Friday, July 20, 2007
In the July 10 New York Times, the day of the All-Star game, there’s an article about—shocker!—Barry Bonds. The secondary headline says, “Surly Slugger Smiles Aboard All-Star Welcome Wagon.” Aside from the irresistible alliteration, why “surly?” Did he say or do anything “surly?” No. It’s just that Bonds is, you know, surly, right? The writer, Lee Jenkins (hmmm), gratuitously calls him surly—not because he is, but because sportswriters keep saying he is, never for a second considering that, if Bonds (or any other ballplayer, for that matter) ever did act in a surly manner, it just might be because sportswriters are a major pain in the ass.
That same day, Bill Plaschke of the Los Angeles Times delivered a typical hit piece on Bonds, reeking of venom: “The perfect crime is nearing completion. Barry Bonds thinks he’s getting away with the murder of baseball’s integrity.” Plaschke, get some professional help. The article continues at the bottom of page 7 with the headline “Bonds thinks he’s getting last laugh on record.” To support that claim, Plaschke writes toward the end of the column, “Asked whether [Bonds] was reveling in getting the last laugh, he bristled. ‘I’m not trying to get the last laugh (my emphasis), this isn’t a game, this isn’t a joke.” Then Plaschke writes, “The truth is, Barry Bonds thinks he’s getting away with it.” If you say so, Bill. In the same piece, Plaschke refers to the “overwhelming evidence alleging that he used steroids.” First off, “overwhelming evidence” and “alleging” don’t belong in the same sentence. If you have “overwhelming evidence,” show it or shut up. Otherwise, you‘re just, you know, alleging. Not only is there no “overwhelming” evidence, there is no evidence whatsoever, none. Leaked testimony isn’t evidence, and what was leaked does not reveal that Bonds admitted using steroids. On the contrary, what was leaked was his denial that he ever knowingly used steroids, as well as some hearsay from a few others. Let he who would want his reputation ruined based on hijacked grand jury testimony cast the first stone.
--Eugene Lesser
