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Jaydawg^2654
Jason Whitlock of the Kansas City Star has an interesting take on how blacks and whites view Barry Bonds and his home runs differently----" We (black people) see a brilliant player who is being singled out and persecuted for a “crime” that everyone else did and is doing. White people see an arrogant cheater who must be punished and serve as an example of the penalty for cheating the game."      
5/19/07, 09:58am
     This generalization does make some sense if you think about it.  When McGwire was breaking the record in '98, there was barely a peep about his use of performance enhancers, other than a little hint of the Astrostenedione pills in his locker.  When Bonds hit his 73 in '01, the media all of a sudden "discovered" that steroids could possibly be a factor.  Not long after this, Ken Caminiti and Jose Canseco decided to spill the beans and the rest, as they say, is history.  



So, Whitlock could be making a valid point in some ways, but it's certainly not true in my case.   Bonds is indeed an arrogant jerk, but I've resented many white athletes (i.e. Will Clark, Pete Rose, Bill Laimbeer, Todd Marinovich, Ryan Leaf, etc.) for being the same way.  Admittedly, the fact that Ba-Bo plays for the team with the Halloween costumes plays a role in my loathing of him as well.  But, then again, if a classy guy like Willie Mays was in the same position, I believe I would be rooting for him to break the record, though not enthusiastically as a die-hard Dodger fan. 



     In the end, Bonds hitting 756 doesn't really matter so much because Alex Rodriguez is going to ultimately get the record.  I'll wholeheartedly cheer him on and I wouldn't be surprised if Hank Aaron is actually there when it happens. 


[Jaydawg from Tarzana/CA]
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