Opinion on Bonds

[Demreb]

Hey Guys -

I know David posted a thread about Bonds influence in the contract negotiation of other players (Delgado with where he finishes in the MVP voting outside of Bonds).

I was curious about your thoughts of where Barry stands in your minds. Does steroid influence your thoughts?

I was looking at some of his stats and was amused to find that other than the season he hit 73 homers, he has never hit more than 50 in a season.

I was interested to see that for the three years leading up to 2000, Bonds had started to decrease in his numbers. But then in 2000 (and beyond) his numbers did a turnaround and went through the roof.

I'm still trying to digest all the steroid stuff. I don't know that there should be asterisks next to players that admit to using the juice, but I don't think they deserve too many accolades either.

[stones]

I am not a fan of Barry Bonds and never have been. He has been a spoiled baby for years. And I could not be more certain of anything, without any factual evidence that he is a fan of juice abuse!

As a Hank Aaron fan (he was my Ernie Banks), I hope he blows out his shoulder before he gets to 755!

Speaking of Ernie Banks and Hank Aaron, have I ever shared my story about meeting Ernie Banks?

Well, I will then...I met him once while I was in college. It was the day after the big snow of 1979. He was working as a Business Development Officer for the Bank of Ravenswood. Ironically, this was long before I was a banker or even considering becoming one!

As you may remember, the snow storm hit pretty hard and the city was essentially shut down for a few days. At the time, I was in some capacity of leadership in the student body at North Park College in the city. The Bank of Ravenswood was about a half mile away from campus and they were in desperate need of snow shovelers. They contacted the college and asked for some help. Some how the call was directed to me and I arranged for a bunch of broke beer guzzling guys in serious need of cash to shovel them out. Once the job was done, I went into the HR department to collect the hard earned pay, otherwise known as beer money (remember the drinking age wasn't always 21 in Illinois or maybe I was already over 21, ah I don't even want to figure this one out...crap I just did, I was 22 already!!!)!

While I was sitting there waiting for the cash (while my buddies had a snow ball fight and re-covered the sidewalks back with snow) I noticed a well dressed African American man (OK, back then he was a "black man" since it was way before political correctness) making calls to some of Capitan’s of Industry in the Chicago area. I specifically remember him asking to speak with the President of McDonald's Corporation. Needless to say, I was impressed and it must have shown. Unfortunately and to his embarrassment it soon became clear to him, he was not the reason. I never dream of speaking to the President of McDonalds for goodness sake. I was that close to some who did! Little did I know it was Ernie Banks.

While I was trying not to appear like I was eavesdropping, he looked at me and smiled. That knowing kind of smile, like he was letting me know he was acknowledging me for noticing him. When he hung up the telephone, he turned to me and said, "That's right, I am". Again not growing up in Chicago, I had no idea what he meant by that. For a split second, I thought he might be trying to hit on me and I was a little uncomfortable by that, cuz I don’t go that way! So I said, "I beg your pardon, you are what?" I think I hurt his feelings by the semi-shocked look on his face. Almost with a question in his voice he said "I'm Ernie Banks, you know from the Cubs".

Recognizing the error of my ways, I immediately apologized and said that I didn't recognize him because I grew up in Milwaukee. We both laughed. At which time I said, "Now had you been Hank Aaron that would have something"!

Again he and I laughed. We chit-chatted for awhile longer about his job with the bank of all things and then the HR lady came with my money. I told him it was a pleasure to meet him and I went on my way a little richer and very much richer! I told some of the guys what had happend and they were bummed out they didn't go in with me. It won't have been the same!

He is an awesome guy! But he is no Hank Aaron!