Barry Bonds came out swinging, and mostly missing, on Tuesday in his first media appearance since steroids rocked the off-season. In his rambling session with reporters, Bonds eschewed the lead of Jason Giambi and offered no apologies. As a matter of fact, Bonds shrugged and said “I did steroids, so what?”
So what? So what!? As Bonds approaches two of the most hallowed numbers in the game-Babe Ruth’s 714 and Hank Aaron’s 755-the question of legitimacy looms heavy. For Bonds to nonchalantly act as though the steroids issue is a mere media creation is a slap in the face to the integrity of the game.
Baseball is a game of tradition, its history stamped on every post-Civil War decade. In the end, though, all we are left with is numbers: DiMaggio’s 56, Ripken’s 2,131, and eventually Bond’s *756.
What Bonds may not realize, and probably wouldn’t care about if he did, is that he is downright offensive. As to why the chase of Ruth was receiving so much scrutiny, Bonds replied, “Because Babe Ruth is one of the greatest baseball players ever, and Babe Ruth ain’t black, either. I’m black. Blacks, we go through a little bit more.” If Bonds thinks that is the reason for the scrutiny, he is more of a moron than anyone originially thought. Hank Aaron answered questions about race as he approached Ruth; he was getting more death threats than hittable pitches. For Bonds to play a race card at all only further diminishes what will be baseball’s least greatest achievement.
The solution is simple: Bonds should walk away. He would do more for his legacy now by leaving than he would by breaking Aaron’s record. Aaron is one of baseball’s greatest ambassadors; Bonds is one of basbeall’s greatest hypocrites, kicking in the groin the very people who pay his enormous salary.
“As cheating? I don’t-I don’t know what cheating is. I don’t know cheating, if steroids are going to help you in baseball,” Bonds said. Well, Barry, let me define cheating for you: gaining unfair advantage by deception or breaking rules. Breaking rules, not really, but deception, sure. The definition also includes swindle, as in swindling fans out of money who thought they were seeing a natural athlete. I may not speak for many, but I speak for a proud few purists, if there are any left: just walk away, Barry.
