Now that the chase has finally ended, the stench is beginning.
Take a whiff.You’re smelling a steroid stink.
We may never know for certain whether Barry Bonds knowingly used steroids en route to surpassing Hank Aaron’s record of 755homers but the suspicions will linger eternally; there isn’t enough air freshener to negate this stench.
Should there be an asterisk beside Bonds’ name? Should he be excluded from the Hall of Fame? Should he go to jail?
Renowned filmmaker Ken Burns, whose baseball documentaries are legendary, suggested Bonds could have prevented any stench and could have turned himself from a villain to a hero in recent days — by retiring.
“Bonds could have helped baseball, Aaron and, most of all, himself by hanging it up after hitting No. 754,” Burns said. “He would have transformed the game ofbaseball andremoved the asterisk.
Aaron’s pure record would have remained intact andBarry Bonds, for the first time in his life, would have done something for someone other than Barry Bonds.”
Burns suggested Bonds could have immediately elevated himself into the baseball equivalent of George Washington, “remembered for giving up power rather than holding onto it.”
I guess Bonds didn’t get the memo.
• The Edmonton Oilers are in hot pursuit of free agent Peter Forsberg and hope to win the derby for the future Hall of Famer by outbidding the Anaheim Ducks, Detroit Red Wings, Buffalo Sabres, New York Islanders, Nashville Predators, Pittsburgh Penguins and Colorado Avalanche … While signing antiquated defenceman Luke Richardson, the Ottawa Senators continue to try and persuade prime-time defenceman Wade Redden to waive his no-trade right … Rumblings are strong that ESPN will bring back NHL games next season.
• Boston sources report the Red Sox’s new closer, Montreal native Eric Gagne, is being investigated for steroid use … The Blue Jays refused to take Jack Wilson’s contract because it guarantees him $14.25-million US beyond this season, but the Detroit Tigers are close to acquiring the shortstop from the Pittsburgh Pirates … The past two York Reports told you the San Diego Padres would cut hefty lefty David Wells and they have. At 44, he’ll move to his Michigan ranch, where he’ll eat a lot … Look for ex-Raptor Jalen Rose to sign soon with the Miami Heat, for veteran star Chris Webber to join the Dallas Mavericks and for ex-NBAer Rick Fox to appear inseveralepisodes of the Ugly Betty television show … And how’s superstar Steve Nash spending his summer? Playing pick-up soccer in New York’s Central Park.
