There were a few things on the ol' Fox Sports news page this morning that I found of interest. After reading them I was moved to respond. But first I want to speak to a comment that was made, albeit indirectly, toward myself and another blogger here. I should say that it was not a comment that I found offensive for I have been called much worse by, I'm sure, much better. At any rate my comments regarding the hatred of Barry Bonds on some posts has earned me the honor of having a "man-crush" on Bonds. I'm alright with that if that is what people wish to believe or think for much the same reasons I support Bonds and his endeavor to become MLB's All-Time HR hitter.

For the record I have never met Barry Bonds. I have no desire to meet Barry Bonds. I couldn't care less about Bonds aside from the fact that I don't grasp the reality that this man, this baseball player, could garner so much hate for doing so little. You see, in the grand scheme of things Bonds hitting more HR's than anyone else doesn't mean #### I know there is a world of baseball "purists" out there who cry foul whenever his name is mentioned. There are people out there who wish harm, physical harm, on this guy because they think he cheated something or cheated them. These wishes have ranged from intentionally walking him everytime he comes to the plate, to intentionally throwing at him when he comes to the plate, to hoping he dies before he attains the record. There are all kinds of arguments as to why these things are inappropriate but most of them should be based in the obvious. Wishing physical harm, or any harm, on anyone, ANYONE, is morally and ethically reprehensible and in some cases illegal. I am not the advocate for the Moral Majority, he just passed away. I don't begrudge the "purists" their argument regarding his alleged steroid usage. I do oppose their desire to hang this guy out to dry for what many others have allegedly, with the exception of those who have either been proven guilty or admitted to, done in the past. And with such veracity and venom. Did he break into your homes and steal something from you? Has he physically assaulted any of you in a way that would make you wish such things on him.? Does he not answer the burning questions you so desperately need the answers to when he does speak to a sports reporter? I don't get it and I suppose that will open me up to all kinds of nasty and snide comments from those who think he has done something desperately wrong. So be it. All he is is a freakin' baseball player and a damn good one at that. As a matter of fact ya'll can say I have a "man-crush" on Barry Bonds, I'm alright with that. I will cheer and applaud him when he breaks Aaron's record for the accomplishment and for the skill it took to get there. I know how hard it is to hit a baseball. And in all reality he hasn't really done anything to me to warrant the burning hatred so many languish upon him. Now if he hit my Mother with a baseball bat we'd have some serious issues. I don't see it happening.

And to that end I am tipping my hat to Jason Giambi. Hip, Hip Frickin' Hooooray to Jason Giambi. Thank you for saying what should have been said a long, long time ago. Giambi thinks MLB should apologize to the public for it's perfomance-enhancing drug problem.

"We should have apologized back then and made sure we had a rule in place and gone forward. Steroids and all of that was a part of history. But it was a topic that everybody wanted to avoid. Nobody wanted to talk about it."

"What we should have done a long time ago was stand up players, ownership, everybody and said, "We made a mistake."

This comes from a guy who admitted using steroids who plays this game at a level higher than high school. This comes from a guy who says he is probably the most tested player in MLB, more so than Bonds who the "purists" are trying to crucify. He is glad that MLB now has rules in place to control this stuff. Good for you Jason. And good for you for putting it squarely on the shoulders of those who should have done something about it. Everyone in MLB. Hey, Bud, this ones for you! I was impressed when Giambi admitted his use of these performnce-enhancing drugs but I am more impressed today. He may have taken a bigger step today with his comments. He just laid it all out there. I especially liked the use of the word "we" in his comments. Not Barry, not me, but we!!! Oh and for the "purists" Giambi admitted using them. Bonds has not. In my book, much like the Supreme Court, one is innocent until proven guilty, unless you admit it. And also for all of you "purists" who claim Bonds is only reaching Aaron because of the "steroid" usage. Here is a final quote from Giambi, who plays MLB and admitted using performance-enhancing drugs.

"That stuff didn't help me hit homeruns. I don't care what people say, nothing is going to give you the gift of hitting a baseball." Thank you Jason Giambi. Hip, Hip Frickin' Hooooray!

Also from the world of MLB. Yankee reliever Kyle Farnsworth has issues with the "Family Clause" in Roger Clemens contract. I do to but I think Farnsworth's is legit and so much more important than mine.

"As far as a teamate and player, I think everybody should be here whether they are pitching or not," he said. "You don't see guys who are hurt not sit on the bench. They're always there."

Farnsworth makes a great point. As a coach I require my players to attend everything, hurt or not. Sometimes this rule can be amended based on individual circumstances. For example a death in the family, recovering from surgery or in some cases, college visits, etc., etc. Part of being on a team is being a part of that team. Superstars demanding special attention like this is joke. Is someone ailing in Roger's family? If so I most certainly can understand special attention. Does he want to watch his son play baseball? Does he want to hang out at the farm between starts for the sake of say...hanging out? If those are the reasons for his "Family Clause" then the Yankees are more ridiculous than I could have ever imagined. One of the girls on my soccer team came up to me the other day and said, "Let me tell you how I work." I thought she was Roger's daughter for a second there. Farnsworth also went on to say that he didn't really see it as being a problem for now. He commented that "You asked my opinion and I gave it." You have to be careful Kyle because some sports reporter/writer is going to take that, spin it, and run with it to who knows where. But, to that end, Hip, Hip Frickin' Hooooray to Kyle Farnsworth for speaking up.

From the NFL. The Minnesota Vikings stated today that surgery WILL NOT be required on Adrian Peterson's collar-bone. It is healing sufficiently for the Vikings and Peterson to think he will be ready when Training Camp opens. Just like Peterson told evrybody and showed everybody at the combine. But the "experts" said no way and dropped him from Top 3 to lower Top 10 and on some boards out of the Top 10. This kids collar bone has been examined by more Dr's. and team medical personnel than jointsRicky Williams smokes in a week or days that Paris Hilton was sentenced to (45), not the days she actually has to serve (23). There is too much going on and too many people and things involved to predict what kind of year Peterson will have (again my realistic approach to things) but maybe now all the "experts" will back off on the collar bone thing. And kudos to the Vikings for taking a kid they considered a Top 3 player with their first pick and not falling into the jumbled mix that said noway, too risky. To the Vikings (and it pains me to do this) Hip, Hip Frickin' Hooooray!!!

And that's the bottom line...