Selig to be in attendance for Bonds' 756th

[Boston's Future]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/w ... index.html

The oh-so-obvious dance of discomfort between soon-to-be all-time home run champ Barry Bonds and baseball commissioner Bud Selig continues.

And it will continue, right up until the record.

Baseball's greatest power hitter and its greatest power wielder have been engaged in a behind-the-scenes cold war for weeks. But not too long from now, Bonds and Selig will be together, face-to-face and celebrating the new home run record and champion.

Well, one of them will be celebrating, anyway. The other fellow -- yes, the commish -- will be wearing a plastic smile to mark the occasion he was desperately hoping would never happen.

SI.com has learned that barring something unforeseen and drastic, Selig plans to be there when Bonds breaks the all-time home run record of Selig's longtime friend and Milwaukee mate Hank Aaron.

While Selig's long-shot hope for the miracle to stop Bonds is all but extinguished, it's safe to assume that he wasn't shedding a tear over Bonds' me-first decision to skip out on his hometown Home Run Derby Monday night. However, word was that Bonds would have more seriously considered MLB's invitation had he gotten the clear idea that Selig really wanted him there through a personal invite. When Bonds' apparent interest in an engraved invite was relayed to someone with MLB, the MLB person said, too late, they've already got Matt Holiday to take his place.

As for Selig, the excursion to crown Bonds champ, well, that will be no holiday.

For weeks, baseball's great debate has been whether Selig will attend or blow off Bonds' coronation. After weighing the pros and cons, Selig is on the verge of concluding that he has little choice but to go. If that doesn't sound like a celebratory recipe, well then, so be it.

Selig apparently is unwilling to make the strong statement that would come with a big-league blow off, not without any hard evidence regarding the hard stuff. And that is the right call by the commish.

In typical Bonds fashion, he acted like he didn't care either way during Monday's press session. But it all seemed like such an act. "I have to do my thing. It's up to Bud," Bonds said. "Bud is his own man. If Bud shows up or doesn't show up, I'm still going to play baseball."

Unfortunately for Selig, there is no stopping the inevitable, no good way to get around the obvious. Like it or not, Bonds will soon be the home run champ.

More bad news for Bud: This isn't Bonds' swan song, either. Bonds' agent, Jeff Borris, recently confirmed what's long been suspected -- that this isn't Bonds' final season.

"He's going to play next year," Borris said. "As long as he keeps going like he's going and stays in one piece, and there's no reason to think he won't, Barry will be a free agent."

But while Borris and Giants bigwig Larry Baer were seen exchanging pleasantries in the lobby of the San Francisco Westin St. Francis, nothing should be read into that. Rather, indications appear strong that Bonds' time with the Giants could be up after his 15th season here. If so, it'll be interesting to see who steps up to the plate.

Giants owner Peter Magowan declined to address Bonds' status to SI.com beyond saying that Bonds isn't the problem with the current team and that Bonds has fulfilled every expectation. What's going on, Magowan asserted, is "not Barry Bonds' fault." That's absolutely true. Without Bonds, the Giants would be that much more dreadful.

However, the Giants are expected to turn in a new direction next year, which dovetails with Magowan's almost apologetic letter to season ticket holders after the Giants signed Bonds last offseason. If that's the case, it will be interesting to see how strongly Bonds is pursued. Last winter, the A's and Padres made inquiries, but decided they didn't want to play ball after hearing Bonds' salary request.

If Bonds continues at his current pace -- he is leading the NL in on-base percentage and OPS -- he should easily get a job. But if he can't land a job elsewhere, it'll be an interesting debate as to whether his career was the first to end over something unrelated to one's ability to play

[backer55]

Personally, i could give a rat' behind if Selig is there or not. As far as i'm concerned, Selig knowingly allowed PHD's to take hold and become common place while MLB was trying to recover from the big strike. Now he wants to pin the whole issue on Bonds, nail him to the cross, then wash his hands of the whole issue as if he solved the problem.

Selig is a complete jerk! The way he has handled the whole issue stinks rotten. Stay home Bud, dosn't matter whice way you go, we know you for the jerk you are.

[livestrong4ever]

He should be. Its one of the greatest records in sports. There is no complete 100 percent evidence he used steroids and it would be a disgrace if he wasn't there. One of the greatest baseball players of all time you better make time for this record.

[Boston's Future]

Even if Bud doesn't like Bonds, he should still go. Its gonna be the biggest moment of the regular season, and the all time home run record is the biggest record in sports. Does Bud have to be happy? No. Does he have to go? Yes

[sideshowking24]

I definitely think he should go. Its largely his fault that this steroid era has gotten as big as it has and he should be forced to endure it just like the rest of us, whether he likes it or not. Not being there is not going to make the record go away.

[HeelSox]

The Commish wasn't there for Ruth's.....

The Commish wasn't there for Aaron's....


Why SHOULD Bud go? It wouldn't be a disgrace....it wouldn't be a shame...it would be nothing more than Bud not being there...what is he supposed to do? Sit through 20 games to watch one home run? If you can give me the exact date on when Bonds will hit his home run...be my guest.

[backer55]

The Commish wasn't there for Ruth's.....

Why SHOULD Bud go? It wouldn't be a disgrace....it wouldn't be a shame...it would be nothing more than Bud not being there...what is he supposed to do? Sit through 20 games to watch one home run? If you can give me the exact date on when Bonds will hit his home run...be my guest.

Well said, i totally agree.

I just like to see him squirm.

[2004RedSox]

The Commish wasn't there for Ruth's.....

The Commish wasn't there for Aaron's....


Why SHOULD Bud go? It wouldn't be a disgrace....it wouldn't be a shame...it would be nothing more than Bud not being there...what is he supposed to do? Sit through 20 games to watch one home run? If you can give me the exact date on when Bonds will hit his home run...be my guest.

I'll put my stamp of approval on this as well. What's he going for? True, it's a big accomplishment with tons of controversy... but why is he supposed to be there? It's not like he has overly supported the man through this entire era of breakin' the record, why start supporting him now? The fans that show up to watch the Giants every game should be expected to be there. Who cares if Selig isn't there.

[brewguru]

The Commish wasn't there for Ruth's.....

The Commish wasn't there for Aaron's....


Why SHOULD Bud go? It wouldn't be a disgrace....it wouldn't be a shame...it would be nothing more than Bud not being there...what is he supposed to do? Sit through 20 games to watch one home run? If you can give me the exact date on when Bonds will hit his home run...be my guest.

The reason the Commish didn't go for Ruth was simple...there wasn't a commissioner at the time!!

Selig should be there to honor the greatest record in sports. He doesn't have to follow him around for 20 games. He can go to San Francisco for the Braves series and if he doesn't do it, he can go to Cooperstown and then get on with his life.

His buddy, Hank Aaron, was PO'd when Bowie Kuhn didn't show up for his home run. There is no excuse for Selig not to make an effort to be there. If he's ashamed that Bonds is about to break the record, Selig has a lot of the blame for it. In fact, I blame Selig and Donald Fehr most for the steroids era.

[randomhero423]

Who cares? It seems as if ESPN latch onto these minor details, for a news story. Now with vick/NBA ref, it should be almost a non story.