AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2007 > July > 08 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USBonds will get cheers on road for 756
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Terence Moore
The odds are that Barry Bonds will join Hank Aaron with 755 home runs by the end of the month. Plus, given how the schedule is flowing, the San Francisco Giants slugger could rip his tying blast and maybe the record-breaker in Chicago or Milwaukee.
That’s opposed to northern California, where the hometown fans have been among the few to suggest they’d rather hug the Giants slugger than choke him.
Here’s a prediction, though: A universal hug for Bonds is coming.
All you need to know is that, if Bonds does create history on the road with a blast or two, that ballpark not named for AT&T will rock as much as if the Golden Gate Bridge were nearby. Those inside will forget that Bonds is supposedly the Great Satan of baseball’s steroid era, and they will stand, cheer and applaud as loudly as if Bonds were one of their own.
“Well, you may be right about that,” said Aaron, who should know. “Generally, when you’re in that situation of [achieving immortality on the road], that’s true.”
What’s true is that people cheer the moment more than the individual. Such was the case for Aaron 33 years ago, when he had it significantly worse than Bonds. While Bonds is an African-American chasing the record of another African-American, Aaron was turning “714” into yesterday’s magic number, and the old mark belonged to Babe Ruth, an icon of white America.
Only the hate mail for Aaron was greater than the death threats. He also was forced to battle the combination of racists and pitchers during a time when the Civil Rights Act was barely a decade old.
So there was Aaron, opening the 1974 season with the Braves just one home run shy of Ruth’s record in Cincinnati of all places. We’re talking about the same city that pounded Jackie Robinson with racial slurs during his first road trip with the Brooklyn Dodgers. We’re talking about the same city that was so provincial that former Reds president Dick Wagner had a rule barring stadium officials from mentioning the achievements of opposing players — even those who once played for the Reds.
We’re talking about the same city that exploded with joy after Aaron lined a shot over the left-field wall of Riverfront Stadium during the first inning.
“Going into that game, I never thought about it, really, about how [the Cincinnati fans] might react, and then, after I tied the record, all of those fans were as jubilant as the fans would have been if I had hit it in Atlanta,” Aaron said. “Despite all the [hate mail and death threats] that I was receiving, I had thousands of people at the time who were on my side.”
This isn’t to say Aaron was completely fearless back then regarding the public, especially on the road. “I always thought the safest place for me, no matter what I was doing, was on a baseball field,” said Aaron, who had extra security for himself and his family during the Ruth chase from the commissioner’s office, the Braves and local authorities. “I always felt very protected, like nothing ever was going to happen to me on a baseball field.
“Still, you never know about somebody just being an outright nut. Most of the time, they can’t get to the field, but you have to be careful just going from your house to the car, or from the car to the grocery store. You never know what somebody might do. You always have some nut in a crowd who wants to make headlines.”
There was last month, for instance, when a guy trotted into left field in San Francisco to shake Bonds’ hands. Turns out, the guy wasn’t a threat, but it showed what a nut could do. Aaron sighed, saying, “I had somebody in Chicago [during the Ruth chase], and I don’t know what he said, but he did come up to me, and those who heard his words said they were derogatory.”
Then Aaron chuckled, adding, “Hey, it didn’t matter. I was safe. You had that one guy out there, and I was getting on the team bus with a lot of friends.”
Permalink | Comments (31) | Post your comment | Categories: Braves / MLB, Terence Moore
Comments
By Diogenes
July 9, 2007 10:55 AM | Link to this
Race, race, race, race, race, race, race, race, race … blah, blah, blah, blah … snore, snore, snore, snore … zzzzz, zzzzz, zzzzz, zzzzz, zzzzz, zzzzz … .
By Lex Luthor
July 9, 2007 11:04 AM | Link to this
Honestly, I could care less if he breaks the record. I think that’s the way most people feel. No one is talking about the record like they did when Big Mac broke the single season record. Its like a rocket car taking the land speed record away from a bicycle. One record was human powered and the other was synthetically engineered.
