Well, Stamp My Balls!

Despite my vote to have the ball sent into space, it looks like Barry Bonds' record breaking home run ball will be stamped and sent to Cooperstown.

For those of you wondering how the "what do we do with Barry Bonds' home run ball" poll went, the people have spoken and it's going to be stamped with an asterisk and sent to the Hall of Fame, where they will presumably figure out how to display it in a way that will keep the stamp hidden!

The story announcing the news said:

Hall of Fame president Dale Petroskey said accepting the ball did not mean the Hall in Cooperstown, N.Y., endorses the viewpoint that Barry Bonds used drugs. (Riiiight)

"This ball wouldn't be coming to Cooperstown if Marc hadn't bought it from the fan who caught it and then let the fans have their say," Petroskey told The Associated Press. "We're delighted to have the ball. It's a historic piece of baseball history."

Hall of Fame officials and Ecko are discussing how to affix the asterisk on the ball. It's not yet known when the ball will go on display.

The people have spoken. Suck it, Bonds!

Way back, Way back - It's GONE

As some of you know, I was at the Giants game when Bonds hit his record breaking homer #756. It was so exciting I forgot for a while what an asshole he is.

There was a lot of speculation over what was going to happen to the ball. Bonds didn't want it, and the guy who caught it was a Mets fan who happened to be coming through town on his way to Australia. Talk about dumb luck.

So what happened to the ball? Mets dude sold it this week via an auction, and made a hair more than $750,000. Holy crap. That is a boat load of money for a baseball.

But it gets better. The guy who bought it, who clearly has a sense of humor to match his bank account, has posted a Web poll, asking fans what he ought to do with the ball.

The choices are:
1) Bestow it: Give it to the hall of fame
2) Brand it: Stamp an asterisk on the ball (indicating that it was a record won under fishy circumstances - the steroid scandal of course) and then give it to the hall of fame
3) Banish it: Have it blasted into outer space

Whichever option gets the most votes is what he's going to do. Man, do I love democracy.

In typical asshole fashion, Bonds commented, "He's stupid. He's an idiot. He spent $750,000 on the ball and that's what he's doing with it? What he's doing is stupid."

Maybe, but it's also funny. When I voted for #3 tonight, more than 2.5 million other votes had been cast. If only we could get those kind of numbers in the off year elections...

Thanks to John C for the tip!

Barry Bonds 756 - I Was There

Yep I got lucky. My company had its annual Summer event last night and this year we decided on a Giants game at AT&T Park – the most beautiful baseball park in the league, hands down. Of course when our block of $18 left field bleacher seats was bought, no one had any idea the controversial Barry Bonds would be close to breaking Hank Aaron’s 30 year record for most career home runs hit.

It dawned on me last weekend when I was getting ready for the trip that we might actually be at THE game. I watched Monday’s game in my hotel praying he would NOT hit the thing out and he didn’t – he was cold on Monday.

But last night he wasn’t. Bonds’ first at bat was a double, followed by him scoring the first run of the game. Second at bat, a single. Third at bat, oh let’s see – home run number 756.

It was unreal. The place went mad, there were more fireworks than an outdoor KISS concert and the game stopped for 10 minutes while Hank Aaron’s pre-recorded congratulation played on the big screen, Bonds hugged his family and his godfather, Willie Mays, and thanked everyone including the fans and his late father.

Lots has been said about Bonds – and he is a total asshole. However, you can’t take away the fact that he has now hit more home runs that anyone else in the history of baseball. Many of those before his reported steroid use and quite a few since he’s been under the microscope, which includes testing for ‘performance enhancers.’ Tests in which he’s been clean.

Whatever the case, it was a piece of history last night and I was very lucky to be there. I will indeed remember it forever!