Up until this point in the season, it's pretty much been a great ride for the Cubs. They've played well all season and they've seemingly made all the right moves by bringing in Fukudome, snatching Edmonds off of waivers, and trading for Rich Harden.

But suddenly, things aren't going so well. The Brewers went all in by acquiring C.C. Sabathia and Ray Durham, and they're now only one game back after ripping off six straight wins.

Naturally, if you're a Cubs fan, you're already expecting the worst. And guess what, here it comes.

In a move that should send shudders down the spines of every single person with a rooting interest in the Cubbies, a sports collectible company is looking to raise Steve Bartman from the grave (well, not literally) to come back to Chicago and sign a photograph of the infamous play. And how much will Bartman get for signing this one autograph?

$25,000.

I think he can make that trip. I know I would. Plus, you have to imagine Bartman's getting tired of living in a cave. This money could buy him a nice new condo, surrounded by plenty of razor wire.

By the way, no one in sports memorabilia history has ever been paid $25,000 to sign one autograph. Not Michael Jordan, Muhammad Ali, Joe DiMaggio, Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, or any other athlete.

If that doesn't tell you what kind of crazy world we live in, I don't know what does.

But since Cubs fans are already talking about this summer swoon as being the return of the Curse of the Billy Goat, you'd have to think that bringing Bartman into the equation would only make things worse.

In all honesty, if Bartman actually comes back to sign this autograph, just pencil the Brewers in to win the division. Or better yet, carve it in stone.

Paging Steve Bartman! Company offers infamous Chicago Cubs fan $25,000 for a single autograph [Orlando Sentinel]