A sad day for baseball

I listened to a little of the Mike and Mike Show on the way into work today They were discussing implications of Barry Bonds re-signing with the Giants. Let me just say from the outset that I do not like Bonds. I think he is an egomaniacal jerk. On paper, he may be the greatest slugger of all time, but he is an ass.

Bonds’ decision to play next year means that, barring injury, he will break Henry Aaron’s all time home run record. That is sad. Henry Aaron is a great man who had to endure racism and even death threats on his way to overtaking the Babe. People booed him, threw things at him, and derided him because a black man was going to break the record of the greatest white player in history. But Aaron persevered, and he did it with dignity, respect for the game, and without the steroids that have made a mockery of baseball’s record books. Hank made himself a legend by being a great player and an even better man. Bonds secured his legacy by being a great player made better through pharmacology. It is a real shame that now, Aaron and Bonds will forever be linked. That is unfair to Aaron because the man deserves so much better.

When Bonds hits number 756, Aaron has said that he will not be watching. You know what; neither will I.