If Griffey breaks Bond’s record then yes, there will be something to cheer for.
By Proud Dawg
July 9, 2007 11:20 AM | Link to this
Another race based article from terence. Is this all that this pathetic excuse for a journalist knows to write about?????
By Billl
July 9, 2007 11:38 AM | Link to this
Who cares!!!!!!!!! If the bloggers would quite giving this joke (Terence Moore) the attention, maybe they would throw him out. I guess the AJC figures negative attention is good attention so MOore keeps tootin’ his mindless horn. We should back off blogging on all his articles people. Let’s have our say for once by not blogging.
By Bill
July 9, 2007 11:41 AM | Link to this
Let’s not blog on Terrence Moore’s articEvles. They are so bad!!!!!! Everyone says it but the ony thing that works an e-boycott so maybe journal throws him out.
By D-Cider
July 9, 2007 11:50 AM | Link to this
It is a big deal and Bonds deserves recognition for the feat. Will it be tainted in my eyes? Sure, but that doesn’t matter either. He never failed a drug test and since baseball was complicit in the whole steroids fiasco, why not? The blog from Lex Luthor about McGwire’s record being human powered is pure BS. he was on the juice, too. Griffey isn’t going to break the record, A-Rod might.
Another thing, the part about race in this article is actually relevant for once, since Moore is comparing what Aaron went through and what Bonds is facing. But, Robinson faced issues in a lot of places besides Cincy.
By SouthGaRebel
July 9, 2007 11:54 AM | Link to this
I will be booing wherever I am be it at home or a sports bar but I assure you there will be no “hug”. In fact, I’m personally boycotting the All-Star game because Bonds was voted in over the much more deserving Soriano. Bonds hasn’t played full time this year and he has cheated to get the record. Bonds is 10 times worse than Pete Rose in my book. Rose never took anything to help him play better. As for the race baiting article. Terrance, the only racist is you. Do you think you can write a column not invoking the race card? You’re a disgrace to your race and the journalism profession. Aaron will always be the home run king until a non-steroid user breaks his record. Bonds’ record is fake just like his muscles at 44 years old.
By Chris Brown
July 9, 2007 12:10 PM | Link to this
Good article Terence. Records are made to be broken, but we still know Hank will always be the TRUE HR KING!
By The Babe
July 9, 2007 1:29 PM | Link to this
D-Cider is right about Bond’s never failing a drug test and the attitude of baseball a few years ago. Bonds deserves a break and any true baseball fan who witnesses the feat will cheer.
Aaron by the way needs to do a little more to embrace this moment. He is taking too hard a stance on this. Willie Mays is going to gain points with people as a classier guy with his godfather status and appearance tomorrow night before the game.
As for Lex Luthor, if you could care less please do. (it’s couldn’t care less dummy)
By Lex Luthor
July 9, 2007 1:30 PM | Link to this
D-Cider that’s not what I was saying. I’m not endorsing Big Mac’s home runs either. But we were much more excited. Barry Bonds breaking the 755 mark is about as exciting as watching a rocket car take the land speed record …
Why was there more excitement about Mac’s record, who knows. Maybe its because the same press that crucifies Bonds for taking supplements was praising Mac. Andro was praised as a great dietary supplement and only outlawed in 2004.
Most likely, no one really cares about Bonds because he doesn’t really care about anyone but himself.
In the future please be a little less offensive when you misinterpret something.
By GaSouthpaw
July 9, 2007 2:12 PM | Link to this
Just FYI for “The Babe”- I am a true baseball fan, and I can assure you that I will NOT be cheering for Bonds or his tainted record breaker. And just so Terrence knows, it has nothing to do with his race- but everything to do with ethics. Bonds is a cheat. A cheat who, though by all accounts a prick, didn’t really need to cheat or gain a suspect record to secure a place in the Hall of Fame. Now, since it’s inevitable that he’ll break the record, I’ll just keep hoping the BBWAA keeps Bonds at home, just like it did McGwire.
By some guy
July 9, 2007 2:30 PM | Link to this
Terence, f*** you and your racist diatribes.
