09.21.07

Barry Bonds is done for!

Posted in San Francisco Giants, Steroids, Baseball at 3:25 pm by addisport

Barry Bonds announed on his Web site that San Francisco Giants owner Peter McGowan will not be bringing the all-time home run leader back in 2008.

Needless to say, I did a little dance. Here’s the link to the article.

And here it is, in its entirety:

September 21, 2007

Dear Fans,

This journal will be one of my last entries as a San Francisco Giant. Yesterday, I was told by the Giants that they will not be bringing me back for the 2008 season. During the conversation with Peter McGowan I was told that my play this year far exceeded any expectations the Giants had, but that the organization decided this year would be my last season in San Francisco. Although I am disappointed, I’ve always said baseball is a business — and I respect their decision. However, I am saddened and upset that I was not given an earlier opportunity to properly say goodbye to you, my fans, and celebrate with the city throughout the season as I truly believe this was not a last minute decision by the Giants, but one that was made some time ago. I don’t have nor do I want any ill feelings towards the organization, I just wish I had known sooner so we had more time to say our goodbyes and celebrate the best 15 years of my life.

I consider the City of San Francisco and you, the fans, my family. Thank you for loving me and supporting me throughout all the highs and lows. I feel a deep connection with you as I have grown up with all of you since the days my dad first became a Giant. The Bay Area has loved my family and friends for so many years and I thank you for that. It is now a time for change, as many athletes have experienced. It is comforting to know that those who have come before me — Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Joe Montana and Jerry Rice, to name a few — have forever remained in the hearts of the fans, as I know I will too.

During my career as a Giant, so many people made significant impressions on my life. I’d like to thank all my past and current teammates. I’ve had the opportunity to play with some amazingly talented ballplayers who have treated me with respect, supported me and rooted for me throughout the years. Mike Murphy, our devoted Equipment Manager, used to baby-sit me as a little boy at Candlestick Park. There are no words to describe the love and respect I have for him. Mike Krukow and Duane Kuiper are the two best broadcasters in the business. Their professionalism, integrity and love for the game, puts them in a league of their own. I thank them for their support and I’m honored to call them friends. It is also important to thank all the men and women behind the scenes at the stadium who come to work every day and make it possible for us all to enjoy a day at the ballpark. I love walking to clubhouse hearing their “hellos” every day.

I would have loved nothing more than to retire as a Giant in the place where I call home and have shared so many momentous moments with all of you, but there is more baseball in me and I plan on continuing my career. My quest for a World Series ring continues.

Until next time,

Barry Bonds

Barry will now be someone else’s problem although, I don’t think any national league team is stupid enough to trust him in left field. Let him bust his tail for an American league team. Maybe even the Angels. Good riddance.

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09.18.07

My O.J. dilemma

Posted in Culture, Media at 9:41 am by addisport

There’s a lot of hate in the world for O.J. Simpson. In fact, it’s very trendy to convict the man by public opinion and let his legal story be forgotten.

Here’s my O.J. connection: I went to the same high school as him, Galileo (where we are both city champs in football), went to the same Boys and Girls Club and even went to the same community college, City College of San Francisco. And for the life of me, he’s still the biggest thing out of “The G” since Joe DiMaggio.

Yet, till this day, no one knows who killed Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman, but many people certainly point the finger at O.J., who was acquitted of criminal charges but found guilty in the civil trial where he was liable in the wrongful death suit.

(A little legal background, although I’m no expert: It’s much harder to convict anyone of murder because the strength of the evidence must be overwhelming and without a doubt that the defendant is guilty. Although a civil case, i.e. a wrongful death suit, would take much less to convict because there is no prison sentence usually involved. A civil case is almost always about money.)

Here we are, almost 12 years later and O.J. is being villified for his role in recapturing some memorabilia he (at least once) owned. There’s an audiotape out, via TMZ.com, that gives everyone an idea of how the ordeal went down. The million dollar question, and the sticking point for making this an investigation in the first place, were there any guns involved?

It’s not hard to believe with the audiotape. But my question is, does it even matter? If he was robbing people who robbed him, is that not a form of justice. Or are we convicting him in the court of public opinion because of past crimes unrelated?

Here’s the dilemma: I don’t see anything wrong with O.J. securing his memorabilia, especially if it was stolen, and I don’t know if O.J. killed those two people. Nobody does. But I’m aware that the climate of American culture has strong feelings against O.J. I couldn’t begin to reference every single O.J. joke that has taken place the last 12 years. It’s the most polarizing topic for black and white people and it is still noted as the single most watched criminal case in American history. And all I seem to worry about is the benefit of the doubt.

That’s never been afforded O.J., although its been held up in one of the lengthiest murder trials in history. And then his book, now the No. 1 seller on Amazon.com, wasn’t the smartest idea to come out of Orenthal’s head, further putting his previous trial in the spotlight. But I can’t get over how the guy can’t catch a break. The civil trial practically ensured the case would never be brought up again, but Americans for some reason feel wronged by the verdict.

So here I am, going against the grain on this one. It’s not like 1996 all over again. Black people aren’t unequivocally in support of O.J., about this case or his last. So I’m standing here, on the fence, with a little bit of doubt in my mind and no grudge to hold.

Yet that makes me different.

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