2. Some sad news out of Atlanta today: apparently police want to talk to Pac-Man Jones of the Tennessee Titans about a shooting that might have involved people he knew. I’m just sad because nothing was beaten to death more than Pac-Man Jones jokes, especially among sports bloggers. Seriously, one “making it rain” joke in the comments and I’ll ban you from here for life. (For the record, it doesn't sound like anyone was seriously hurt.)
3. What else…here’s a weird story on SI.com. Delta Airlines is going to have a plane with a picture of Hank Aaron on it. (Apparently Delta is based in Atlanta, though I always think of them as the airline who thinks everyone should fly through Salt Lake City.) I guess it’s named after Hank, and it’s a Boeing 757, which is sort of close to his home-run total of 755.
Aaron had some surprisingly odd/awed quotes:
"I am honored and sometimes you know I pinch myself every now and then to see whether it is real or not," Aaron said.
Added the 73-year-old Aaron: "I am so thrilled to have an airplane named after me. This is something I never dreamed about. As my mother always said, you've come a long ways baby, and enjoy yourself."
Wow. Did Aaron never get recognition for anything as a player? What a dorky thing to get so excited about, though I guess that’s what’s so endearing. Incidentally, I don’t believe the part about him never dreaming about it. Who wouldn’t put a plane being named after them high on a list of life’s goals?
If you actually read the story, it sort of beats you over the head with the real point: Delta, like everyone else, suddenly decided to honor Aaron because Barry Bonds is about to break his career home-run record. This is offensive to everyone, but puzzling to me.
Why do people hate Bonds? Because he ignored the non-existant rule prohibiting the use of steroids in baseball, and because he’s about to break one of the most hallowed records in sports. So what?
Here’s the thing: does owning that record make Bonds a better player than Hank Aaron? No! (Eight Gold Gloves and the 500-500 club do that.) But there’s no law that says you have to honor Barry Bonds now.
4 comments:
it's not the steroids. i mean come on, sammy sosa is just as guilty plus he corks bats. but he's got that golden smile and does that weird kiss my hand peace sign kiss hand peace sign kiss hand peace sign thing to the camera that the fans go ga ga for.
i think people hate bonds, because he's a pretty hateable guy. not very polite. doesn't particularly care about being friendly, doesn't do much for the fans. so you have that.... and if that were the status quo, he'd probably get away with it. but the fact is, you have these lovable baseball stars like big papi or derek jeter and you ask, "hey, why can't bonds be like that."
the answer is... bond stopped doing what he didn't want to do a LONG TIME AGO. he doesn't get paid to be liked, he gets paid to hit home runs.
agreed about him being a better athlete. completely superb. steroids aside, one of the most potent bats of all time. incredibly patient, gets pitched around way more than any one in history... and it was his presence that pretty much spawned the popularity of the defensive strategy known as the "shift."
Yeah, I'd say he was pitched around. Bonds was once intentionally walked with the bases loaded. (Of course, since eventual Rockie Brent Mayne was batting behind him, it ended up paying off.)
You're right-obviously the biggest problem is that Bonds is a jerk. I agree. But I don't think I know how he really is. Sammy Sosa bugs me more because he always seemed way too image-conscious. I don't mean to defend Bonds' personality, though.
I just don't get why the record is sparking such outrage. Ty Cobb has the highest batting average-not as sexy as home runs, but he was ten times worse of a guy. If you think Bonds cheated, can't you say that he was good, but not quite as good as the numbers say, and then just move on? Who cares what the books say?
To me the Bonds hatred is simple: he is a jerk to the media, and they take it out on him by portraying him as a jerk to the general public. There is no harm done because he is a jerk in real life. What bothers me is when the media take a guy who's good to them (like Sosa) and portray him as sainthood incarnate when he is, in fact, just as big a jerk as everyone else.
I agree that Bonds is the better player than Aaron, and some of his physical skills (eye for the ball, bat swing speed) are argubaly the best ever.
As for steroids, do you actually think anything will come out of MLB's investigation? The whole thing looks like a farce to me, but I don't think Bud Selig will care if the end result is further isolating Bonds from the rest of baseball.
Sammy Sosa is one of the most annoying players/personalities of my lifetime.
I don't think the steroids investigation will find anything, no. I think MLB just wanted to buy itself time, but in the end, it will not have worked. Because nothing's going to overshadow the onslaught of negative coverage and public opinion if/when Bonds actually breaks the record.
Post a Comment