The Players In The Barry Bonds Reality Show
Before San Francisco Giants’ slugger Barry Bonds finally passed Hank Aaron’s record for the most career home runs at 756 last night, baseball fans and baseball haters alike were watching and waiting for the inevitable moment when he would be the sole record holder.
Bonds’ often fiery and standoffish attitude towards journalists coupled with the ongoing (and apparently true) allegations that he’s used steroids to help propel his launch into the record books, adds another dramatic side story that has kept everyone glued to their TVs.
Other side stories in this compelling soap opera include Bud Selig, the obviously reluctant commissioner of baseball, and good friend of Hank Aaron.
Selig's openly negative approach to choosing to be in attendance as Bonds broke the record due to the swirling drug allegations placed the second camera shot squarely on his seat once number 756 sailed over the wall.
AND THEN THERE'S HANK AARON HIMSELF!
The entire scene was set with the major names and faces ready for their close up. And now we know the name of the the poor bastard who will be ushered into the record books as Bond's victim. No, I'm not talking about the Mets fan from Queens who caught the ball. I'm talking about the pitcher.
Hurler Mike Bacsik of the Washington Nationals will go down as the one who threw the infamous pitch that will be replayed over and over again for the next 20 years.Despite how many wins, saves, or strikeouts he currently has, this one pitch will be the career identifier next to the pitcher’s name that accompanies the asterisk next to Bonds’.
Bacsik will never shake the label of being the man that allowed it to happen. Had he simply walked the ever-expanding Bonds, that would have garnered more boos and names referring to female genitalia thrown at each pitcher that tries it.
Since this was a lose/lose situation no matter how you look at it, I give credit to Bacsik for allowing the Incredible Hulk of baseball to trot the bases in triumph.
As to each of the pitchers that gave up the other 755? Who cares?
How many times have we seen Aaron’s record breaking homerun on SportsCenter? Have you ever heard anyone even mention his other hits?
Just as he’s rounding second base on that clip, two random fans come running along side him, giving him handshakes and pats on the back. Even after the 10,000th time you’ve seen it, you wonder, “how did they get on the field without being mauled and hauled away? Security and player safety must have not been a concern back in ’73.” So much for nostalgia.
Now that the record's been broken, speculation is already running rampant over when Bonds will retire so that Alex Rodriguez (with his baggage) can break his record. Looks like this reality show has already begun casting for next season.