Seriously, why is it even an issue? It's not a record, it's not going to change the way we look at baseball and as far as it's overall importance, it's right in between Joe DiMaggio's hit count (2214) and Nolan Ryan's strikeout count (5714). It means nothing, or about as close as you can get to it.
When he hits home run #714 and #715 - and he will - it will not mean anything more then the following:
- It will move him up one spot on a list that will be in the MLB Media Guide for 2007
- He will move up a spot on some list that Fox Sports will use once or twice a year
- It will change a line that will be on his hall of fame plaque
It won't be replayed on ESPN Classic; the ball will not be worth 1.24 million dollars; it will not mean anything at all.
This isn't a knock against Barry Bonds or his talent - indeed, I respect the man's talent greatly - but this is just another home run. The most that this can do is score four runs and maybe win a game; until he gets past Hank Aaron he's hasn't set any record and hasn't done anything really worth celebrating. It's just a home run; nothing bigger or worse then home run #700, #70 or #7. Other sports don't even celebrate things like this; did the NFL celebrate when T.O. caught his 100th touchdowns last season? Did the NBA celebrate when Kobe scored 81 against Toronto?
No.
So why should Major League Baseball celebrate - or even really notice - that Barry Bonds has moved up one spot on a list? There is no reason at all, or at least any good ones, to celebrate a list.
That home run means nothing - and every one after that, right up until #756, will mean nothing more then that.
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