Baaaaarry!!!!!

[TheRook]

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Go A Rod!!!!!

[TheRook]

Bonds' record homer doesn't enhance baseball
By Gene Wojciechowski
ESPN.com

The pitch left the hand of journeyman Mike Bacsik at exactly 8:50 PT Tuesday evening, reached home plate going 84 miles per hour, and then, as camera flashes turned AT&T Park into the world's largest photo shoot, the specially marked baseball met its maker.

For the 756th time in his singularly spectacular and conflicted career, Barry Lamar Bonds turned a pitcher's best intention into a home run. On a 3-2 count in the bottom of the fifth inning, Bonds swung that custom-made, double-lacquered, Canadian toothpick of a maple bat of his and sent Bacsik's fastball about six rows into the right-center field seats -- and into baseball history.

Bonds is now the all-time major league leader in home runs and controversy. He did it 14 days after his 43rd birthday and 21 years after his first dinger. He did it on his own exacting and mysterious terms.

As the ball arched toward the waiting sea of humanity, Bonds dropped his bat and then raised both arms in triumph and perhaps relief too. He stood at home plate for several seconds, took four steps toward first base, and then began his familiar 360-foot tour of the basepaths. His smile was as wide as the bill of his cap.

The San Francisco Giants fans roared loud enough to set off sensor warnings at earthquake centers. That stadium, that city and those fans remain Bonds' refuge, and he rewarded them with The Home Run and, if you believe in such things, The defining moment in all of sports.

Bacsik, the 29-year-old Texan who had clawed his way back to the big leagues after years in such places as Burlington, Buffalo and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, tipped his cap to Bonds. The left-hander had given up a double and a single to Bonds earlier in the game. This time, with one out in the fifth, he gave up the home run that allowed Bonds to end Henry Aaron's 33-year reign as the major league home run king.

Fireworks exploded above the center field scoreboard. Teammates waited at home plate for handshakes and hugs. Bonds' family assembled for kisses.

Bonds then bowed and blew kisses to the AT&T soldout crowd. His godfather, the great Willie Mays, was escorted to the field. A pre-recorded video from Aaron was played.

You can admire or despise him, but you can't deny Bonds' ability to make us watch. It was spell-binding stuff and -- wait ... I'm sorry. I can't do this anymore.

I can't pretend what Bonds did Tuesday night in front of a national television audience and his adoring but myopic Giants fans is anything more than a make-believe piece of baseball drama.

I can't pretend Bonds' 756 homers truly matter because there's no way of knowing how many of them were hit by Barry The Clean or Barry The Cream.

I can't pretend Bonds is the legitimate successor to Aaron because there's simply too many questions and too much evidence to suggest otherwise.

Barry Bonds and Willie Mays
Willie Mays greets his godson, Barry Bonds, after the historic homer.

And in the end, I can't pretend because I believe in the purity of Aaron's numbers, but not in coincidences. What Bonds has done, as his body has morphed from a lithe, ungodly athletic rookie into a Silver Surfer lookalike, was no coincidence. I believe it was cheating. Rationalize and justify all you want, but Bonds had a choice. And I believe he chose to cheat.

The disconnect between Bonds and actual baseball immortality has never been more obvious. Commissioner Bud Selig wasn't in attendance. His absence wasn't out of spite, but let's face it, Selig has looked like he'd rather be doing anything -- giving Congressional testimony ... going to the Westminster Dog Show with Michael Vick -- than wait for Bonds to hit 756. By skipping Tuesday night's game, he saved everyone the sight of him with his hands in his pockets again.

Of course, Aaron took a pass on the trip. Was it because he didn't want to schlep around the country as the one-dimensional Bonds labored to reach 756? That's the official Pravda stance, and Aaron has stuck by it. But you wonder what would have happened if it had been anyone other than Bonds who was breaking his record.

But maybe he can't pretend, either.

"It is a great accomplishment," said Aaron in the video, "which required skill, longevity and determination."

And a chemist's skill.

This isn't about Bonds himself. This isn't about him being as embraceable as a cactus. And while I hate to disappoint the racial conspiracy theorists, this isn't about him being an African-American. If this were the very freckled and very white Mark McGwire in Bonds' cleats, I'd be saying the very same thing: that you can't celebrate the accomplishments of someone who used illegal performance enhancers.

No, this has to do with who Bonds is, not what he is. Who cares if he's a self-absorbed control freak (Gary Sheffield's words, not mine) with a martyr syndrome? What matters is his moral DNA. And in Bonds' case, he traded his baseball ethics for the money and for Aaron's record.

Bonds and his career numbers are a fraud. Just like McGwire's. Just like Rafael Palmeiro's. Just like Sammy Sosa's. Bonds wasn't the first to take steroids and performance enhancers, but he's the first to overtake Aaron. And that's why you should care.

