Nathaniel

Shockey

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November 5, 2007

Oh Yes, Barry Bonds, They Can Give You an Asterisk

Maybe it’s because of his uncanny ability to epitomize every negative thing about the crazies in the Bay Area, but I just can’t help but chime in on Barry Bonds’s most recent comments about the historic home run ball, the Hall of Fame and his relationship with both.

Apparently, the Hall isn’t big enough for both Bonds and the historic ball. And since the ball itself seems willing to accept its invitation, “I will never be in the Hall of Fame. Never. Barry Bonds will not be there.” In case you were confused, that was all a Barry Bonds quote. He went from first to third person mid-paragraph. (Who’s on first? Barry? Is that you?)

He continues: “That's my emotions now. That's how I feel now. When I decide to retire five years from now, we'll see where they are at that moment. We'll see where they are at that time, and maybe I'll reconsider.”

A few things: I think what he means is, “Those are my emotions right now.” But the point is, at this very moment, as long as the Hall has not officially extended an invitation to Bonds (they must wait five years after a player retires to vote), he is not accepting. He simply refuses to go somewhere he has not been invited. Of course, his feelings may change down the road, in about, I don’t know, five years or so. Wow, what a stand this man is taking. What guts! Nothing says “I’ll never be in the Hall of Fame – never” like, “Maybe I’ll reconsider.”

He continues, “But it's their position and where their position will be will be the determination of what my decision will be at that time." You might need to read it a few times. It took me a while to work out the syntax. I think it’s just another, slightly more mysterious way of saying “Maybe I’ll reconsider.” But then again, it’s hard to be sure, and for what it’s worth, I think he had just woken up when they were interviewing him.

"I don't think you can put an asterisk in the game of baseball, and I don't think that the Hall of Fame can accept an asterisk," Bonds said. "You cannot give people the freedom, the right to alter history. You can't do it. There's no such thing as an asterisk in baseball."

Well, actually, there is such a thing. There’s an asterisk on a very significant baseball right now. And not only can the Hall accept it, they are “delighted” to, according to their president.

But that’s probably not Bonds’s point. I think he means the whole thing just seems wrong. It’s just so wrong! It’s like watching a child wreck your kid in a wrestling match and asking the person next to you, “Can he do that?”

Yes, Bonds, they can do that. It’s perfectly legal, and as to whether or not it is right or wrong, maybe he should have thought of that before taking whatever drugs/creams/tic-tacs his trainer gave him without thinking to ask, “By the way, can I do this?”

No, Bonds, you can’t. And the truth is, even if there weren’t an actual asterisk on the ball, the only person who would ever look at number 756 without seeing an asterisk directly between the stitching would be Barry Bonds.

© 2007 North Star Writers Group. May not be republished without permission.

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