2-4-6-8! Who Do We Appreciate?
by Ken Arneson
2006-05-21 0:29

Barry Bonds! Barry Bonds! Baaaaaaaaarry Bonds!

I got to watch Bonds hit his 714th homer on TV just before we had to leave the house for my daughter’s 2:30pm softball game.

I thought it was a extraordinary thing. Not so much the home run, but the fans’ reaction to it in the Oakland Coliseum. Bonds has been booed pretty consistently at the Coliseum over the years. Every time he steps to the plate, or his name is announced, the boos rain down from the stands. Even moreso recently.

And yet, when Bonds hit #714, it seemed like everyone in the house, A’s and Giants fans alike, gave him a standing ovation so long he had to take three curtain calls. It was as if the A’s fans were saying, OK, we don’t much care for you, Barry, but we respect your accomplishment. We respect the number.

How remarkably civilized. It was as if 35,000 people suddenly remembered their manners, the lessons they were taught as children.

Who do we appreciate?

Play hard, play to win, but always respect, appreciate, and thank your opponents. The world is a better place when you do.

Comments: 5
1.   sam2175
2006-05-21 05:29

1.  I think genuine baseball fans owe people at the Coliseum a big thanks. After the Astros fans gave Russ Springer a standing ovation for pitching desperately inside to and eventually plunking Bonds, I thought things have hit a new low. More than Barry's astonishing accomplishment, I was positively surprised by the reaction of the Oakland A's fans. Truly a magnanimous and great gesture.

2.   Rob Gee
2006-05-21 06:15

2.  Nice.

3.   Bob Timmermann
2006-05-21 20:06

3.  Dodgers fans cheered Tim Hamulack after he got ejected for hitting Bonds with a pitch.

But we have issues with Bonds and the Giants.

4.   underdog
2006-05-22 10:39

4.  And here I thought we were cheering because Hamulack was leaving?

And yes, kudos to the A's fans - though outclassing Houston fans doesn't take a whole lot of effort, it's still nice to see them rise above the temptation.

5.   Xeifrank
2006-05-22 13:57

5.  Congrats to Bonds for tying Babe Ruth for 4th on the all-time HR list. vr, Xei

Comments on this post are closed.
This is Ken Arneson's blog about baseball, brains, art, science, technology, philosophy, poetry, politics and whatever else Ken Arneson feels like writing about
Original Sites
Recent Posts
Contact Ken
Mastodon

LinkedIn

Email: Replace the first of the two dots in this web site's domain name with an @.
Google Search
Web
Toaster
Ken Arneson
Archives
2021
01   

2020
10   09   08   07   06   05   
04   

2019
11   

2017
08   07   

2016
06   01   

2015
12   11   03   02   

2014
12   11   10   09   08   04   
03   01   

2013
12   10   08   07   06   05   
04   01   

2012
12   11   10   09   04   

2011
12   11   10   09   08   07   
04   02   01   

2010
10   09   06   01   

2009
12   02   01   

2008
12   11   10   09   08   07   
06   05   04   03   02   01   

2007
12   11   10   09   08   07   
06   05   04   03   02   01   

2006
12   11   10   09   08   07   
06   05   04   03   02   01   

2005
12   11   10   09   08   07   
06   05   04   03   02   01   

2004
12   11   10   09   08   07   
06   05   04   03   02   01   

2003
12   11   10   09   08   07   
06   05   04   03   02   01   

2002
12   10   09   08   07   05   
04   03   02   01   

1995
05   04   02