What I Think About Bonds (Finally!)
Yeah, I've been packing for school and driving from Texas to Indiana, plus throw USMS Long Course Nationals in there and there's no time left for Barry Bonds.
But as I sit in this most comfortable bed, I have decided to give all of you my opinion on Barry Bonds and the HR record. I know you've been waiting with bated breath and haven't read ENOUGH opinions on the subject matter, so I shall give you what you desire.
I've been keeping a VHS tape in the VCR this summer labeled "Let's Watch History!" Recognizing this summer as a summer of milestones, my original intention was to record those milestones being reached and broken for posterity. Or maybe a slow winter day. I missed the opportunity to tape Sammy Sosa's 600th HR (cruise to Alaska!), but I did see it live. I decided to stay home from the game that Biggio eventually got his 3000th hit and have that, as well as three of his other hits from that night. Somewhere in there is a long stretch of tennis, with Rafael Nadal making a hard push at winning Wimbledon but it ended up being Federer's historic 5th. And then Bonds, with #755.
I'll probably best remember the #756 game as the one wherein Barry Zito managed to groundout into an RBI, his first in his Major League career. Honestly, Barry Z means more to me than Barry B, and no matter what, that's not going to change. Many people say no one will remember that the Giants lost that game, but I will, because Z was in line for the win before the bullpen blew it.
The worst part of that game wasn't the record-breaking home run and Barry Bonds being booed all across the nation. No, it was Barry Zito being booed by San Francisco, an act absolutely unacceptable to me. Here's a pitcher you're going to have on your roster for at least six more seasons -- love him. You're going to be miserable if you don't.
My mom told me this morning that the Reds radio guys here in Indiana were talking about what a huge mistake SF made by signing him to that monster contract. I explained to her that he's never been on the DL and he likely never will. I don't even feel jinxy when I say that! That's how much confidence I have in the arm of Barry Zito. Besides that, everyone knows what he's capable of -- he just needs a little confidence from himself in order to achieve it.
So this is what I think about Bonds: Willie Mays is his godfather and Bonds is a San Francisco legacy. Aaron congratulated him in front of all of baseball. The record is not tainted. It is what it is and when it's broken Alex Rodriguez will accept the congratulations from Bonds, who will have held that record for a far shorter amount of time than Hank, befitting his lack of grace next to Aaron.
I know that if you allow yourself to admit it, you stood from your chair or couch or barstool -- whatever you were sitting on to watch the game -- and your heart skipped a beat as that ball shot out of that park. You think the fact that Bonds thinks the ball belongs to the fan, not the player, is somehow admirable and you have given him some of your respect for that.
I'll remember that moment forever, his arms raised in not triumph but relief. We all moved on in that instant, the weight of that record and what it means shifting onto a new level, not as heavy and not as prominent.
You were watching history and that is special no matter who's making it.
