755
Writing about Barry Bonds’ pursuit of Hank Aaron’s record has gotten me into the most interesting conversations and disagreements, even with longtime friends. One, a sophisticated sports historian who’s written beautifully and empathetically about early 19th century fighters who engaged in “eye-gouging,” simply cannot stand Bonds because he expects the home run record-holder to be an admirable human being. Another finds following the last-place Washington Nationals far more engaging than watching Bonds break the record. Much of the email I’ve gotten for writing about Bonds and the possibility that people respond to him on racial grounds is incredibly defensive, on the order of “I’m not a racist, because I rooted for Hank Aaron and Willie Mays.” So where is the racism in American society? Since almost no white people will admit to any racism, in anything, does that mean that we’re finally over it? Or do most white folks take comfort in the occasional hate group, since we can at last point to someone who is, undeniably and unquestionably racist and therefore beyond the pale?
But no matter what you think about Bonds and steroids, you have to admire how he finally hit #755. After a miserable eight days and a terrible batting slump, he went to the stadium early yesterday afternoon and took more than 100 pitches in batting practice, working on his swing. Think about that: Barry Bonds, one of the greatest hitters ever, on the verge of holding the premier record in the game, took batting practice to work on his swing. And then, in his first at bat of the evening, he hit the record-tying shot. Very old-fashioned hard work, and it paid off. Hats off to Barry!