"I'm hoping someday that some kid, black or white, will hit more home runs than myself. Whoever it is, I'd be pulling for him." - Hank Aaron

"It's called talent. I just have it. I can't explain it. You either have it or you don't." - Barry Bonds

It's hard to compare two players who competed in such radically different eras, but that is exactly what records force you to do. When the 2006 season opens, Barry Bonds will stand 47 home runs shy of tying the all-time record held by Hank Aaron. Here, in no particular order, are the reasons why I hope Bonds falls short.

1----------Hank Aaron faced bigotry and racial hatred in virtually every city as he approached the immortal Babe Ruth's career home run record. Not only that, he was forced to endure an entire offseason of it, as he ended the 1973 season one home run short of tying the record. He soldiered on with quiet dignity and professionalism, three words seemingly foreign to Barry Bonds.

2----------Hank Aaron's head stayed the same size his entire career.

3----------Hank Aaron played in an era where the only "performance enhancing" he could do was work on his timing and bat speed.

4----------Hank Aaron's power numbers weren't inflated by new, smaller ballparks, pitching watered down by thirty years of expansion, or artificially sculpted bodies.

5----------Hank Aaron is considered by many to be one of the finest all-around players of his era, as is Barry Bonds. But Bonds may not even be the best all-around player in his family. His father, Bobby, hit 332 home runs and stole 461 bases in a 14-year career during years that were dominated by pitching. In addition, his godfather, Willie Mays, might actually be the best all-around player ever, combining speed, power, defense and a strong arm.

6----------Hank Aaron never wore a dress to spring training, at least as far as we know. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

7----------Hammerin' Hank Aaron had one of the best nicknames ever, and that was before Chris Berman and clones started giving a nickname to every two-bit player to get a cup of coffee in the big leagues.


In short, while I readily acknowledge Barry Bonds' incredible ability to hit a baseball incredible distances, Hank Aaron had that and more. Barry Bonds is a great hitter. Hank Aaron was a legend.