Where’s the love, Bud?
On Saturday, Barry Bonds hit home run number 755 to tie Hank Aaron’s home run record. Barry Bonds’ big hit came in the second inning while playing the Padres in San Diego. Although it had been a long eight days since Bonds’ last home run, we all knew this hit would come sooner or later, as will number 756. So let’s save the conversation about whether you love him or hate him. Let’s hold off on the debate on whether an asterisk should mark his name in the record books. We’ll address that issue another day. Today, I want to talk about Bud…
Bud Selig is the MLB Commissioner and reported good friend of Hank Aaron. He has made no secret that he’s not a huge fan of Barry Bonds, but continues to say (over and over) that “No matter what anybody thinks of the controversy surrounding this event, Mr. Bonds’ achievement is noteworthy and remarkable.” For that reason, he has attended the recent San Francisco Giants’ games to witness the big event. Although it is now being reported that he may not attend the next three Giants games, a MLB representative will be there “out of respect for the tradition of the game, the magnitude of the record and the fact that all citizens in this country are innocent until proven guilty.”
So Selig has made his position clear. He is supporting Major League Baseball. He is showing respect for the greatness of the record (just not necessarily for the record breaker). That’s all fine and good.
So when Bonds hit number 755, how do we see Selig showing his support for the game and his respect for the record? From his private box high above the field, Selig stands silent with hands crammed in his pockets. Not a clap, not a cheer, not a smile. His stoic reaction is splashed all over the news. Now the story is not so much about Bonds, but instead it is about Selig’s reaction to Bonds. Even Bonds himself has to field questions about Selig’s reaction to the homer.
Here’s my point: if Selig is all about supporting baseball and recognizing this “noteworthy and remarkable” achievement, then he needs to take the focus off himself and put it back on the record. If he’s claiming to be there for the sake of the game, then surely he can extract his hands from his pockets long enough to applaud. No one’s expecting the man to jump up and down and pass out the hugs, but if he claims he’s supporting baseball, then he needs to support it! Not observe it with a disgruntled look on his face.
What do you think about Selig’s handling of this sticky situation? How about the fact that he may not be attending the next three Giants’ games?
Barry Bonds will get his next chance at breaking Aaron’s record tonight as the Giants take on the Nationals. Will fans be more anxious to see the breaking of the record or how Major League Baseball will acknowledge it?
Tags: barry-bonds, bud-selig, hank-aaron, home-run-record, major-league-baseball, MLB, mlb-record-books, san-francisco-giants
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Great article, I was attending games when Hank played in Milaukee and Seilg was selling cars, if I still have some memory left. Hank was viewed as a good guy as most all players were during that timeframe or I was just naieve.
I don’t think so. The players have changed since then. Too much money changing hands and maybe drugs are a problem. One constant almost remain the same. I believe that the distant between bases is the same, distant to the fence is very similar. It’s still three strikes and four balls or is it the other way around. Hats off to Bond