There was a time, regardless of how you felt about Bonds, when you couldn't ignore the width and breadth of his talent. Those were during his days with the Pittsburgh Pirates and early in his Giants career. Now you can't ignore the width and breadth of his cap size.

For all intent and purpose, he is the closest thing to a designated-hitter in the National League. He can't run. His arm is modest at best. He is a defensive liability.

But the man knows what to do with a bat. The realities of middle age have forced him to downsize to a preferred 34-inch, 31.6-ounce maple model, but it's still fascinating to watch as Bonds tries to coax his body into keeping up with his baseball mind. It was so much simpler a few seasons ago, when he was using Victor Conte's miracle flaxseed oil.

As usual, Bonds continues to miscalculate his appeal. He thinks a great injustice has been done to him, when really it's the other way around. He is the master of inflicting collateral damage, and then pretending none of it was his own doing. Just watch, he'll spin the new record into a passion play.

Last month, during a pre-All-Star Game media session in a downtown San Francisco hotel, Bonds was nearly enveloped by reporters and TV cameramen. At the end of the hour-long session, Bonds stood up and, in a satisfied, smug tone, said to no one in particular, "They all say I'm the most disgusting thing, but they all stand here for me."

We all stand, but not to honor him. That's reserved for players who did it the right way, the honest way.

Take a bow, Mr. Aaron.

[tech fan]

what great class from Hank.Makes me proud to be a Braves fan

[TheRook]

what great class from Hank.Makes me proud to be a Braves fan

Agreed

I woudln't have blamed him one bit if he didn't do a thing, but for him to "do the right thing" for now surely shows how classy he is, cause I'll be damned if the roles were reversed and someone was trying to take a record from Bonds and Bonds and a great majority of the public think that that person could be cheating...he would fight tooth and nail to keep his precious record.

High praise for Hank Aaron.

[frankb03]

Liquor was on the banned list back in the twenties. Put an asterik by the babe's name.

As is the case with most of musclemann's posts this is another example of his ignorance. Comparing liquor with performance enhancing drugs is completely asinine. Babe's alcohol use hindered his performance especially playing day games after partying all night.

[TheRook]

As is the case with most of musclemann's posts this is another example of his ignorance. Comparing liquor with performance enhancing drugs is completely asinine. Babe's alcohol use hindered his performance especially playing day games after partying all night.

[molta02]

congrats to the best player i have ever seen.

[TMAC951]

Here ya go BarryRoid Here is a little message just for you!!


http://img295.imageshack.us/img295/2...sign2rtud6.jpg

[BrezzeEaze]

Bonds acknowledged that when the time comes when someone like A-Rod get close to his HR record he will be in the stands cheering him on. C'mon people put aside your hate or/and slandering remarks and just enjoy the moment. For God's sake it a game and it is entertainment.
We are all able to talk about sports until we are blue in the face and we all have our opinions, trying to convince someone of you train of thought is sometimes an uphill battle. All I am saying is enjoy the moment and history. If you can't do that than I feel sorry for you.
If you don't like the coverage on ESPN or whatever channel turn it off. When your team or an athlete breaks a record or makes history, I am sure you want to see all the breakdowns and highlights so get over it.

[molta02]

i love how gene Wojciechowski can blindly throw sammy sosa into the mix (just like everyone else).

was sammy in cansecos book? NO

was sammy part of the balco raid? NO

has sammy every failed a drug test? NO

but its okay to blindly accuse him of using steroids. nice job gene.

[musclemann]

to frankb3 and rook..........

As is the case with most of musclemann's posts this is another example of his ignorance. Comparing liquor with performance enhancing drugs is completely asinine. Babe's alcohol use hindered his performance especially playing day games after partying all night.

Typical example of coward hiding behind his keyboard. If you read the whole post it was in response to wayne stating bonds broke the law. I was comparing ruth breaking the law also. The ignorant one is you and your boyfriend rook.

[musclemann]

stros7- cubbies 1

[molta02]

as i said in another thread-

Imagine your workplace deciding in 2007 that they were going to start getting people in trouble for smoking pot from 1999-2003, even though it was never tested for and wasn't banned from your workplace. And by the way, they want to get you in trouble without any failed tests. How ridiculous would that be?????

[musclemann]

as i said in another thread-

Imagine your workplace deciding in 2007 that they were going to start getting people in trouble for smoking pot from 1999-2003, even though it was never tested for and wasn't banned from your workplace. And by the way, they want to get you in trouble without any failed tests. How ridiculous would that be?????

It doesnt matter molta they hate bonds for whatever reasons
he is the best player to ever [play the game period. at 43 years of age he still hitting 30-35 homeruns this year. 70 percent of the league was using and im sure their all clemens fans, whatever happened to todd helton and the 45+ homer season?? larry walker?? ellis burks?? i could go on and on but MORONS LIKE FRANKB03 talk crap but cant back any of it up.

[molta02]

barry bonds is the best all around player to ever play the game. period.