Barry Bonds - Fact or Fiction ?

It has gone largely unnoticed by the media, and by fans, but the games home run king has quietly been swept under the rug.

It would appear that at 44, he is not getting any offers, and has been viewed by all GM's as not worth the aggravation. Not even in San Francisco where he smashed Hank Aaron's home run mark, after surpassing the Babe.

I dare say that when Walter Payton retired after surpassing Jim Brown, or Dan Marino retiring after reaching his heights, there was fanfare, there were celebrations, there was acknowledgement. There was something.

With Bonds there was no acknowledgements, no fanfare, no doves flying, no rockets red glare, no bombs bursting in air. It's like he did not exist, wiped off the landscape like a sandstorm. I ask the question why ?, but admit it is a rhetorical question.

With Barry at the end, as it was always, it was a love- hate relationship, but ended in bitterness, and denial. But he did finish with gaudy numbers, and a hall of fame career, but are we witness to a shift in baseball morals. McGwire was shunned, Palmeiro shunned, I expect Sammy Sosa will be shunned when his 1t turn at the hall comes up.

But there was discussion on Big Red, there was angst, there was some goodbyes, and farewells, but Barry, not a whimper. Just unreturned phone calls, short e-mail replies, and largely the cold shoulder. Cold enough to rival the worst snowstorms I would say.

Is it fair ?

Maybe, is it just ?

Maybe, is it shocking ?

Absolutely, it is.

What did you expect ? I guessI expected a farewell tour of the National League, culminating in some more grandious conclusion in San Francisco, but it never materialised.

As we edge towards the end of this decade, I wonder who could have predicted this most final snub of Bonds ?

The biggest question will come once he signs his official retirement papers, then the writers will be on the clock, until they have to decide if the can suddenly acknowledge him, and get what he feels is his due, or will he not be a 1st ballot slam dunk vote.

I can hardly wait for that, as it will put the final stamp on a very glorious but rocky career.

Whether you believe he cheated or not, it does not matter now.

No athelete should leave this way.

There should have a Big Bang, his career demanded something.

I personally never liked him, but there are lots of players I have never liked, but I acknowledged their role, and their place in the history books. I just think that MLB would like to use some vanishing cream, and liquid paper, and eliminate him from sight, plus his records, which will be tainted by the stain of alledged indiscretions.

Love him or hate him, I remember Ty Cobb for what he did, as I remember Pete Rose , for what he did, because they still belong in the fraternity of baseball legends.