Sox Offenders

With the end of July right around the corner, all eyes look to the trading deadline and wait for the big news. The big bat added to the line-up, the lefty specialist, the top-of-the-rotation starter. The reality is this: the Red Sox have a comfortable lead in the AL East, Jon Lester has been called up to sit at the big-boy table, and Curt Schilling will be returning healthy and well-rested for the playoff run. Fourth outfielder? Look no further than Route 95 South for your answer in Jacoby Ellsbury. Right now, we might as well be sitting back in the hammock while Jessica Biel rubs us down with scented oils. Things are that good.

So we take this time to focus on something else going on in the world of baseball. Something relevant yet sad. With all that is good and right and fun about baseball, there is a shadow looming. The shadow's name is Barry Bonds. Within the next few days, Bonds will surpass Hank Aaron for the all-time home run record. And our generation will witness the biggest blemish on Major League Baseball since the 1919 Black Sox scandal. With “Psycho” Steve Lyons dropping trou on first base a close third.

The fact is this: a lot of Bonds’ home runs were hit while he was taking performance enhancing drugs. It is proven, there is no longer room to debate. I don't know how many, nobody really does. It doesn’t matter. Bonds is taking the most coveted record in the greatest game, and pissing on it. The only way this could end with any dignity is for Bonds to retire one home run short of the record and let it stand (well, that, or his head exploding at home plate). But he won’t. He is an ass. He believes he has struggled against the odds and stared down adversity to get where he is. The needles in his ass? Pay no attention to the BAALCO man behind the curtain…

If there can really be someone called a "hero" in the sports world, and somebody who did struggle against real odds to achieve something great, that person is Hank Aaron. In his book Hank Aaron and the Home Run That Changed America, Tom Stanton tells the story of Aaron's final year approaching the record held for so long by Ruth. It is an amazing read about an amazing man accomplishing an amazing feat.

Aaron broke a white man's record in a time of racial instability. He received death threats against himself and his family in a time where ballpark security didn't exist. Yet he showed up and played in every game he was physically able. When his body began breaking down, he played. When he was a mere two home runs away from the record and only 1,400 fans were showing up in his home stadium, he went out and played. He did it all naturally, and with class. Neither will ever be said about Bonds.

Everyone knows Hank Aaron hit 755 home runs in his career. Everyone knows he passed Babe Ruth’s mark of 714. But there is so much more to Aaron’s career. And if there is one positive thing to come out of his home run record falling, it will be that Hammerin’ Hank gets some recognition for the rest of his outstanding career. In addition to his home run record, Hank Aaron is the all-time leader in Runs Batted In with 2,297, Total Bases with 6,856 and Extra Base Hits with 1,477. Aaron also sits in the top 5 of just about every other offensive category. His feats on the field were a tribute to his work ethic, his drive and his love for the game. Off the field, he was a nice guy – another thing that will never be said about Bonds.

Throughout the travesty, Bud Selig has once again proven his worthlessness as commissioner. He has flip-flopped on whether or not he’ll attend the games leading up to the record and had little to say on the subject. As expected, Bonds will hit the record-breaker at home, the only place he would likely hear an ovation. After, he can go home and rest his swollen head on his giant pillow and know that in the record books he will be number one, but in the hearts of real baseball fans, Hank Aaron will always be the Home Run King.

Next week, we return to our regularly scheduled column filled with Red Sox crap and inappropriate comments about hot chicks. Can’t wait two weeks? Hit us up at www.survivinggrady.com every day.