Salon: King Kaufman’s Sports Daily

Barry-King...Athlete.

Unfortunately, those future fans, awash in controversies and dilemmas we can’t even imagine, will probably look back on our era, with its steroid and HGH scandals, as being simple and innocent. We know it isn’t. The present never is. It’s messy and complicated and hard to figure.

As Bonds circled the bases Tuesday, his relief at reaching the milestone was palpable. I felt relief too. This complex, complicated, confusing chase is finally over. Hardly a marvelous moment, more like the end of something I’d been anxious to see end.

After years now of wondering how I’d feel when Barry Bonds, who plays for my team, who’s the best hitter I’ve ever seen, who’s one of the most disagreeable public figures of my lifetime, broke Hank Aaron’s career home run record, at last, I had the answer.

The answer is I don’t know.