yeah i was watching PTI then all of a sudden i see bonds hitting the home run, i was like what the hell? but hey good for bonds
A nice treat for all of us who tivo PTI... if you save this one, you've got a part of history. I found it ironic that right before they pre-empted PTI, Tony and Mike had just done a rift on how all this media coverage, and how they're CUTTING IN LIVE, was just a bunch of ESPN created meaningless hype. one minute later... ESPN cuts in, and Bonds hits it. Classic! You can catch another PTI at 5:30 on ESPN2
and man, bonds knocked the **** out of that ball, the guys in the little kayaks in the water were diving for it, i wonder if they will give the ball to bonds
But it's not history, Mike and Tony were right. He didn't break a record, he's now tied for third on the home run list, big freakin deal! If the guy who was third on the list was anyone other than Mays no one would care. Was it a big deal when he passed whoever was at #4, of course not. Wake me up when he hits 756.
Thank you, was going to say the same thing, but not sure how people would of reacted, in my opinion i believe bonds did use steroids, i mean just look at the guy when he was with Pitt stealing bags like no other, and not hes huge and he cheeks puffed out (effect of steroids, or so i have heard)
i wonder if in 30 or 40 years if someone will hit 1000. it sure seems like homeruns are up every year.
How does it have relatively little significance? Relative to what or who? He ties his Godfather and one of his childhood idols, Willie Mays, as #3 all time on the home run list. From his interviews, he seems genuinely reticent to surpass Mays on any record list. Notwithstanding all this pandering about steroid use, I'm really happy for the guy.
That was 12 freaking years ago! Do you think McGwire used steroids? What about Brady Anderson? Brett Boone? There are more that either got big or exploded with uncharacteristic power. Bonds has been jacking balls out of the park consistently for years. He deserves the accolades he is getting.
My feelings follow what Neyer said on ESPN.com "Barry Bonds is not about to break the major league record for home runs. That's 755 (Hank Aaron). He's not about to break the National League record for home runs. That's 733 (also Aaron). He's not even about to break the Giants' franchise record for home runs. That's 644 (fellow named Willie Mays). I mean, I'm sorry, but I just can't get that excited about somebody grabbing the No. 3 spot on any list. Was it a big story on Aug. 9, 1960, when Ted Williams hit his 511th home run, tying Mel Ott for third on the all-time list? Was it a big story on June 23, 1966, when Mays hit his 521st home run, tying Williams for third on the all-time list? Was it a big story in 1972 when Aaron tied Mays for second on the all-time list?" http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=neyer_rob&id=1780658
Maybe it's just me then. But I can empathize with a guy who is about to surpass a record held by his Godfather -- basically a family member Bonds spent a great deal of time with growing up. To me, surpassing a record held by someone of such a great personal stature in one's life is an emotional undertaking. Neyer's doesn't address this in his argument. Even if Neyer is void of any heart surely he can empathize with the possibility of such emotion.
Whatever we, or the media, or ESPN thinks... Barry Bonds cared THE MOST about this number. He'll probably feel a little more emotions to this... maybe even moreso than the 73... simply because this man (Willie Mays) was almost as close to him as his real father was. His boyhood idol... the greatest living player of his team... the guy every player of his generation wanted to "be like." He's historically gone on record as saying he'll feel less emotion when he passes Ruth... that passing Mays is the one that will hit home. Just for that, this number gains more significance. Should we remember the pitcher who gave it up? no. Should we remember when and where we were? no. But, you can't point out that him tying Mays is "insignificant." Plus... its not like we're seeing this happen every season/every year... and its also not like they've been cutting away to show EVERY ONE of his HR's the past two years (it only feels like that). As somebody who was not alive during the Hank Aaron era, I feel lucky to be getting to witness these momentous occasions... and it doesn't matter if its 660, 700, 715, or 755. They'll all be events that my generation has never seen... and I'll be glad when they cut away to show them.