By Paul in J-ville
July 9, 2007 2:49 PM | Link to this
Would all of you anti- Terrance Moore dumba$$e$ go crawl under the rock from which you were conceived from? This is not racist, its factual and you morons (Bill in particular)who say not to Blog anymore continue to do so with your ignorance on your sleeves. Get a life. I am a white mid 40’s guy who doesn’t always agree with TM articles or view points either, in fact think he is border line stupid, but I leave RACE out of it especially when its not there. Quit always screaming “the race card” or just dont blog…..dumba$$e$.
By jmt
July 9, 2007 3:18 PM | Link to this
TERRENCE I DONT KNOW WHY AJC HAS NOT FIRED YOU YET YOU ARE ONE OF THE WORST TABLOID WRITERS I HAVE EVER SEEN. IT IS SO OBVIOUS THAT YOU ARE JEALOUS OF MICHAEL VICK YOU COULD KILL HIM. WHAT DID HE DO TAKE A WOMAN AWAY FROM YOU. ACTUALLY I CAN’T PICTURE YOU WITH ANYONE YOU POOR LONLEY SOUL. I GOING TO PRAY THAT GOD TAKES THE HATE OUT OF YOUR HEART. I WILL ALSO PRAY THAT YOU AND YOUR LOVER JIM ROME ARE FINALLY TOGETHER IT IS OBVIOUS THAT YOU WANT TO WORK FOR ESPN AND THOSE LIARS OVER THERE AND BURN WITH THEM, HEY MAYBE YOU WILL MAKE THE NEWS, WHEN YOU PICK UP A SEXUAL HARRASSMENT FROM ESPN, THEY HAVE PLENTY OF THEM GOING ON RIGHT NOW. OH! YOU DONT REPORT ON REAL NEWS DO YOU. AJC GET RID OF THIS BUM AND THAT RACIST FURMAN ALSO THE OTHERS MAY LEARN SOMETHING WHEN YOU GET RID OF THESE 2. THERE WAS AN ARTICLE IN CHICAGO ABOUT TERRENCE AND AJC AND HIS WIFE JIM ROME, YOU MAY WANT TO READ IT. SERIOUSLY I WILL PRAY FOR GOD TO TAKE THE HATE OUT YOUR HEART BEFORE IT DESTROYS YOU
By julia
July 9, 2007 3:22 PM | Link to this
PLEASE I AM BLACK AND I AM EMBARRASSED THAT YOU HAVE THIS IGNORANT MAN ON THE STAFF. WILL SOMEONE PLEASE FIRE THE BUM. HE DOES NOT MAKE ANY SENSE HE JUST WRITES HEARSAY NO FACTS. WHY ARE YOU PAYING THE BUM FIRE HIM PLEASE FOR GOD SAKE FIRE HIM.
By BRAVE1`
July 9, 2007 3:25 PM | Link to this
Until it has been proven that Bonds has taken an illegal substance he will be the home run champ. I don’t see any proof that he did. Remember America (innocent until proven guilty) I hope that still stands. But if it’s left up to public opinion everyone is guilty until proven innocent. Go Barry
By Mark
July 9, 2007 3:25 PM | Link to this
Someone, anyone, clean house at AJC and get rid of everyone but DOB.
By jay
July 9, 2007 4:41 PM | Link to this
NO HABLO INGLES !!!
By D-Cider
July 9, 2007 4:53 PM | Link to this
Lex There was certainly more excitement about McGwire breaking the single season record, but I think he is holding back on what he was taking. I still believe it was much more than the Andro that was sitting in his locker and apparently the HOF voters apparently think much along the same lines given the votes he received last year. Didn’t mean to offend, but McGwire, Bonds, Sosa, Giambi and a few others are probably all guilty of the same thing. But it remains to be proven. (Although we will probably find out more once Giambi finishes talking)
By Jay Stiltner
July 9, 2007 5:14 PM | Link to this
I don’t always agree with Terence Moore’s articles - but since he’s been at the AJC for well over a decade - and been covering professional sports for longer than that, he’s earned the right to write a column.
