So I'm sitting here watching the All-Star Home Run Derby. There was an interview with Barry Bonds and they asked him about the Home Run record and the interest by the press and fans and (moreso) the lack thereof. He said that he is disappointed that people are more interested in listening to something a 3rd party says about his game than what he says or what he shows on the field. When asked about commisioner Bud Selig's lack of interest in him setting the all-time home run record this year and he basically said that the commisioner is the commisioner and he doesn't have any control over what he does.
Now, I'm no Barry Bonds fan. But, I do think he's definitely one of the top 10 players to ever play in Major League Baseball. This year he's going to hit more home runs than anyone in the game has ever hit. He's one of only 4 players to EVER have a 40/40 year (40 HR and 40 SB) Did he use steroids? I don't know. And, actually, I don't care. Steroids weren't illegal for much of his career. Do you think that Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron or any of the other greats would have taken steroids if they'd been available? You bet your ass they would have. Barry Bonds isn't a media darling. He's never been very glib or funny and sometimes he's been downright reclusive. So-the-fuck what?! He's under no obligation to be super nice. Is he a biggot or a drunk partier like Ruth or some of the other old greats? Doesn't seem to be. Which is the worst offense, to use performance-enhancing drugs or to dislike someone because of the color of their skin? Which is worse, to not be very friendly to a press who has always criticized you, or to be a drunken, wife-beating husband?
Barry is one of the best and should be treated with a lot more respect than he is. I'm glad he's going to break the all-time record. Give him a break!
