Mr. Commissioner: A Simple "Yes" Or "No" Will Do, Thank You
So what will it be, Mr. Commissioner?
Barry Bonds just hit home run nos. 752 and 753. He only has three more to go before he breaks Hank Aaron's all-time record, perhaps the most hallowed individual record in all of professional sports. Certainly the "sexiest," that misused word. He just hit two in one game. The record could fall any moment now, maybe even this weekend. Would you bet against it? Oops -- sorry. No betting in baseball. My bad.
It's getting closer, this record-breaking event -- and granted, it's unfortunately going to be occurring under rather suspect conditions. You know, the whole "did he or didn't he?" thing re: banned substances, steroids, etc. So here it comes, Bud -- and yet we still don't know whether you plan on passing thru a turnstile, or being secreted thru an undisclosed tunnel, and being present in the ballpark where Bonds's record-breaking no. 756 will be deposited.
It's not just a question of protocol and manners, this matter of you being there to greet Bonds as he crosses the plate after swatting the "one." Your silence and continued refusal to clue us all in has made it that way. It SHOULD have been an innocuous question. It SHOULD have just been a matter of protocol. But because you've ducked and dodged the issue, you've cast aspersions. You've turned your attendance into an approval or disapproval of Bonds and his career.
Selig, NOT answering the most prevalent question of the day
"If Bud's gonna be there, then he must have no problem with Bonds and the accusations against him, after all."
"If Bud'd NOT gonna be there, then he obviously isn't comfortable with this whole thing."
Normally, we wouldn't give much of a care whether the commissioner is "in the house" when a milestone is reached or surpassed. But this is no ordinary record, Bud, and it's not coming under normal circumstances. Yet either you don't seem to understand that, or refuse to acknowledge it.
Look, all it takes is for you to tell us, one way or another, if you'll be there. And here's the great part: despite what we might think, all you have to do is casually give your response -- yea or nay -- and tell us that the reason for your tardiness is that you wanted to wait until the time drew near and saw what was on your busy schedule. If it's yes, you can say that a baseball commissioner's duty dictates that he be there when such things occur. If it's no, you can blame it on a conflict or that you want it to be all about Barry, without the distraction of your mug.
It doesn't even matter -- or at least it shouldn't -- what your personal beliefs are, Mr. Commissioner. It really doesn't. I personally believe you should have your fanny in a seat in the ballpark that day, but that's just me. I happen to be one who thinks sports commissioners have a duty to be present when their game's "A list" records tumble.
But your delay in revealing your intentions has tied your "yes" or "no" to "approval" or "disapproval" of Bonds -- and, in extension, other players of his ilk.
It's a simple question, Bud Selig: Do you, or do you not, plan on being in the ballpark when Barry Bonds hits home run no. 756, becoming the game's all-time homer king?
Yes, or no?
It's going to happen, much sooner rather than later.
We're waiting...
Barry Bonds just hit home run nos. 752 and 753. He only has three more to go before he breaks Hank Aaron's all-time record, perhaps the most hallowed individual record in all of professional sports. Certainly the "sexiest," that misused word. He just hit two in one game. The record could fall any moment now, maybe even this weekend. Would you bet against it? Oops -- sorry. No betting in baseball. My bad.
It's getting closer, this record-breaking event -- and granted, it's unfortunately going to be occurring under rather suspect conditions. You know, the whole "did he or didn't he?" thing re: banned substances, steroids, etc. So here it comes, Bud -- and yet we still don't know whether you plan on passing thru a turnstile, or being secreted thru an undisclosed tunnel, and being present in the ballpark where Bonds's record-breaking no. 756 will be deposited.
It's not just a question of protocol and manners, this matter of you being there to greet Bonds as he crosses the plate after swatting the "one." Your silence and continued refusal to clue us all in has made it that way. It SHOULD have been an innocuous question. It SHOULD have just been a matter of protocol. But because you've ducked and dodged the issue, you've cast aspersions. You've turned your attendance into an approval or disapproval of Bonds and his career.
Selig, NOT answering the most prevalent question of the day
"If Bud's gonna be there, then he must have no problem with Bonds and the accusations against him, after all."
"If Bud'd NOT gonna be there, then he obviously isn't comfortable with this whole thing."
Normally, we wouldn't give much of a care whether the commissioner is "in the house" when a milestone is reached or surpassed. But this is no ordinary record, Bud, and it's not coming under normal circumstances. Yet either you don't seem to understand that, or refuse to acknowledge it.
Look, all it takes is for you to tell us, one way or another, if you'll be there. And here's the great part: despite what we might think, all you have to do is casually give your response -- yea or nay -- and tell us that the reason for your tardiness is that you wanted to wait until the time drew near and saw what was on your busy schedule. If it's yes, you can say that a baseball commissioner's duty dictates that he be there when such things occur. If it's no, you can blame it on a conflict or that you want it to be all about Barry, without the distraction of your mug.
It doesn't even matter -- or at least it shouldn't -- what your personal beliefs are, Mr. Commissioner. It really doesn't. I personally believe you should have your fanny in a seat in the ballpark that day, but that's just me. I happen to be one who thinks sports commissioners have a duty to be present when their game's "A list" records tumble.
But your delay in revealing your intentions has tied your "yes" or "no" to "approval" or "disapproval" of Bonds -- and, in extension, other players of his ilk.
It's a simple question, Bud Selig: Do you, or do you not, plan on being in the ballpark when Barry Bonds hits home run no. 756, becoming the game's all-time homer king?
Yes, or no?
It's going to happen, much sooner rather than later.
We're waiting...
posted by Greg Eno at 9:49 AM
Proud Member of DIBS
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