The inevitable happened last night.  We were all waiting for it, but once I heard he hit it, I didn't know how to react. 

I've never liked Barry Bonds. Not necessarily because of the steroids, just because he is not a likable athlete.  His attitude among the media is poor and he doesn't have nearly the charisma of athletes like Shaq, Derek Jeter, and Tom Brady.  So I was cheering against him to get the record because of that dislike and a respect for Hank Aaron--not because he probably cheated.

Let's get the steroids out of the way: Whether or not he took steroids--which he probably did, performance-enhancing steroids cannot a) enhance the batting stance, form, and motion or b) enhance the timing of hitting the ball.  Aside from Ken Griffey Jr, no one in baseball has a sweeter swing than Bonds.  Steroids did not give him that swing.  His timing is nearly impeccable.  Steroids did not affect his timing. 

No player in the time I've watched baseball has single-handedly changed the way the game is played--specifically in coaching strategy, more than Bonds.  The amount of times Barry Bonds has been walked intentionally or pitched around is absurd.  He forces teams to strategize their game plans specifically around him. 

I don't like Barry Bonds, don't get me wrong.  But these are attributes a baseball fan cannot deny.  Despite the steroids, no one can doubt that Bonds isn't one of the greatest players of all-time. 

What 756 truly did for me last night, however, was solidify Hank Aaron and Babe Ruth's spots in baseball history--mainly Ruth's.  Bonds hit his 756 home runs in an era when Brady Anderson hit 50 home runs.  Since the strike, this has been the long-ball (or juiced ball or juiced players however you look at it) era.  The ballparks are smaller, the pitchers are worse, and the players are stronger and have faster swings. Roger Maris' record of 61 home runs, which had stood for almost 40 years, has been broken a few times since the race of '98.  Hank Aaron hit 755 home runs without ever hitting 50 in a season.  He didn't have the one season of 73 to spike his count, he was consistent.  He also hit 755 in an era that home runs began being more prevalent with Frank Robinson and Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays, but it wasn't as common as it is in the 21st century.  And Bonds may complain about the media problems and being booed out of stadiums, but he will never know what it was like for Aaron, a player in the deep south, to break a white man's record in the 1970's.

The most impressive thing to think about from 756 last night is Babe Ruth's 714.  That should be considered more of a record than 756.  The record before Ruth was 138 home runs.  He resurrected baseball from the dead-ball era and the 1919 Black Sox Scandal.  Ruth put baseball on the map, not to mention the 714 home runs.  He should be known as the greatest baseball player ever.  Ruth's record of 60 home runs in a season last over 30 years and his record of 714 lasted until 1974.  He was a well-known heavy drinker and heavy eater.  Ruth didn't have personal trainers left and right.  Ruth didn't watch film over and over again of hitters to impersonate or pitchers to prepare for.  Ruth didn't have legal supplements to enhance his strength and growth.  He hit his home runs in much larger ball parks at a time that the ball could not have been 'juiced.'  While Ruth may not have had to face the media blitz that has plauged Bonds since he hit 73 home runs in a season, Ruth did have the game of baseball--our National Pasttime, on his back. 

756 is over.  It's been hit, and Bonds will make a new record.  That number will last about 10 years until Alex Rodriguez hits his 800th home run.  Then 10 years after that someone else will break A-Rod's record.  This is a different time than when Aaron hit 715.  While I don't like Bonds, I've learned to get over that he is the home run king, knowing in my lifetime there could be 3, 4, 5, who knows how many more home run kings.  What it did tell me, though, is that I wish I could have seen Babe Ruth play.  Just hit one home run.  He is the true king of baseball and, with all the technology there is today, no one will ever rival him.