 Barry Bonds likely will go down in baseball history, but for home runs or growth hormone? |
"And down the stretch they come!” That legendary line of announcer Dave Johnson has punctuated the final stretch of many great horse races, including the Triple Crown. But Mr. Johnson’s trademark might best be used to announce another trio of spring races, this time in baseball: Barry Bonds chasing Henry Aaron, Major League Baseball investigator George Mitchell and federal authorities chasing Bonds, and finally, all parties involved chasing time.
Race I
Bonds (for those living in a shoebox with no electricity) has spent about a half decade chasing the most heralded record in sports: a home run mark of 755, which Henry Aaron has held since his last one soared out on July 20, 1976, off California Angles pitcher Dick Drago. At press time, the San Francisco Giants left fielder had reached No. 743, hitting nine home runs in 24 games to start the regular season.
Race II
The cat has been out of the bag that steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs have been used in baseball in recent years. Names, subpoenas and plea bargains are still coming out of that bag. But Bonds is the most elusive target of MLB and the federal investigators.
Two weeks ago, a former employee of the New York Mets clubhouse, Kirk Radomski, admitted to providing steroids, human growth hormone and other performance enhancers to “dozens of current and former Major League Baseball players, and associates, on teams throughout Major League Baseball,” San Francisco U.S. Attorney Scott Schools said in a statement.
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his latest news has left us all pondering (just like we did after the Jason Grimsley investigation and after the BALCO investigation and after the multiple federal investigations and the Capitol Hill questioning): Is this where Bonds’ name finally gets linked?
Race III
Baseball fans want the names of the ‘roids users. Most want one name: Bonds. The Feds want to know if Bonds is involved, and MLB is trying to make something stick against Bonds before his name is forever placed above Aaron’s.
Bonds’ attempt at the home run record should be the most celebrated chase in sports. But this spring, baseball fans are focusing instead on Alex Rodriguez’s April and Dice-K Mania in Boston. Even a rehashing of whether Curt Schilling had blood on his sock during Game Six of the 2004 American League Championship Series garnered a bigger headline than Bonds hitting No. 741. It’s ironic that fans are seeking distraction from Bond’s bid for the record because ignorance and distraction is what created this whole scandalous baseball era in the first place.
Yes, Bonds may get to No. 756 without any part of the steroid scandal sticking to him. Could it be that he’s done nothing? How much do you want to bet that karma visits the powers that be in baseball (i.e., Commissioner Bud Selig, the owners, the general managers, the media, and so on) who looked away while certain individuals took advantage of their laxness—the era when no matter the cost, the baseballs flew out of stadiums and the money and ticket holders came flying in?
The race is on. Who will win? Only time will tell.
Wes McElroy hosts “The Final Round” on ESPN 840am. Monday-Friday 4pm-6pm.