Steve Bartman became about the most vilified baseball fan in history Oct. 14, 2003.
With a foul ball heading his way, Bartman reached for it -- as almost any fan would -- without realizing that Chicago Cubs outfielder Moises Alou had it lined up to catch what would have been the second out of the eighth inning of Game 6 of the National League Championship Series against the Florida Marlins.
The Cubs led the game 3-0 and the series 3-2 at the time, and would have been four outs away from reaching the World Series for the first time since 1945 if Alou had made the catch. Instead, the Marlins rallied to score eight runs in the inning, enough for an 8-3 victory that forced a Game 7.
Florida won again the next day, ensuring that the Cubs' decades-long championship drought continued.
Bartman became infamous overnight, even getting death threats for his momentary indiscretion. He remains a Cubs fan but has refused all interview requests and hasn't returned to Wrigley Field since that day.
Now, with the Cubs heading back to the postseason, some of Bartman's fellow fans want to send him to the National League wild-card game in Pittsburgh. A GoFundMe account started by Keque Escobedo is trying to raise $5,000 to pay for Bartman's flight, hotel room and ticket.
"First we need to find him to get him to the big game," Escobedo told USA Today. "If anyone knows where he is at, tell him we are looking for him. The money would pay for his expenses including his ticket, hotel room, flights and a little spending money.
If Bartman cannot be found by time of the big game, all the proceeds raised will be donated to the Alzheimer's Association.
Celebration sacked
Von Miller has one sack this season, but the NFL didn't like how he celebrated dropping Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith and fined the Denver Broncos linebacker $11,000, according to the Denver Post.
All Miller wanted to do was dance a little, but the NFL -- following the protocol of its unwritten pelvic thrust penalization policy -- punished Miller for failing to keep his thrusts rated PG.
The fine is just the latest example of inconsistency when it comes to the NFL doling out punishment.
Underinflated footballs, violent hits that can lead to head injuries, scantily clad cheerleaders -- all admissible.
Thrusting and dancing with your hips in full swing? That will cost you.
Toast to the Rangers
The Texas Rangers' celebration Thursday after clinching a return to the playoffs was rather restrained. It consisted of two toasts: One with champagne and another, for Josh Hamilton, with ginger ale.
It was both a nod to past success and a nod to being inclusive of Hamilton, a recovering alcoholic.
In 2010 and 2011, the Rangers doused Hamilton in ginger ale rather than champagne after they clinched in an effort to make sure he was included in the celebration. On Thursday, a small red table held a pair of ginger ale bottles and flutes filled with ginger ale.
"You think a lot of people who care about you and who feel things for you," Hamilton said. "What those guys did in 2010 and 2011 for me was special. To have my own little ginger ale table tonight is also really special to me."
QUIZ
How many World Series titles have the Chicago Cubs won?
ANSWER
Two (1907 and 1908).
Sports on 10/03/2015