Don't Boycott Barry
So there's a group, Boycott Barry, and you needn't be a brain surgeon to figure out its mission. On Wednesday night, Boycott Barry, headed by founder Daniel Kramer, will infiltrate Shea Stadium, wearing "Bondsfolds" _ specially designed blindfolds, which will be distributed outside the ballpark _ whenever Mr. Bonds comes to bat.
Annoyed by the press release I received via e-mail, I reached out to Kramer, who was kind enough to call me back moments after I contacted his public relations representative.
"Why pick on Bonds?" I asked. "It's not like he's the only one who used steroids."
"Because he's the only person about to break the greatest record in all of sports," Kramer responded.
"But everyone in the game messed up," I said. "You should be boycotting all of baseball, not just Bonds."
"It's unreasonable to assume that 75 million people will stop going to games," he replied.
"I think your anger should be directed as much at Bud Selig as Bonds," I continued, even suggesting that he change his Bondsfolds to "Budfolds."
"He is definitely part of the problem," Kramer said of the commissioner. "But Bud Selig isn't out there playing."
We ultimately agreed to disagree. I admire the enthusiasm of Kramer, who described himself as a political consultant and real estate investor in the Los Angeles area. But I do think his passion is misguided. Targeting Bonds for baseball's steroids era isn't much different than blowing your nose when you have pneumonia. You need to penetrate the problem's infrastructure.
You know what would be great? If Bonds didn't get booed passionately this week. If the bulk of New Yorkers acknowledged that using steroids in baseball is no good, but it's a peccadillo compared to leaks of grand-jury testimony and ill-advised use of government funds.
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Comments (5)
Booing Bonds may be a peccadillo by comparison, but Bonds is an armadillo in the grand scheme of things.
Mr. Davidhoff,
Thank you for the post. We agree that Bud Selig is part of the problem. To that, I'd add the owners, the players union and of course Barry Bonds.
The simple fact remains Barry Bonds is the one who has used -- or if you're not in touch with reality, 'allegedly' used -- illegal performance-enhancing drugs to hit home runs like no one else ever has.
In doing so, he has disgraced and perverted the past, present and future of baseball.
Baseball is more than just some game. It is our national pastime. It has a federal antitrust exemption. It is an integral part of what America is as a country and a society.
If no one else will do so -- not Congress, not the Commissioner, not the union, not the owners -- the outrage at corruption and cheating in baseball must come from the fans who pay a lot of money to see baseball games.
That's what we are: a group of fans who are against drugs and cheating, using all media possible to demonstrate our love for baseball and anger at those who disgrace it. There is too much at stake to do nothing.
We welcome further discussion and conversion on this integral issue.
Yours in baseball,
Daniel Kramer, Founder
BoycottBarry.coom
host@BoycottBarry.com
213-805-3055
I agree completely.
Amen to putting the blame where it belongs - on Bud's shoulders. Bud is the Charles Comiskey of his era - the bad manager whose decisions resulted in his employees making unethical choices.
Barry Bonds can do a lot for himself and for baseball by a simple act. He gets one more home run to just one below Aaron's record. He then announces his retirement: no more at-bats, no more homers. no more booing, no more arguing over whether the record is legitimate. Meanwhile, Barry gets back some respect by implicitly admitting bad behavior ( wihout making an allout confession). He'll be inducted into the Hall of Fame. he'll be available for work in baseball, he might even attract some endorsements because of his newly found courage. His record will be accepted more readily than if he surpassed Aaron's. People will say: "He couldv'e had the record." And Bud Selig could stop worrying whether or not he'l follow Barry around the country until the record is broken.