The Balls are Flyin' Here in the City of Mahoganny

Two months ago, when the news was full of the Barry Bonds steroids scandal, I predicted that in another sixty days the whole thing would be forgotten. As long as Bonds kept hitting 'em out of the ballpark, I said, no one would care too much about steroids or growth hormones or any of the rest of it. Well, sixty days have passed and even though the steroids story hasn't disappeared completely from the news, it's clearly not the scandal it was a couple of months ago.

In fact, as I write this Bonds is closing in on Babe Ruth's record and news people from all over the world are flocking to San Francisco to cover it. Bonds' "quest for history" is what one local newscast is calling it, "epic achievement" is what I read in the paper, and it just seems like everyone wants to be here to witness baseball's greatest achievement by baseball's greatest player.

Don't want to gloat but I told you so.

What I couldn't predict was the backlash heaped upon the poor unfortunate's who authored a book and ignited the whole scandal in the first place. Rather than receiving acclaim and appreciation for "Game of Shadows" , the 2 authors have received subpoena's instead and been asked to disclose the source of the grand jury leaks . That's what's called an ironic twist. Instead of Bonds going to jail he goes to the Hall of Fame, and it's the author's who may end up doing time. Now isn't that a slap in the face. At least it is for the authors. Baseball fans are loving it.

Which only goes to prove my other point that fans really don't care about this steroids thing as much as people suppose they do. Sure, they'd rather that the players weren't doing drugs and doping up and all that, but as long as the players keep it private and out of the papers then it's nothing for the fans to worry about. Don't ask, don't tell is what they call it, and the last thing anyone wants to see is a lot of snoopy reporters sticking their noses in the player's business and ruining things for everyone else.

Of course there is just one more little fly in the ointment I haven't mentioned. Seems baseball has decided to launch an independent investigation headed by former senator George Mitchell to look into these steroid accusations. Some are calling it a PR move but others are afraid it may be more serious than that. I'm sure baseball is hoping it's nothing serious or they could find themselves on the wrong side of the fans. Which brings me to my next prediction. I predict that the commission will investigate the matter and find either (a) the steroid accusations are wildly overblown in which case baseball will breathe a sigh of relief, or (b) that there is rampant steroid use throughout the game in which case baseball will show shock and concern and then quietly bury the whole thing. In either case, however, baseball will not provoke it's fans nor put it's ticket sales in danger.

And that's all I can say about that. Face you old fart traditionlists out there, it's the new baseball and Bonds is it's greatest player. Might as well drink your beer and enjoy your peanuts because the old days are gone forever. And until some new drug is discovered and some new superstar comes along, Bonds is master of this game. After that, who knows. 1,000 home runs? 2,000 home runs? In one season? Stay tuned - you won't want to miss an action-packed moment.