Babey Steps

After all the controversy, and all the speculation, and all the dismantling of yet another American hero, Bonds finally did it. He passed the Babe. Not yet the homerun king, but Bonds's melancholy mug when coming out of the dugout to receive applause was a prelude to what we can expect to see once he finally works his way - albeit an asterisk accompanying his name - to the very top of the record list with most career homeruns in history. What we can expect to remember, however, is the milestone that passed the babe, the same way we recall McGuires 70 sooner than Bonds's 73 single-season figure. Its far more sweet to pass the historical icon than just the number-one record-holder. So when Bonds passes Aaron for most dingers overall, he will have appeased himself on a record that will make him live up to the expectations for himself. But today should have been the firework frenzy heard round the world, when Bonds knocked his long-awaited 715th four-bagger and became the "Sultan of So-What?."