I may be in a large minority, but I do not believe that when Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants hits the all-time major league record 756th home run, it will be a time for celebration.
The obvious reason is because the issue of steroids. The fact that he has never come clean on whether or not he has taken banned steroids is what is so troubling. I think that because we live in such a confessional age-with no consequences-had Mr. Bonds told all, most would have shrugged it off and there would not be such a negative to Mr. Bonds impending breaking the all time major league home run record.
If you do not think that Mr. Bonds has had a little help from some friends, I submit that you look at photos from when Mr. Bonds played for the Pittsburgh Pirates and now with the Giants. The photos do not lie.
Another is that Mr. Bonds is just a very surly individual. He seems to forget, yes he is the player, but the fans who have flocked to see Mr. Bonds are his boss. After all, without the fans, Mr. Bonds would not be a multi-millionaire. By the way he interacts-or doesn't-with the fans is a sign of arrogance. Maybe he is just a reflection of this age, but that is what is wrong with this age. By the way, some fans are very pushy, but those that remember who they perform for are smart enough to handle uncomfortable situations with class.
Because Mr. Bonds has not come clean on the steroids issue, whenever he chooses to will be too late in the minds of many fans, including myself.
If you are old enough, you would remember a funny hall of fame pitcher by the name of Gaylord Perry. Mr. Perry won a lot of games with the help of, oh I am sure a lot of Brylcreem on the hair. Now, why the hair? Well, when you take off the ol' baseball cap and put your hand through your hair, a lot of Brylcreem stays on the hands and when he pitched, the ball did some strange things. Oh, and what he did and while he was a player, it was against the rules. Mr. Perry handled the whole thing with humor, no denial. Thus, he got to the hall of fame but what may have really paved his way to the hall was that he had class.
At the end of the day, that is what Mr. Bonds does not have-class. He treats people like dirt and never wants to be called on it. Had he any class, and a little humor, he might have escaped the wrath of fans that want to see a player break such a cherished record. But not with steriods banned by baseball and a bad attitude to match.
And, most nauseating is seeing the usual race hucksters go around railing that people really do not want to see Mr. Bonds break the record because he is black. Uh, the record holder, Henry Aaron, is also black. So, I do not get that logic whatsoever. The problem with the race hucksters is that they are not all that logical.
I will not celebrate when Mr. Bonds breaks the record. He will not deserve to be in the hall of fame. He deserves to slither away under his rock.
1 comment:
i was listening to mike and mike on espn radio this morning, and buster olney ( i doubt if i spelled that right) said the pitcher who gave up 755 himself had been suspended in the minors for steroid use. something i did not know. oh what an age we live in!!
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