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'This Record Is Not Tainted'

Whatever you say, Barry

By M. Morris, Newser Staff

Posted Aug 8, 2007 7:48 AM CDT

(Newser) – Barry Bonds' 756th career homer had barely landed in the AT&T Park bleachers last night when the vitriol swirling around his pursuit of Henry Aaron's record began flowing in earnest. Reactions around the country range from dispassionate observation at home ("What does it all mean?" wonders the Chronicle's Gwen Knapp) to resignation and disgust—pretty much everywhere else.

Blasting baseball's overlords, Bernie Miklasz of the Post-Dispatch calls Bonds "just a product of the times." The New York Post's headline wizards refer to Bonds as the "sultan of syringe," and the Boston Herald's Gerry Callahan chimes in, "There is no mystery to this crime story." And in Aaron country, the Journal-Constitution's Jeff Schultz bluntly calls Bonds "a pariah."

[Images (6)]

[Videos (1)]

San Francisco Giants Barry Bonds hits his 756th career home run in the fifth inning of their baseball game against the Washington Nationals in San Francisco, Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2007. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) (Associated Press)

Washington Nationals' pitcher Mike Bacsik answers questions during a news conference after giving up Barry Bonds' 756th career home run during their baseball game in San Francisco, Tuesday, August 7,... (Associated Press)

Matt Murphy of New York, the fan who caught the record home run ball hit by San Francisco Giants' Barry Bonds, is removed from the stands by San Francisco Police officers during the fifth inning of the... (Associated Press)

T Park in San Francisco, Tuesday August 7, 2007.(AP Photo/Eric Risberg) (Associated Press)

San Francisco Giants Barry Bonds reacts after hitting his 756th career home run in the fifth inning of their baseball game against the Washington Nationals in San Francisco, Tuesday, August 7, 2007. Seen... (Associated Press)

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'This Record Is Not Tainted'