Barry, Barry, quite contrary

The inevitable happened August 7: Barry Bonds hit his 756th home run. This gave him baseball's most famous record – and finally freed us from ESPN's annoying CHASING AARON updates.

Since an African-American is involved, some want to make a racial issue out of a reaction that ranges from rudely unenthusiastic (baseball commissioner Bud Selig) to viciously critical (Sports Illustrated columnist Rick Reilly). Never mind that the much-praised man who'd held the record is Henry Aaron. Many blacks have the unfortunate habit of ignoring or disdaining African-Americans who have conquered white America.

No doubt racism is a factor in how Barry Bonds is perceived both by whites and blacks, but I don't think race is significant to the way baseball fans feel about Bonds' latest achievement.

THERE ARE several reasons Barry Bonds is disliked. He has been portrayed in the media as an incredibly self-centered superstar who holds himself apart from teammates. He has made no effort to alter this image.

He has been accused of taking illegal steroids. He has denied it, but dealers and other players have identified Bonds as a user.

Bud Selig's reaction – or non-reaction – may be caused by the commissioner's reluctance to single out baseball's most prominent African-American star, though I suspect Selig's concern is more for baseball itself and the domino effect of a thorough steroids investigation. Throw out Bonds' amazing 2001 season when he hit 73 home runs and you might have to do the same with Mark McGwire's 70 home runs from 1998, a feel-good baseball season if there ever was one. Sammy Sosa's 60-plus home runs seasons also might be erased.

So Selig said nothing and Bonds set the career home run record. Those who aren't applauding believe Bonds' record is tainted.

I think Bonds took steroids, but don't understand how they could have improved his hand-and-eye coordination to the point that was evident in 2001. Everything he hit was dead-on. If more pitchers had challenged him, Bonds might have had 90 home runs. I regard this as a stunning performance, but, unfortunately, one that reduced the majors to the level of Little League.

MY INDIFFERENCE to Bonds stems from membership in a generation that still regards Babe Ruth as baseball's home run standard bearer. This conclusion is statistical, not racial. From 1918-31, Babe Ruth led the American League in home runs 12 times. Had he not missed huge chunks of the 1922 and 1925 seasons, Ruth would have led the league 14 years in a row.

Ten times he led both leagues in home runs. In 1923 he had to share honors with National Leaguer Cy Williams of the Philadelphia Phils who also hit 41 home runs. In 1930 Ruth was beaten out by Hack Wilson who set a National League record with 56 home runs. (Ruth had "only" 49 that season.)

By contrast, Henry Aaron led the National League in home runs four times, topping both leagues only once. Barry Bonds led the National League – and the majors – just twice.

The closest thing to a home run dominator in recent times was Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Mike Schmidt who topped the National League eight years and the majors six times.

Despite his now-modest career home run total (369), Ralph Kiner was a home run king who led the National League his first seven seasons. He led both leagues six consecutive seasons. Yes, he was tied three times (twice by Johnny Mize) but Kiner's is the only name that appears as home run leader 1946 thru 1952.

THIS BRINGS UP another reason Bonds' 756th didn't excite me. Home runs have become commonplace. Almost as noteworthy in 2001 as Bonds' 73 home runs was the fact Luis Gonzalez of all people hit 57. Other recent inductees into the 50-Plus Home Run Club include Jim Thome, Ryan Howard and David Ortiz, though I lost interest in 1996 when Brady Anderson qualified for membership.

Also, folks already are projecting when Alex Rodriguez will surpass Bonds – and by how much. Some predict A-Rod will hit 850 or more home runs before he retires. Barring a career-shortening injury, obviously. With the same luck, Prince Fielder eventually may overtake A-Rod.

TV's squawking heads say A-Rod may be even less popular than Bonds. Rodriguez makes no effort to please the media, which describes the Yankee third baseman as having the personality of a dead fish.

A-Rod also took heat for his stunt against Toronto when he ran from second to third base on an infield pop fly, yelling, "I've got it! I've got it!" This so confused Toronto third baseman Howie Clark and shortstop John McDonald that they allowed the ball to drop, extending the inning. Moments later Rodriguez scored on a Jason Giambi single. Shame on A-Rod.

Yet ... had he pulled that stunt 100 years ago we'd be reading what-a-guy stories about how he embodied the gritity spirit of baseball's beloved 19th Century Baltimore Orioles who did anything to win.

Which bounces me back to Bonds and this recent headline: Does Barry deserve to be the home run champ?

Why not ask similar judgment of other players? Take Babe Ruth. He was a shameless self-promoter who almost always put himself ahead of his team.

And then there was Ty Cobb, the all-time batting champion and a fiercely competitive and dangerously combative player. He also was a spiteful, ornery racist feared and disliked by almost everyone who knew him. Oh yeah, he once was accused fixing a game.

How about Pete Rose, the king of denial? He gambled on the sport he professed to love but hung around to surpass one of Cobb's records - total hits. Of course, Rose had 2,624 more at bats and his lifetime average was .303, compared with Cobb's .367.

Rose had a career worst .245 batting average in 1983, but was still 201 hits short of his goal. So he kept playing until 1986 when he batted .219. But he had surpassed Cobb's 4,191 hits, so Rose was satisfied.

Cobb, on the other hand, didn't overstay his welcome in a major league line-up. He retired in 1928 after he batted .323 – his lowest average in 20 years. (In 1927 he had batted .357.)

Which again gets me back to Barry Bonds. I'll give him this – he still scares pitchers. With good reason.