Hammerin' Hank

Time does wonders. In 1974 Hank Aaron was villified by many for attempting to eclipse Babe Ruth's all-time home run record. He had too many at bats to be considered a great homer hitter. He played off broadway in Atlanta. He was a Negro. He was too black. He was too outspoken. If a black man had to take over the great baseball record shouldn't someone like softspoken, friendly Willie Mays be the one who did it. Life was hell for Aaron in those first years of the 70's decade. Death threats and insults made things tough for the player and his family. Now in 2007 it is Barry Bonds who has taken on the collective hatred of so many. He takes steroids. He is a tax cheat. He is surly. He is not approachable. With this comparison Aaron is now considered the "Ruthian" character; one who upholds all that is honest and good about the great American sport. Aaron went through the pressures of breaking the record with grace. In the light of so much cheating in contemporary sports, Aaron is seen as one who played fair and square. So for many who looked back to Ruth in 1974, Aaron is looked at in the same way here in 2007. From villian to hero in thirty-three years. Bonds? He probably is much of what people hold against him. But what will the landscape look like years from now when someone else will break his homer record? Will the sports authorities throw in the towel and allow all types of body and mind altering substances to be used on the playing field? Will the new home run champ be making forty or fifty million dollars and make Bonds' current salary seem puny in comparison? Time changed things for Henry Aaron. Will it be so kind to Barry Bonds?