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The Rog's Rant

Bonds will always be an asterisk to fans

SAN FRANCISCO – Going to the Major League Baseball All-Star festivities this week is my second chance to see in person the strange story of Barry Bonds.

It is a strange story too. Here he is, on the verge of breaking the most hallowed record in all of sports, the career home run record, and he is hated everywhere he goes.

Except in San Francisco of course; in this city he is worshipped.

Well they may give him lengthy standing ovations in San Francisco because he plays for the home team and he may bask in the glory of being at home for his final All-Star Game, but there is one thing for sure about Barry Bonds.

The only place he’s loved is here and in the minds of fans, his career home run record will carry an asterisk next to it to anyone outside of this beautiful city.

I don’t like Barry Bonds but that doesn’t make me unusual. I have never met one media person at any event I have been to that likes Barry Bonds. Not one. And those that deal with him on an on-going basis hate him even more.

I respect the fact that he is the greatest hitter of his generation. He was that even before he turned into the Michelin Man and hit 73 homers after playing 16 seasons and never hitting 50 in a single year before that.

Humm, wonder how he did that. Oh yes that’s right, he’s never had a positive drug test. And even if he did take steroids they weren’t illegal in baseball until recently. And they are apparently wide spread, so you can’ hold it against Bonds because he wasn’t the only one cheating – and it really wasn’t cheating since it wasn’t against the rules.

That’s what those who defend Bonds say – and even though they are a minority there is logic to that argument.

But being known as a legendary player chasing a legendary record isn’t about just logic – it’s about emotion too. I can acknowledge Bonds achievements, I can accept the circumstances were wide spread and I can accept his defenders’ stance.

But that doesn’t mean I have to like him or have to cheer when the record falls. All of baseball’s power records are tainted, all of them are now meaningless to me and everyone involved in the mess – especially the people that ran the sport who looked the other way for years – are responsible for the way I feel, not just Bonds.

So I’ll enjoy the All-Star festivities, I’ll watch homer No. 756 when it comes and I’ll smile when Bonds is worshipped like a God here and then booed off the field everywhere else he goes.

It is history after all. It is significant and it is interesting I guess. But I, along with a lot of baseball fans, have a one word comment on this “historic” homer to come.

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Comments on The Rant of June 25 on NHL Draft being a show:

“The NHL Draft going prime time is great for Canadian TV ratings. It does the same thing for U.S. TV ratings as it always does though – nothing.” – Rob in Toronto

“It makes me laugh how everybody claims to know so much about junior hockey after the draft, yet those Toronto people don’t watch the games throughout the season.” – Tony in Oshawa

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