It’s an unusually quiet Saturday night in Chicago, the kind where you’d expect just the lightest dusting of snow if it was February instead of August. I didn’t see Barry Bonds hit #755. My friend sent me a three-word text message — “Bonds did it” — just as I was turning my phone off at a showing of The Bourne Ultimatum. This particular friend knew that I was at a movie, and he hates Barry Bonds, so I assumed that he was screwing with me; doubly so when I turned my BlackBerry back on two hours later and there was no traffic on the BP mailing list about the home run. But, sure enough, I clicked over to MLB.com after the game and there it was:
Top 2nd: Barry Bonds homered to left (21)
I’m glad that it happened in San Diego, one of the more dignified sports cities in the country, and that Bonds got a dignified reception. I’m glad that Bonds returned the favor with a dignified press conference — particularly his hat-tip to Alex Rodriguez. If Bonds was always that good in front of the media, this whole story might have played out very differently. I’m glad that Commissioner Selig was there, even if I wish that he’d cut off his press release after the first sentence.
Nothing changed when Barry Bonds hit #755. No line in the sand was crossed, and no asterisk will be necessary. The fabric of the sport was not altered. It was an eerily quiet and almost refreshingly understated moment.
I do have a more analytical take over at SI.com. But for the time being, I’m glad that the home run has been allowed to speak for itself.
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