Barry Who?

So Barry Bonds is coming to Philly this weekend.  All weekend long on Sportscenter and the like, you’ll hear how mean ol’ Philadelphia booed Bonds out of the city.  And you’ll hear it as if it hasn’t happened everywhere else, outside of San Francisco, that the Giants have played this year.  I know that back in 1968 they booed Santa Claus (briefly, the real story).  I know we cheered Michael Irvin getting injured at the vet.  There are plenty of other things for which Philly fans are run down.  And I’ve touched on the subject before, so I won’t go in depth, but we boo because we care.  Now I’m not saying Bonds won’t get booed when he plays (I don’t think he’s playing tonight), but he won’t get trashed the way everyone is expecting.  At least no more than everywhere else.  Remember at the beginning of the season when a fan threw an empty syringe onto the field?  Had it happened at Citizens Bank Park, it would’ve been another black mark on the Philadelphia fans.  But as it is, does anyone even remember where that happened?  I don’t.  

But is Bonds really getting booed because he juiced up?  I don’t think that’s the only reason.  No one has ever liked Bonds because he acts like a complete jackass.  Now that there’s a reason to boo, everyone’s letting him have it.  I mean seriously: is he really the first guy we’re pretty sure took steroids?  What about Mark McGuire?  Anyone?  What about Sammy Sosa?  Would these guys get booed anywhere near as heavily as Bonds if they had equally damning evidence of steroid use presented during their careers?  I’m going to lean towards “no”.  If Barry Bonds weren’t a jerk (and closing in on one of the most hallowed records in all of sports), nobody would care about this.  And really I don’t think anyone cares all that much anyway.  Whether or not there’s an asterisk in the history books, everyone will know that Bonds’ passing of Babe Ruth’s homerun record is tainted.  Every dad will tell his sons that Bonds cheated.  Aside from that, we all know it’s just a matter of time before Bud Selig suspends Bonds anyway.  So go to the game, boo Barry Bonds, hope he doesn’t break Ruth’s record in your park, and forget about it.  

Next time:  Why I’m pissed off at the Indianapolis Colts.