Following the 1998 season, during which Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa launched the Home Run Chase that Really Wasn't, Griffey and Bonds -- near-lifelong acquaintances -- met up in Florida. Bonds confided in Griffey that he was about to start taking some "hard-core stuff" to keep up with the big boys.Griffey nodded, but knew all along it wasn't for him.
I always liked Griffey, I was such a fan of his amazing center field abilities and everyone always tried to swing like him when they were playing around, even though his swing doesn't work for anyone, but him.
I don't want to spend the season hating on Barry Bonds as he approaches Aaron's record. I just want him to get injured and retire and end it like that. You won't see too many Bonds articles from me, but I like this article. It highlights a great player in Griffey and does a good job of bashing Bonds.
With 569 career home runs, Griffey sits comfortably in 10th place, a mere 26 away from leapfrogging Sosa into fifth. But whether he does so hardly matters. Griffey is a baseball legend -- perhaps not the best player of his generation, but undeniably the best clean one. He can sleep at night and never worry about federal agents or a grand jury or a tarnished legacy.
ESPN.com: Page 2 : Don't forget Griffey ... the best of his generation: "Though the ritual is now as much a part of spring training as freshly cut grass and Bengay in the rookie's jock, I continue to find it equal parts perplexing and annoying."
1 comment:
Amen, Junior was incredible. He would launch those moonshots with the Mariners. And what incredible Defense. Think about how great this generation of baseball would have been if the Roid-y bunch never existed. Bonds was an incredible outfielder well before he was playing like a beer-league softball stud jacking all those bombs. It's interesting you pointed out that discussion they had in 88. If there every was a crossroads decision between selling your soul for fame and success or taking the path of clean-living - that's it. We'll see how history remembers these two. I still think of Junior as the wall-climbing clutch bomber in Seattle. Bonds is a swollen headed asshole that will ultimately get what he deserves.
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