The Best Home Run Hitter Ever***

Just a quick note this afternoon to let you all know that Barry Bonds' perjury trial starts today.  Most people don't care (and I really don't either), but I thought I would be a responsible blogger and keep you informed of what goes on off the baseball diamonds.  It's not a trial to determine whether Mr. Bonds took steroids or not while he was breaking Hank Aaron's all-time home run record; it's a trial to determine whether he lied or not when he was asked by a grand jury back in 2007 if he knowingly took the steroids.  Bonds swears that he had no idea that steroids were being given to him by his trainers - just like I had no idea that the Pope is Catholic and that Ricky Martin is gay!  For the past few years, people have been debating whether Barry Bonds should be in the Hall of Fame with an asterisk next to his name, because we don't know how many of those 762 home runs were hit while under the influence of performance-enhancing drugs.  Currently, most lists have Barry on top, with no asterisk and no explanation.  I'm OK with that, because then you'd have to go back and see how many other players on that list (Mark McGuire) may have hit home runs while taking steroids.  A "home run leaders list" - whether in Cooperstown or on the Internet - is only a list; that's not such a big deal to me.  The "big deal" is having a plaque in the actual Hall, where only one or two players a year get inducted into the exclusive club of Hall of Famers.  Just like I don't think Pete Rose should be in the Hall because of his admitted involvement in betting on baseball, I don't think Bonds should be there because of his drug use (plus his arrogant attitude doesn't help him any).  Leave Pete Rose, Barry Bonds, and Mark McGuire on their respective "Leaders" lists, but don't induct them into the Hall of Fame.

I will continue to follow Barry Bonds' trial (which they're saying should only last a couple of weeks), and if there's anything exciting to talk about, I'll let you know.  In the meantime, I'll keep watching the last week of Spring Training games, and continue to count the days until Opening Day (10, in case you're counting!).