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Pickle
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There's a lot of hand-wringing about the possibility that Barry Bonds, size 8 3/4 head and all, may hit more career home runs than Hank Aaron. It will probably happen, and we really shouldn't care. Here's why.
1) Nothing will do more to highlight the fraud that Bonds has become than for him to set the record. Imagine the stories the next day (in every paper but the San Francisco Chronicle) -- the leads will run something like this: "An oddly silent crowd at Shea Stadium watched Barry Bonds, dogged by allegations of steroid use, hit a major-league record 756th home run yesterday." Google the words "bittersweet" and "Bonds" the next day and you'll get about 750 hits.
Let's face it. Bonds used steroids. Everyone knows it. He has lied about it for years -- usually in the most arrogant and ungracious way. When MLB has to face him setting the record -- and own up to the cowardly way they have let him and others like him off the hook -- the awkwardness of the moment may be the one thing that forces them to finally do something about it.
2) If anything, Hank Aaron's star will shine brighter in Bonds' shadow. Aaron's talent, class, and the way he soldiered on to the record in the face of some of the most vehement racism imaginable (Bonds doesn't know a thing about real persecution, as much as he may whine) will be all the clearer in comparison to Bonds. The joy of that moment of Aaron rounding third, with two fans cheering him down the base path, with surpass any image from Bonds' record-setting HR.
3) Let's just skip the debate of whether there should be an asterisk in the record-book. The public will see one there, whether it's printed or not.
4) Once he sets the damn record, we can finally stop talking about him.
So bring it on, Barry. Your big moment will be as hollow and meaningless as you can imagine, and won't take one bit of shine off of Hank Aaron.