Columns are suppose to be opinionated. I wish the people who take the time to blog in this section would stop trashing other’s opinions and start posting comments about the column itself. Atleast Moore can write a complete sentence.
By MotherTeresa
July 9, 2007 5:15 PM | Link to this
Holy Mother of God…Why in Gods name would it even be an issue whether Bonds gets cheers or not on the road or at home. Fact be told—steroids or no steriods, Bonds has hit over 750 home runs. Only 1 man in baseball history has done more. My take on Bonds is that if Bonds had been pitched to regularly and not intentionally walked as much as he has been over the last 10 years, Bonds would be approaching 1000 home runs instead of Hanks record. Barry would have already blown by Aarons record many years ago if those coward pitchers havent been walking him so much. Barry has already broken Ruths record for walks in a single season. Barry may already have past Ruth for most walks in a career. IN MY OPINION IT IS TOTALLY UNFAIR TO CONTINUE TO WALK BARRY WHEN HE IS A STARTER AND SUITED UP IN A BASEBALL UNIFORM TO PLAY A FULL GAME. I can understand if Barry were a pitcher or the bat boy, but why do you walk someone who is healthy, fit and ready to play. It makes absolutely no sense to me whatsoever and Im not evan a Barry Bonds fan. Think about the guys who are in the top 10 in home runs hit and for sake of this example, what if pitchers had walked Mark McGuire intentionally 4-5 times a game like they are currently doing with Bonds, maybe McGuire might have finished with about 200 home runs fewer than he did and finished with 383 instead of 583. Do you see how unfair it is to continually take the bat out of Barrys hand while at the same time people get mad at Bonds for not signing authographs or doing interviews. When Barry is continually asked, why havent you broke Hanks record or when are you going to break it, Barry is helpless at the plate because he doesnt get enough strikes to put balls out of the park on a regular basis. Barry knows in his heart and in his mind that HE WAS IS AND ALWAYS WILL BE THE GREATEST PLAYER OF ALL TIMES. ITS JUST BECAUSE BARRY IS BLACK THAT PEOPLE WONT ACCEPT THAT HE IS GREAT AND NOT GIVE HIM HIS DUE RESPECT. Barry is better than Hank, Willie and Babe because although those three guys hit close to 700 home runs, had plenty of RBIs and finished with over 3000 hits, BARRY ALSO STOLE OVER 500 BASES AND HAD NUMEROUS GOLD GLOVES. Barry is far and away the greatest player of all times, but the steriod scandal will forever put a black cloud over Barry Bonds’ illustrius career.
By eb_33
July 9, 2007 5:39 PM | Link to this
Terrence, why do you keep bringing up race? I thought in this world we’re supposed to move forward and look to the future for brighter things, but no, you won’t let the past go. What is wrong with you? Anyone can tell by your writing that you’re a smart man, and a darn good writer if you’ll just quit bringing up the race card. Is that all you have to talk about? How about giving another race credit for a change and face the facts that when someone cheats, he has broken the rules. White, black, blue, red, Asian, Hispanic…it makes no difference. Did you hear the Caucasian race crying because Mark McGwire didn’t get jack for votes to get into the Hall? I don’t think so. Maybe die hard Cardinal fans. Please start writing like you’re capable of and drop this race crap.
By Dave from Chattanooga
July 9, 2007 5:51 PM | Link to this
Barroid Bonds is not in the same L E A G U E as Willie Mays, Hank Aaron or Pete Rose!!! His defense sucks, he has “juiced” for years and as a role model he is second to ONLY Hitler. Hank is the greatest home run hitter of all-time. Oh … and Barry never pays his child support either … Lowlife.
By RJ
July 9, 2007 6:01 PM | Link to this
Terrence, regardless of what you think, there are very few people who give a crap about Bonds’, Aaron’s or your skin color. It’s overplayed. Just drop it and you might get a reader that continues to the end of your collumn rather than the insane amount that stop as soon as you hit the “black” keyword.
