The best power hitter in the history of baseball is playing right now and the majority of sports fans do not even take notice. Barry Bonds is completely dominating the game of baseball just like the Babe did back in his day. I continue to be amazed with how Barry Bonds continues to smash the ball out of the park with increasing success as he gets older and older. He truly is the type of player that you only see once in a lifetime.
How come none of us, unless we are from San Fransisco, had heard the name Barry Bonds until he broke Mark McGuire's single season homerun record? It is because the media is not interested in Barry Bonds. If the media is not interested in him then no one else will be either. It is the media that creates 'hype' around players. Barry Bonds is making the sporting news this year though. From spring-fall 2003 everyone is talking about Barry Bonds. Will he break Willie Mays' homerun record this year? If they pitch to him. Will he break the Babe's record before he retires? Damn straight! Will be go on to Break Hank Aaron's record one day? That remains to be seen.
Barry Bonds has to much respect for Hank Aaron to break his record. He has even said that he does not want to. However, Hank Aaron has told Barry to go ahead and break it, he feels that he has held it long enough. He even said this after breaking the record years ago, "I'm hoping someday that some kid, black or white, will hit more home runs than myself. Whoever it is, I'd be pulling for him."
Well Hank wants him to break the record, the media does, and so do most baseball fans. But no one would have wanted him to do it more then his father, Bobby Bonds. Bobby passed away in August 2003 and he was at one of his sons games only days before it. Barry wanted to have a homerun that game so badly, that is his style, but the pitchers would not give him anything worth hitting. Barry's first game back after his fathers death he smashed a monster homerun. He stared up at the sky a little longed then he usually does when crossing home plate and held both arms up in the air. It would bring tears to anyones face. He then had to leave the game because his heart rate was too high. He showed real human emotion and even spoke with reporters.
We were ready to open our hearts for Barry Bonds.
