song as the recessional hymn on Super Bowl Sunday, 1986!) I am, however, proud to know that Chicago has such a devoted Die-Hard Cubs fan in LA! (And, for whatever it’s worth, I loved your portrayal of Wesley Crusher. I saw a lot of me in that character. If the Enterprise only needed a chaplain!)
Take care, thanks for the blog, and good luck with your book!
Ralph
ESPN HEADLINE: Wil Wheaton steps up to the plate to defend the
As a Chicagoan, I wanted to say what a lovely letter. Many of us were horrified at the Chicago Sun Times printing of specifics. This poor poor man.
This Cubs fan knows the truth: the Cubs themselves threw a three to one lead and lost the pennant. They are responsible as a team; not this man. And as a Cub fan, I can say and mean it, “Maybe next year!” I hope That Guy is in the stands with us come spring, cheering them on to a 2004 championship!
I’ll just iterate what everyone else has said –
Awesome Farkin’ Letter man!
I had wanted to say something just like that, but wasn’t able to find the right words.
You rock!
This even made a lead in the evening news here in Canberra (Australia) and, from my (baseball naive) point of view, the only mistake that ‘That Guy’ made was to not hang on to the catch!
It’s the same with cricket (played over here) in that it’s every fans dream to stand up and take a catch in the stands and receive their 5 seconds of glory. It was a simple reflex action.
Well said Wil, it’s only a game and the event wasn’t even newsworthy except maybe for a giggle!
Way to totally put down all those devoted Little League coaches/dads too. That was classy.
Cubs fans:
…. let this go ….
If the Cubs had just let it go and acted like the professionals they are supposed to be…
As a Cubbie, I can say: this hurts. And it ain’t that guy’s fault.
— Chad
Great letter, enjoyed reading your comments but I’d like to point out a Chicago tradition that has been overlooked in this discussion – True Cubs Fans are supposed to only catch Cub fly balls; the opponents’ fly balls get thrown back cuz nobody wants them, playoff game or not!
PS I’ve cancelled my Sun-Times subscription.
Nice letter Wil, hope he sees it!
I hope people put it into perspective. 10 people died in a ferry accident yesterday. People that were important and loved to family and friends. And next week, the country will still be talking about That Guy, and no one will even think of those lives…
Sad.
Rock the fuck on, Wil. 😀
Sorry if that offended you, Krista. I can only speak from my personal experience. Obviously, not all little league dads are assholes.
i guess i didn’t watch enough startrek episodes, but from what i remember, you portrayed the doctor’s son. i’m a bit confused why people gave you shit (pls forgive the lacking in star trek knowledge).
anyway, no matter what you believe, your name is not forgotten. i will always remember how big of crush i (and all of my juniorhigh friends) had on you (not the corey, or the keiffer, or that one dude that was also in sliders) after ‘stand by me’.
you take care, you, and keep up the great insights and reminders found in your writings.
It’s baseball season again? Time flies.
I just heard from Salon.com . . . one of their editors told me that she “loved” this piece, and that Salon will be publishing it as an open letter today or tomorow!!
YEAH!!! COOL!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂
Wil:
The Cubbies gave us something priceless–a season in which they did us proud.
Only a true Cubs fan knows the pride and the heartbreak of the past few days, but hope springs eternal here in Chicagoland (or anywhere a true- blue Cubs fan resides).
Soon ‘that guy’ will be forgotten and the fans will focus on next season–but the good memories of 2003 are ours to keep.
Thanks for this great essay.
Surprisingly, I just heard about this now. (As a native Jerseyite going to college in Boston, I’ve sort of been trying to avoid media for fear of being lynched if it’s revealed that I like the Yankees.) And…word.
Then again, the media nowadays tends to be histrionic and based more on drama than truth. But that’s just my perception.
A-effing-MEN!!
Okay.
This entry completely proves that you are one of the coolest people ever.
“Many of those fans absolutely (and irrationally) hated the character I played on that show. ” i think is my favorite line in this letter.
I must say though, major kudos to you for being nice to “That Guy” and writing this letter to him. I’m not a baseball fan, but when i read in the newspaper about him catching the ball and the incriminating photos and the like…i was like “Wow…a lot of people probably really hate him right now.” And you’re right, it is a bit ridiculous. So yay, high-fives for goons and for the children.
