By Brendan Sansiverois

The last time I wrote a column was for my high school newspaper about the trials of Maurice Clarett. It is only on very special occasions I feel the need to express my opinion in print about the sports world. Today, I was prompted by the grotesque behavior of Barry Bonds in his first media address since his secret grand jury testimony was revealed this summer.

I am the one you will find around campus wearing a Roberto Clemente jersey and a 1939 Brooklyn Dodgers hat. I believe Sandy Koufax is the greatest left-handed pitcher ever to live and I still get chills up my spine thinking that the greatest shortstop to ever live, Honus Wagner, fielded grounders in the first World Series at the spot where I attend my 10:15 a.m. class. I not only believe, I KNOW the greatest moment in American sports was the day Jackie Robinson stepped on the field for the Brooklyn Dodgers at second base. As such, I feel especially obligated to comment on the recent major league baseball developments involving the “s” word.

Bonds is closing in on the most hallowed of records ever to exist: the home run record in America’s pastime, baseball. He is about to pass Babe Ruth on the all-time home run list for second place, a record not to be taken lightly at all.

As Bonds prepares to enter the Hall of Fame as either the No. 1 or 2 home run hitter of all time, we must step back and reflect upon his place in American culture.

Until this year, I was in Bonds’ corner in a big way, as I chose to believe in his greatness as an all-around player who was about to pass a white man as the greatest left-handed hitter of all time.