By Anthony Swingruber
July 9, 2007 7:09 PM | Link to this
For all those idiots who still say they’ve seen no proof of Bonds taking steroids or other performance enhancers, here’s a little bit of the evidence. Let’s start with his head size. I’m pretty sure new era had to specially make an 8 1/2 sized cap to fit that ridiculous melon of Baroid’s. But in all seriousness, Bond’s former trainer has actually served time for his connection to Balco and possession of illegal performance enhancers. Barry’s name was found all over Balco documents including workout schedules that detailed exactly when he was supposed to take his drugs. For those that have been living under a rock, Balco was a lab that existed soley for the purpose of distributing illegal performance enhancers like steroids and hgh to high profile atheletes like Bonds while using vitamin supplements as a front. Barry’s been linked to this lab and the ppl that worked for it numerous times. This is fact.
I’m sorry I had to reiterate something that most of us know well about since it was beaten to death in the sports media but I’m shocked and sickened that there are fans out there who actually believe that Bonds did nothing wrong. I mean seriously, get your heads out of your asses ppl…
I refuse to pay attention to this illegitimate home run chase and would never cheer for that a-hole Barry Bonds. And if he htis 756 on the road, I pray that the fans of whichever park he does it in have the decency to shower him with nothing less than the boos and hisses the fraud deserves.
p.s. Terrance Moore, your columns sicken me.
By 6UL DV8
July 9, 2007 7:55 PM | Link to this
barry bonds,mark mcguire sammy sosa…. all have taken something very dear to me and permanently stained it…their records dont count to me..roger maris still holds the record for most home runs in a season until a non-steroid user breaks his mark. by my calculations, without steroids bonds would be about 150-200 shy Shame on the cheaters and SHAME SHAME SHAME on ALL of the enablers….including bud selig and congress…baseball fans deserve so much more
By fan9753
July 9, 2007 8:54 PM | Link to this
Was watching ESPN a few days ago, and had the missfortune of listening to this idiot (T. Moore) comment on something (no idea what, because of course he made no sense). But imagine this, he ended up by blaming whatever it was on RACE!!! Wow, couldn’t have seen that one coming.
By falcon80
July 9, 2007 10:14 PM | Link to this
So Babe Ruth was an icon of “white” America? Wow, I thought he was an icon for all baseball fans, few of which still live to say they saw him play! Bless you, Terrence, but Ruth and Gehrig, Mantle, DiMaggio, and Berra, Jackie, Frank and Brooks Robinson, Mays, Musial, and Williams, also Clemente, McCovey, Morgan, even Brett, Carlton and Carew are considered baseball icons to me! Aaron is the greatest baseball icon to me, though I’m beginning to question his judgement in still talking to the likes of you.
By GriffinMBABulldawg
July 9, 2007 10:15 PM | Link to this
If Mark McGuire had surpassed Hank Aaron, he would have deserved an asterisk, too. It is not about race. It is about the purity of Baseball. Barry Bonds has taken steroids, thus any record he holds is tainted. It doesn’t help his case that he is a jerk. If he were white, he’d still be a jerk. When “756” comes, I hope it is on the road and the fans boo him for 30 minutes to express the contempt we have for this loser.
By daxxed
July 9, 2007 11:37 PM | Link to this
Such as it was for Marris 61* it should be 756*. Of course the * being chemically enhanced allegations…
By Taurus
July 10, 2007 1:21 AM | Link to this
Hey idiots, the reason TM brings up the race card, because, if you hadn’t notice by the polls, the like or dislike of Barry Bonds is split down racial lines. Most white americans dislike him, while most black americans like him. It’s relevant. Barry Bonds is the best baseball player ever, PERIOD. 7 time MVP 8 time golden glover and perennial all-star. If you look at his numbers for his career, only the 73 HR season stands out. All of the other seasons are right on par on what he’s been doing. What’s really funny is you idiots go by what a writer says and called it the gospel. If the writer calls him a jerk, than to everyone he is. Have a brain people. You don’t know him. Remember, you thought you knew Kobe. Stupid people.