FanNation - The Republic of Sport

It must be Wednesday again...so here is the next installment of TTAMIS.....the week's topic: Soccer....

 Actually, not really. It's the obvious....B-B-Barry Bonds is my topic of choice.

 In case the cave you habitate doesn't get basic cable or you have not spoken to anyone today....B-B-Barry stumbled over the Hammer's cherished record sometime while we were sleeping. Bad things usually happen then.  I am disappointed.

Disappointed that B-B-Barry did it.  Anyone that chooses to believe this numchuk has not used performance enhancers is totally oblivious and is also probably working for the Bush administration.

Disappointed in the MLB commissioner.  How many times can one person flip-flop? I mean John Kerry was getting annoyed with Bud. I will say this, I think the Commissioner of baseball should be there. Let's get this out in the open and smack it around some.  The Commissioner is employed by MLB. His job is full of ceremonious tasks.  His obligation should be there for the "big events" that happen under his watch.  Whether he agrees, approves, or has no opinion, he should be there.  What I am disappointed in is Bud's constant waffling.  Here's hoping that the man finds a spine in his next life.  How's that for a zen approach?

Disappointed in Hank Aaron.  I know this one will really set off the fireworks. But, after all of the talk about how he was not going to attend the "moment", that he silently and stoicly disapproved of B-B-Barry, he sends a video message congratulating him.  Hank come on.  Although according to Pedro Gomez of ESPN this message was "negotiated" over a week ago? I'm not sure what that means.

Lastly, I know that I'm far from alone in this tepid view of B-B-Barry.  Why do we root against him? My pacifist wife was hoping for his doom, I heard priests and rabbi's praying for Devine Intervention.  I have considered this.  We dislike Barry for two main reasons; 1) He's B-B-Barry.  Hard to cheer for a man that is so sarcastic, egotistical, and selfish.  He comes just a hair short of saying "I'm Barry Bonds and I'm better than you, all of you." The rumors, inuenndo, books, and mistresses don't help his cause much.  Hank Aaron played in an era where teamates couldn't eat and sleep in the same places because of skin color.  Barry lays claim to oppression and pain because he grew up the child of a highly paid major leaguer. 2) Obviously Mark McGuire's star has fallen in recent years, but you would root for him because during his career he was a likeable guy.  Played hard, worked hard, he was a players' player.  I doubt that could be said for Bonds.  So while San Francisco yuks it up and basks in his glory....the rest of the payin' customers cringe.  Last Saturday evening, while I was walking out of PNC Park in Pittsburgh, the PA announcer informed the crowd of B-B-Barry's matching Hank's record.  The collective boo's spoke volumes.  Here's hoping that this once hallowed record gone cheap will be eclipsed as cheaply soon. 

Thanks for playing along

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