As of July 30, 2007 Barry Bonds career home run count stands at 754, one away from tying Hank Aaron as the all time home run leader in baseball history...
On a completely unrelated note (perhaps), Major League baseball inducted two of its finest into the Hall of Fame yesterday.
In a day and age where the overwhelming majority of our athletes in every sport disgust the common American with a lifestyle of extravagance and arrogance, the words and actions of Ripken and Gwynn remind Americans why baseball is truly America's great past time- and why they are its perfect representatives.
In the words of Ripken at his induction speech in front of a record crowd of 75,000 in Cooperstown, New York-
"As years passed, it became clear to me that kids see all, not just some of your actions, but all. Whether we like or not, we big leaguers are role models. The only question is, will it be positive or will it be negative? Should we put players up on pedestals and require that they take responsibility? No. But we should encourage them to use their influence positively to help build up and develop the young people who follow the game. Sports can play a big role in teaching values and principles. Just think. Teamwork, leadership, work ethic and trust are all part of the game, and they are also all factors in what we make of our lives."
"As I experience another new beginning with this induction, I can only hope that all of us, whether we have played on the field or been fans in the stands, can reflect on how fortunate we are and can see our lives as new beginnings that allow us to leave this world a bit better than when we came into it."
"Where would any of us in this game be without the people who love the game and their teams and who even make trips to events like this long after we've put down our gloves and bats? I know some fans look at the streak as a special accomplishment, and while I appreciate that, I always looked at it as just showing up for work every day."
"As I look out at this audience I see thousands of people who do the same -- teachers, police officers, mothers, fathers, businesspeople and many others. You all may not receive the accolades I have throughout my career, so I'd like to take the time out to salute all of you for showing up, working hard and making the world a better place. Thank you all."
Gwynn echoed similar sentiments-"I never really looked at what I did as anything special- I loved the game. I think that's why you guys are here today. You loved the game, you have a passion for it. I had a passion for it; I still have a passion for it."
"My father said, 'If you work hard, good things will happen,' and he was absolutely right. I worked hard in the game, because I had to. I wasn't talented enough to just get by on ability. I had to work at it."
"I think the fans felt comfortable enough in us, they could trust us and how we played the game, especially in this era of negativity. I don't think there's any question about that."
"When you sign your name on the dotted line, it's more than just playing the game of baseball, you've got to be responsible and make decisions and show people how things are supposed to be done"
On contrast--
“I need to win, man. I've had numbers, but I've never won a World Series.”“It's called talent. I just have it. I can't explain it. You either have it or you don't.”
“Sometimes I surprise my own damn self.”
- Barry Bonds
Make the decision to support real athletes. The only hope for the continuation of real virtue in professional sports is that athletes like Gwynn and Ripken remain alive and action within society.