I
You know, I don’t read you very often. I should maybe change that, based on this open letter alone. 🙂
Wil, this post is a wonderful piece of writing. Coming from a country (Philippines) where basketball is the national obsession in all weathers, I know how rabid loyal fans can be about interference in play. Not a pretty sight!
I hope That Guy, wherever he is now, gets to read your post and draw whatever comfort he can from it.
That said, I find it appalling that a so-called responsible newspaper would see fit to publish the personal information of the poor man. They could’ve just used random initials in referring to him; and why on earth let the world in on the rest of his contact information? Scary. That Guy will take forever to live this down.
I came across this site surfing the web, totally by accident, and was impressed by Mr Wheaton’s letter about the fan. I agree, it was not the fans fault. Everyone else was going for the ball as well.. At least the guy wasnt on his cell phone, or paying more attention to the crowd than the game, like I have seen others do.
The ball was in the stands, you can see from the picture he is looking up, hes not leaning over the railing like I have seen others do, in fact, the outfielder’s glove was over the railing on the fans side, and the ruling was no interferance. People want to blame others for the Cubs loss, when the players are the ones who werent able to gain control. And I am mad at the media as well, but I could go on and on about that.
as far as the comment a few posts back about it being the fans fault, because he should have been paying attention, he was! he was paying attention to where the ball went and kept his eye on it, which was better than what the cubs were doing. It was coming his way, he had to do something..
Great letter Wil… As a Red Sox fan, I too am sick of saying “Next year!” every year, but sometimes that’s all we have to hope for our teams.
And THIS is why I don’t really bother to pay much attention to the media. Yep.. nothing wrong with me hiding in my own little hole.. surrounded by friends and family only… nope nothing wrong with that at all. ;D
Seriously though, I don’t watch TV much due to this kinna crapulence.. Media has taken freedom of speech to an all-time low with That Guy. Thats infringing on HIS rights to live a normal life.. he doesn’t deserve this lynch mob mentality that the media is only whipping up more into a frenzy. =/
I applaud you, Wil.. for taking the time out to write this and I really hope that you can get it published as much as possible. People need to grow the F up. Glad you’re using your superpowers for good. ;D
An observant and excellent commentary Mr. Wil! It’s a darn shame what the present-day tabloid media has put this poor guy thru. They somehow forget to report that the umpires on the scene ruled officially that the ball was out of play and into the stands. Anyone with a $49.95 WalMart VCR (..hope ESPN is reading this) can easily deduce from the video that the trajectory of the ball placed it right on-to the top of the patron/fan divider wall. No way that Moises Alou could have caught that ball even if he was as tall as Wilt Chamberland. Oh well. Great site Wil! I enjoyed your commentary. Ken (a curious B-Boomer who was 8 yrs old in 1969 and can remember firsthand the infamous “Black Cat” incident with the 69 Mets/Cubs game. See – http://www.msnbc.com/local/WMAQ/A1810237.asp?0LA=agd9n&cp1=1
Extremely well said. Once again I declare myself a Wil Wheaton Fan, not because you were on That Show or because you’re “Famous”, but because you’re a damn fine writer, a fellow geek, and a fine human being.
Ah, thanks for your eloquence. I REALLY hope That Guy gets to read it.
Well said, Wil. I didn’t know you were a life-long Cubs fan–that’s awesome. “That Guy” certainly doesn’t deserve to have his entire life disrupted over a game. Here’s hoping cooler heads prevail, and the whole thing blows over. I took a couple minutes Wednesday to send a scathing e-mail to the Sun-Times, letting them know just how idiotic it was to reveal That Guy’s name and workplace.
Hi,
This is my first post.
I realy like your website.
I think this article was great.
Brian Pitnikoff
Does anyone else have the urge to make t-shirts that say “Hey” in really big letters then “Wil Wheaton says back the fuck off!” in small letters underneath? Pure brilliance.
Cubs fans are 90 percent scar tissue.
– George Will
Great letter.
Morydd:
*grins* Now I’m tempted.. that would just kick ass for the novelty value!
I feel sorry for “That Guy.” I think that he should get himself an agent and try to make a living for a while out of his misfortune. Could you see him in an American Express commercial(when they don’t recognize you) or a ‘just get away from it all’ airline spot? How about a commercial that involves being placed in the witness protection program? I bet that the advertisers would jump on it. (except maybe those in Illinois. LOL)
The poor guy should make some lemonade with the lemons that have been flung at him.
Good Luck, “that guy”
Cheryl