Yes, sir. Barry Bonds is still a San Francisco Giant. I'm pretty pleased. Not thrilled that he's getting $16 million, based on his lack of production last year, but that's business. Everyone is getting way overpaid this year. And I'd rather overpay Barry Bonds for one year than Juan Pierre for 4 or 5 or something.
But I'm happy. The thing is, I'm only half joking when I say that if there is a god, it's Barry Bonds. Giants fans literally worship this guy. Yet non-Giants fan literally want him dead. I think it's an amazing story that a man can be so hated by the country as a whole except for one little pocket, where is unconditionally loved. Someone should write about a thesis about it. But there's no reason for the immense hatred. There is reason for dislike. He's not a media-friendly guy, and that will bring negative attention. But there are so many people who hate him so much, and this I feel is misguided. The whole steriods thing is obviously what pushed it over the edge. He was severely disliked, and this issue gave everyone--fans, media, etc.--an exuse to expand their dislike into hatred. But for you Bonds-haters out there, ask yourself one question: "What Major League Baseball rule did he break?" The answer, to our knowledge, is that he has not broken any. Maybe he took steroids. (I remind you that still no cold-hard proof has been presented to us, and that in this country, we are innocent until proven guilty. That said, I believe he did take some steroids. But that's neither here nor there). If he did - fine, throw him in jail for steroid use. While your at it Make room for Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Rafael Palmiero, Brady Anderson, Jose Canseco, Jason Giambi, etc. And a lot more low profile players as well. For example, Rich Aurilia, who the Giants just signed for his 2nd stint with the stint, had an out-of-body season in (I think it was) 2001. Probably due to performance enhancing drugs. Also make room in jail for me and about a billion people I know who have used pot. But stop hating this man when he didn't break any of the rules MLB had in place when he allegedly took these drugs. You are using a double standard, and you suck for doing so.
It's the same issue for the "Should McGwire go to the Hall of Fame?" debate. The answer of course, is yes. I will go as far to say you are an idiot if you think not. And that's a bold statement. I just called a lot of people idiots right there. But what Baseball rule did he break? None. Fine, keep him off the first ballot to make a little anti-steroid statement and save this celebration for Cal Ripken and Tony Gwynn. But there is no quesiton that he should be in the Hall of Fame. Babe Ruth dominated the game in the dead-ball era. Mark McGwire dominated the game in the steroid era.
There is a specific rule in the MLB rulebook that states that pitchers cannot have pine tar or any other foreign substance on their hand while pitching. Kenny Rogers did in the playoffs and World Series last year, but nothing happened to him. He broke a rule. Mark McGwire didn't.
And to close, I'd like to remind you again, as I have done before: Barry Bonds is going to break the record. It's almost a sure thing. Well, I guess that's not necessarily true. But he needs 22 HRs to break it. I'm optimistically predicting 30. Point is, he is probably going to do it. The best thing for you haters to do is to start dealing with it now. Whining about it won't do anything. Accept it. Better yet, embrace it. This is one of America's greatest records. And you are going to be alive when it's broken. It's a big deal. Love it.
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