Later That Same Day
While I tried to ignore the whole Barry Bonds* mania, to a certain extent, it can’t be totally ignored. Earlier this week Barry Bonds*, the one caught in the middle of the steroid scandal in Major League Baseball, not only tied baseball great Hank Aaron for the home run record of 755, but passed Aaron by hitting 756 a couple nights later.
There was much to-do about the whole event as ESPN provided pretty much non-stop coverage of every aspect of the home run record. It was really pretty much an embarrassing “love-fest” with the network fawning over every move he made. The baseball commissioner was in attendance for 755, but not for 756. Hank Aaron, a true baseball hero, was present for neither round-tripper. Who can blame him. The whole world knows Bonds* is a cheater. As a matter of fact, in conversations I’ve had with school Superintendents, they’ve told me even school kids shun the name Barry Bonds* noting that he’s no hero, he’s a cheater.
Reality is, if you stacked Bonds* up against Hammering Hank during Hank’s heyday, Bonds* would pale in comparison.
The day after Bonds* hit #756, President Bush placed a phone call to Barry Bonds*. While we don’t know what all was said, President Bush did say he made no mention of Bonds’ “alleged” use of illegal performance-enhancing drugs that many argue taint his record. Many believe Bonds should have an asterisk behind his name, forever noting that he cheated to get to where he is today. I’m sure the phone call was polite, and pretty much obligatory as well. After all, President Bush usually acknowledges sports accomplishments.
But, later that same day, President Bush appeared on a Fox News program. The President would not speculate on the whole steroid situation, but what he did say, addressed very clearly his feelings on the subject. The President condemned the use of steroids in baseball, and went on to say it sets a “bad example for children.”
