October 31, 2002

ALL-TIME GREATS SHOULD BE REVERED NOT REVILED

    Willie Mays was supposedly a sourpuss.  Ted Williams was cold and distant.  Hank Aaron was forced into isolation by a powerful racial bias against him.  Ty Cobb was mean and vindictive.  Is it any wonder that Babe Ruth is held in such high esteem?  The Babe was just a big kid who wanted to have fun.   These are the names at the top of the list of All-Time Greats.  Fortunately for us, many of our generation's All-Time Greats--names like Ripken, Gwynn, Molitor understood how privileged they were to earn millions of dollars and to be able to, essentially, play a kids game.   Even a grumbler like McGwire found a way to embrace the game as his career wound down, and the Big Redhead was greatly embraced in return.  They understood their place in history and felt a genuine debt of gratitude toward their poorly paid predecessors.  They knew that the soul of the game lies in the glory and the sorrow of a man named Jackie Robinson.  Its unfortunate that there are those now climbing the list who are unaware, or unconcerned, with the trials and tribulations of those who paved the path before them.  These are the men whose names are smudged on that all-time list--men like Clemens and Rose and Rickey.  And then there's Bonds.  Barry is quickly rising up the list and could very well end up on top of it before his career is over.  Unfortunately, he will also be on the top of another All-Time Greats list--that of biggest asses.

     Modern times, and ballooning salaries, have distanced the fan from the player.  No longer is the player considered "one of us".  Now the hope is that the player "could be" one of us, that he has the ability to communicate, is genuine, and can bring out the good in people.   How could anyone not like Ripken?  He's 'the working class hero'.  Ryan is in the same class.  Molitor overcame early demons to earn his place on the list, and Gwynn never lost that sweet smile or that sweet stroke.  Bonds, however, mainly exudes the negative side of stardom; the side encompassing greed, lust and glory--where every action and every reaction occurs around and because of him.  He is the center of the universe.  This blatant narcissism would be problematic enough except for the fact that it is matched with an equal share of contempt for everyone around him.  Its almost as if Barry's family was constructed simply out of his natural urge to sire an heir.  His wife was the tool.  Barry doesn't recognize anyone's right to life outside of his own.   Nobody is as important as he is, and if he is questioned he responds with slings and arrows.  A stepping razor.

    Barry has always been self-centered; that's not the issue.  Bonds has been among the best in the game for nearly two decades, has earned millions of dollars, and has accumulated enough awards to satisfy any man.  He was considered one of the best all-around players to have ever put on a major league uniform.  But when teammate Jeff Kent, a man of equal malevolence, was given the MVP after the 2000 season because of a better personality Bonds decided that any future comparisons would be moot.  From then on Bonds would leave little doubt as to who was the best player.  He showed up at camp in the spring of 2001 encased in another man's body; a much larger man's body.  Substances had assisted in the substantial size increase.  The bigger body wouldn't help him hit a baseball, but it would make the ball carry a little further.  Doubles off the wall suddenly turned into gargantuan clouts, and helped him club a single season record for home runs.  This accomplishment lifted him into the pantheon of All-Time Greats.  He indeed showed the baseball world that he was better than Kent; that he was better than everyone else; that he was one of the All-Time Greats.  Bonds denied any substance use.  His new body had merely come from weight training.  Nobody believed him.  He didn't care.  He never does care what anyone else thinks.  And, after all, these substances, while representing a danger to the body, were not illegal in baseball.  Bonds justified, rationalized, and explained.  He was fortified by his own beliefs.  The future was unimportant; it didn't matter how his body felt later in life, he needed to make his mark today.  This was the time to stamp his name on that list.  The consistent numbers he had annually accomplished were not spectacular enough to stand him apart from everyone else, and that was his ultimate goal.  Bonds doesn't like company, he likes being by himself.  He has accomplished that goal as well.

    So while the man of petulance and irritability climbs the list of All-Time Greats he looks at the pieces that are missing from a perfect career.  The home run record of 2001 was followed by his first batting title and a stunning record for on base percentage.  This past year Bonds may have put together the greatest season in the history of the game.  The only thing missing from his resume was playoff success.  He had been to the playoffs early in his career with Pittsburgh without success.   He had been to the playoffs later in his career with the Giants and again had very little success.  He had to deal with being labelled a playoff choker.  Being the all-time single season home run champion; being the only man who will ever reach the figure of 500 in both home runs and stolen bases; being the man who has won the most MVP awards; being the man with his sights on the top of the highest profile list in baseball--most career home runs was not enough.   The 2002 year was about getting his team into the playoffs.  He needed to eradicate the memory of his playoff failures.  He would show everybody what a great player he was, that he was not a playoff choker, and that he could fit into the team concept.  If his team won the World Series, and he was named MVP, it would silence each of his critics.  They wouldn't have any ammunition left.  They would have to admit his greatness.  And he could gloat.  Unfortunately for Barry his team failed him.  His team lost but it wasn't his fault.  Just ask him.  He did everything possible to ensure victory.  The fault lay at the feet of others.    The loss could not and would not overshadow his playoff success.  He had done what he wanted to do.

    For Barry Bonds his goals are now small.  Winning a World Series would be nice, but it is not essential to ensure his place on the list of All-Time Greats.  Breaking Aaron's record for most home runs in a career would be nice, but with four more good years needed and with the likelihood of his body failing quickly, like McGwire's, it is likely too far away.  For Barry Bonds he has established himself in the pantheon of baseball greats; he has placed his name among the few others under the banner of best ballplayers ever.  He has great career numbers, has had great individual seasons, and had a great playoff run.  There is no doubt that Barry Bonds is a great player.

    Its too bad that his accomplishments can't be applauded.  It's too bad that the man's attitude diminishes his success.  He will be a first ballot hall-of-famer simply because his numbers say that it will be so.  But despite all that it is impossible to feel good for Bonds.  He has our respect, but in baseball All-Time Greats should be revered.  There is too much dislike for there to be any reverence.

    Barry Bonds needs to be the best at everything and perhaps he should be given credit.  As far as asses go, he is definitely an All-Time Great.