[ThePundit]

ATLANTA (AP) -- Hank Aaron doesn't plan to be at the ballpark if and when Barry Bonds breaks his home run record.

"Uh-uh. No, no. I'm not going to be around," Aaron was quoted as saying in Tuesday's editions of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Bonds has 735 homers, 20 short of Aaron's career record. While Aaron has declined most interview requests in recent months, he spoke with Journal-Constitution columnist Terence Moore.

Aaron said he wouldn't attend if Bonds were within reach of the record when the San Francisco Giants play at Atlanta from Aug. 14-16.

"I'd probably fly to West Palm Beach to play golf," Aaron was quoted as saying in Moore's column. "Again, it has nothing to do with anybody, other than I had enough of it. I don't want to be around that sort of thing anymore. I just want to be at peace with myself. I don't want to answer questions. It's going to be a no-win situation for me anyway. If I go, people are going to say, `Well, he went because of this.' If I don't go, they'll say whatever. I'll just let them make their own mind up."

Aaron, who did not return a call from The Associated Press, said baseball commissioner Bud Selig has told him that Bonds has asked several times why Aaron hasn't contacted him as he approaches the record.

"I don't talk to anybody, really, and I've never talked to Barry, outside of that commercial we did together a few years ago, and a few other short times," Aaron was quoted as saying. "I'm 72 years old, and I'm not hopping on a plane and flying all the way to San Francisco for anybody."

Aaron doesn't plan to celebrate if Bonds breaks record - MLB - Yahoo! Sports
Good for you Hank. If he breaks it on the road, I hope all the fans stay home.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by ThePundit

Aaron doesn't plan to celebrate if Bonds breaks record - MLB - Yahoo! Sports
Good for you Hank. If he breaks it on the road, I hope all the fans stay home.

Now tell us how you really feel there Pundit?...Actually, its a shame Hank ain't showing...Hank was a class act when he played...he should be a class act now...

Reminds me of Howe saying Gretzky really was not the scoring king until he bested his NHL and WHL record combined...

Showing class should be independent of who you are showing it too...I'd say Aaron tarnishes his image over a no show...

...and you always have it in for Bonds...what about Selig?...he has chosen, throughout his watch to look the other way...how clean is he?...he put up with Sosa and Big Mac when it suited him...why isn't he leading the charge to put Big Mac in the Hall?

[simple simon]

GDK we all know Selig is as two faced as it comes.......he changes his story to whatever suits him the best

as for Bonds......they say the roids has made his head grow larger....hopefully before he breaks the record he will ingest enough roids to make his head explode and we wont have to deal with it

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by simple simon

GDK we all know Selig is as two faced as it comes.......he changes his story to whatever suits him the best

as for Bonds......they say the roids has made his head grow larger....hopefully before he breaks the record he will ingest enough roids to make his head explode and we wont have to deal with it

Bite your acid filled tongue...Bonds is a key member of the Gotham Dark Knights ball club and he is clean...Gotham will issue a statement on the GTG ball site...

[legend]

Nobody ever mentions how Atlanta brought the fences in to turn their stadium into a "launching pad" so that Aaron could eclipse Ruth. He should show, and if he doesn't believe Bonds is legitimate, then talk about it.

[ThePundit]

Check out some of my other posts, Gotham. I think you'll find I've been pretty tough on Selig - most of all for being a dope.

Aaron is still a class act in my book. He just doesn't care to be part of a sham.

Other than SF Giants fans, and ESPN, who live with their nose up Bonds' butt, nobody is going to care about this record.

[LSC9901]

Why would a record holder want to go and watch his record be broken by someone who should have an asterisk next to his name ??? Somewhere down the line I'm sure that will be reported as to why Hammerin' Hank will be a no-show.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

Why would a record holder want to go and watch his record be broken by someone who should have an asterisk next to his name ??? Somewhere down the line I'm sure that will be reported as to why Hammerin' Hank will be a no-show.

Because its the classy thing to do...and baseball so far recognizes whatever Bonds has done...as well as McGwire, Sosa etc...under those conditions, it lacks class not to be there...if not for Bonds, for the good of the game...

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by Gotham Dark Knight

Because its the classy thing to do...and baseball so far recognizes whatever Bonds has done...as well as McGwire, Sosa etc...under those conditions, it lacks class not to be there...if not for Bonds, for the good of the game...

It may well lack class and Aaron may never say why he was a no-show but just because baseball recognizes all these ill-gotten records doesn't mean they are valid and sooner or later someone will make a stand. If deep down inside Aaron feels that way then hip, hip hooray for him. Bonds is a great baseball player, like many others. If he has in fact used performance enhancing substances then it's time to put that asterisk next to his name. How would you feel if you had set a worlds record and someone broke it but used a performance enhancing substance, that is considered illegal to the sport ???

Don't get me wrong. I think Bonds is a better than average player but I also think he should take his place in the record books where he really belongs. If it is 1st then so be it. If it is 10th then that is what he deserves. We'll probably never know for sure.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

It may well lack class and Aaron may never say why he was a no-show but just because baseball recognizes all these ill-gotten records doesn't mean they are valid and sooner or later someone will make a stand. If deep down inside Aaron feels that way then hip, hip hooray for him. Bonds is a great baseball player, like many others. If he has in fact used performance enhancing substances then it's time to put that asterisk next to his name. How would you feel if you had set a worlds record and someone broke it but used a performance enhancing substance, that is considered illegal to the sport ???

Don't get me wrong. I think Bonds is a better than average player but I also think he should take his place in the record books where he really belongs. If it is 1st then so be it. If it is 10th then that is what he deserves. We'll probably never know for sure.

East German swim records never taken off the books...Chinese women distance running...still in the books...etc...and there is heavy documentation that they did it...

Bonds will never get an astrick, simply because A-Rod remains on pace to break it...

As for how I would feel?...I would feel that Mr. Selig sohlud give back most of the 14 million a year he pockets for being a commish that let it all get out of hands "for the good of the game"...

As it is, the record is not tainted...but the Commish sure is...

[WhiskeyTangoFoxtrot]

Originally Posted by legend

Nobody ever mentions how Atlanta brought the fences in to turn their stadium into a "launching pad" so that Aaron could eclipse Ruth. He should show, and if he doesn't believe Bonds is legitimate, then talk about it.

Was Atlanta among the first to do so? I was under the impression that it was a collective effort in the league, with a few exceptions.

I've always been interested in this topic... any idea where I could find some resources about "bringing the fences in"?

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by WhiskeyTangoFoxtrot

Was Atlanta among the first to do so? I was under the impression that it was a collective effort in the league, with a few exceptions.

I've always been interested in this topic... any idea where I could find some resources about "bringing the fences in"?

I thought they had moved them in the year before when 3 Braves jacked 40 including Davey Johnson...who never,ever came close before or after...