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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, August 8, 2007

Bonds passes Aaron, but will never be in his class

By Ferd Lewis
Advertiser Columnist

With a powerful uncoiling of the bat, Barry Bonds finally overtook Hank Aaron's major league career home run record yesterday.

But when it comes to class, the night served as a poignant reminder Hammerin' Hank is still king.

The occasion of Bonds' 756th career home run gave the long-retired Aaron another at-bat of sorts and, from hundreds of miles away, the former Braves slugger smacked one out of the park in San Francisco, too.

In a surprising gesture of conciliation and generosity, Aaron gave the moment a stamp of validation only he could apply. In a pre-recorded video message on the AT&T Park JumboTron, Aaron provided both his prickly pursuer and the battered game of baseball more than they could have asked for and much more than they deserved.

He put the game above his ego and hoisted graciousness over pettiness in a remarkable statement that read: "I would like to offer my congratulations to Barry Bonds on becoming baseball's career home run leader. It is a great accomplishment which required skill, longevity and determination.

"Throughout the past century, the home run has held a special place in baseball and I have been privileged to hold this record for 33 of those years. I move over now and offer my best wishes to Barry and his family on this historic achievement.

"My hope today, as it was on that April evening in 1974, is that the achievement of this record will inspire others to chase their own dreams."

He didn't need to say any of those things. He wasn't obligated to voice even a word of it. Nor was there really anything in it for him to do so. Indeed, nobody but the most hardcore Bonds' apologist would have blamed him for not only staying away but remaining quiet in the face of his usurper's accomplishment.

After what Aaron went through to set the most coveted record in American sports — death threats and racist rants — it had to be hard to be confronted with allegations that Bonds owed some of his success to what was administered with a needle. Aaron was so thin as a player that when he was given uniform No. 44, the joke was that he was too skinny to be in double digits.

After never being judged worthy of the Babe Ruth legend he collided with, it must have been tempting for Aaron to let his absence from and silence speak of disdain for Bonds and how he is alleged to have approached the record.

The only charge against Aaron was that he wasn't the Babe. But, then, nobody was. Bonds, meanwhile, has a grand jury awaiting him and a mistress singing to the feds. Bonds probably made more off collectible sales in a year than Aaron got for his biggest contract ($250,000). In a lesser man, that could have inspired a lot of jealousy.

After months of a stand that suggested a reaction far different from the one we heard last night, we can only imagine what finally prevailed upon Aaron to say the things he did. But you'd like to think Aaron, the man who had seen it all in a career that took him from the Negro Leagues bus rides to legend simply decided to rise beyond all that surrounded Bonds.

After all, by definition a champion is someone who stands above. In Aaron's case, towers above circumstances. Twice in his baseball life, Aaron has done that.

Last night was a pointed reminder of why, even on an occasion when his most hallowed record was taken, Aaron remains a champion for the ages.

Let Bonds have the record. Aaron has something more powerful, our respect and admiration.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.

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