Jerks

AP Photo/Jeff Chiu

All of the sports news for the past two days has been focused on these two jerks. As mentioned in the previous post, Bonds was indicted by a Federal Grand Jury yesterday, and most of the talking heads have spent the past 24 hours discussing it. Some are surprised at the timing - why now, after nearly four years of investigations. Some are saying he's been persecuted (okay, it's mainly his defense attorney and Stephen A. Smith who are saying this). Others express little surprise beyond why it took so long. What is their evidence, one wonders? Must be good.

The jerk on the right is, of course, Alex Rodriguez, now the highest paid man in baseball. After opting out of his contract with the Yankees in search of more money. His agent, the spawn of the devil, Scott Boras, convinced Alex that there was huge $$ out there. Well, a week later, Alex has crawled back to the Yanks and renegotiated a deal - with Boras forbidden entrance into the room.

One has to wonder how the New York fans will receive ARod on opening day. Many had begun to boo him at the Stadium, and I would imagine those he had begun to win over will be miffed. Could be interesting.

Not a shocker

AP Photo

Barry Bonds was indicted yesterday on Federal charges of perjury and obstruction of justice. They weren't able to actually prove he's done steroids, but found proof that he lied to the Grand Jury about testing positive for them. What this means is that Bonds will be like Capone - they could never get Capone for murder or other felonies, but got him on tax evasion. So it is with Bonds - couldn't get him on steroid use, so we'll go a different route.

A tale of two icons

So, tonight at Fenway two icons will appear with the San Francisco Giants. And they represent such opposite ends of the spectrum - and I anticipate two totally different reactions from the Fenway Faithful.

Barry Bonds will be playing DH for the Giants, and he's on his way to breaking Hank Aaron's home run record. He stands tonight at 747, only needing 13 more. Yet the whole record chase is tainted, according to most fans. There is the shadow of doubt over whether Bonds' homers were fueled by steroids. You can't deny the photo comparisons between Bonds in the 90s and how he looks now. All evidence seems to point to steroid use. So, should his record have an asterix? How should we celebrate the occasion when he passes the record?

Personally, I feel he did take steroids, and I do think that he's cheating. I don't think I can celebrate his breaking of the record. Hank Aaron did it clean, and did it in the face of incredible opposition - most of it racially motivated. I'd have an incredible amount of respect for Bonds if he chose to retire one short of the record. But I don't see that happening. In the interest of full disclosure, one of my summer reading books is "Game of Shadows" - so I should be able to weigh in with more clarity soon!

On the other end of the spectrum is their lead-off hitter. Dave Roberts will forever be an adored icon in Boston - his steal of 2nd in Game 4 of the 2004 ALCS really shifted the momentum of that series. Without his steal, we lose that series, and never win the 2004 World Series. I had the chance to meet him last year in Atlanta, when he played for the Padres. He was so complimentary of RS fans, talked about how they always came out and supported him in every city. A total class act! I can't wait to hear the reaction from the fans - and he leads off tonight, so the wait won't be long.