Congratulations go out to the new Major League Baseball (MLB) home run king, Mr. Barry Bonds. You are the man, Barry!!

Bonds broke Hank Aaron’s home run record tonight, August 7, off of Mike Bacsik from the Washington Nationals. I’m happy he did it in San Francisco so he could get the respect and admiration he so deserves.

Bonds has been a great player throughout his lifetime since he began playing for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1986. Bonds has been the Most Valuable Player (MVP) seven times. He holds the MLB record for walks and intentional walks. He is a 14-time All-Star.

Bonds NEVER failed a Steroid Test

Barry Bonds has never failed a steroid test. Let me repeat, Barry Bonds has never failed a steroid test.

But many sports reporters feel Bonds did use some sort of performance enhancing drugs based on some illegally leaked grand jury testimony (which is a felony and the person who leaked the testimony was fined around $225,000 and sentenced to two years in jail). Two authors wrote a book called, Game of Shadows, about Bonds saying he had used performance enhancing drugs and this, I believe, is what turned the public against Bonds. This book and subsequent newspaper and TV stories has irreparably harmed Bonds. Unfortunately, even the Sports Media have been suckered into reporting about Bonds from “unnamed sources” or “sources close to the investigation.” Most of their reporting can best be described as yellow journalism.

Some say there will be an asterisk in the record book next to his name as MLB’s home run champion. Barry Bonds has never failed a steroid test.

In Contrast

Tour de France winner, Lance Armstrong, never failed a drug test. A book was written about him saying he used performance enhancing drugs based on stories from people who worked for him. There were a few newspaper stories. Lance Armstrong was presumed innocent by the media, unlike Barry Bonds. Armstrong now lives with the title of the greatest professional road racing cyclist ever. There is no asterisk on his record as the seven-time winner of the Tour de France. You can come to your own conclusions as to why these two great athletes were treated differently.

Something to Remember

The basic premise in our judicial system is that a person is innocent until proven guilty. That has not happened with Barry Bonds. Recently, we saw the three Duke Lacrosse players found guilty by the public before they had a day in court. We all know how that turned out. Being guilty by whom you associate with or what someone says about you or some leaked testimony is not the American way.

The Future

I’ll admit that Bonds’ relationship with the media has not been the best at times, but you have to walk a mile in his shoes to see that since the book came out, many fans as well as most of the sports media have deemed Bonds a cheater. Since Barry Bonds has never failed a drug test, his record must stand by itself – with no asterisk.

Memo to Bud Selig, Commissioner of MLB

You were not in attendance tonight when Bonds broke Aaron’s home run record. You also should have stayed away on Saturday night when Bonds tied your long-time friend, Hank Aaron’s, record. You looked ridiculously stupid and did not even stand until told or motioned to by one of your aides. After standing you did not applaud, smile or nod. You placed your hands in your pockets so that you would not get caught up in the moment and clap. The fans understand that you are not for Barry Bonds, but most of us thought you were for MLB. You dishonored MLB.

Memo to MLB

This summer’s excitement in MLB is due to Barry Bond’s assault on Hank Aaron’s home run record. I watched all his at-bats that I could. I don’t normally watch baseball, but I sure did during the summer of 2007. MLB should take note of that. They should also treat Bonds as the best home run hitter ever – because he is just that, along with being one of the Major League Baseball’s 10 or 15 best players of all time.