When Barry Bonds cranks out his record setting home run, someone has to catch it. Whoever does, will be the most powerful person in baseball ever.

Think about it. Assuming Barry eventually eclipses Babe Ruth's 714 home runs, then Hank Aaron's 755, someone has to come away with the ball. And Barry, Major League Baseball, and every wealthy sports memorabilia collector will pay top dollar for it.

Whoever this person may be, he or she should start considering his or her options because they impending decision could change the face of baseball forever.

Option 1: Keep the Ball and Sell it Back to Barry:

For anyone sports enthusiasts who have a soft spot for law-breakers or San Francisco Giants fans option one is the easiest choice. The ball sale could generate enough money to change someone's life, and it would also ensure the ball return to it's proper place, either Barry's shrine, or a place in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Option 2: Throw it Back:

If there is any person in the world with enough cajones to throw the record setting ball back onto the field I would like to shake their hand. A throw back is baseball's version of a slap in the face. I mean what better way to defend your team's honor and make Barry feel unwelcome by throwing the ball back into the field of play. Sure throwing the ball back would cancel a chance at making millions off of selling the ball, but it would garner enough media attention that would make you famous, which could lead to money. But then again it isn't all about money.

Option 3: Keep it:

It would be a once in a lifetime chance at getting a great sports collectable. But how anti-climactic would that be?

Option 4: The Truth:

If I were the one who caught Barry's record blast I wouldn't sell it for money, and I surely wouldn't have the testicular fortitude to throw it back. Instead I would agree to give Barry the ball back after he tells the whole truth about everything including Victor Conte, Balco, the Clear, the Cream and all those other controversial performance enhancers. I would also make Barry tell the truth during a press conference where he would be sporting a Tommy LaSorda Dodgers jersey while washing my car.

Far fetched? Maybe, but my car needs cleaning up and so does this steroid controversy.

Chances are, the person who catches the home run ball wouldn't dare throw it back. The one who grabs it will probably be some lucky fan who has dreamed of catching a home run or grabbing a foul ball. Heck, I know I have.

I just hope the person that catches it frequents my blog, then maybe baseball would have a saving grace. You may think it is foolishness on my part to think about the integrity of the game of baseball over money, but wouldn't it be nice if things were that way?

Somewhere in this strange world of ours there is the small chance that the person who grabs that ball will either be rich and not need the money, or will have read this blog, and think twice about selling the ball right back to Uncle Barry.

I don't care who catches Barry's record setting home run ball, I just hope it someone who cares greatly about baseball.

Actually, on second thought, Barry in a Dodgers jersey washing my car sounds like a pretty good idea. I think I'll go order some Giants tickets now.

#### End Note#### What would you do if you caught number 715, or 756? Would it all be about money? Or the game?

Jon Gunnells is journalism senior at Michigan State University who has never caught a home run, but plans to throw it back if it comes from the opposing team. He can be reached at Gunnell2@msu.edu

     If you did not catch a first glimpse of my list you can access it here. And while were on the subject of accessing archives check out my last blog containing my picks for the NGS II.

Now, on with the show.....

49. Blades of Steel is my favorite hockey video game.

48. Tecmo Super Bowl is my favorite video game of all time.

47. I think Penn State has some pretty cool football uniforms, but not Indiana.

46. I just ordered some kung pow chicken but the Asian restaurant gave me moo shu pork.

45. I really liked the Simpson's episode where Homer meets Gerald Ford.

44. I've never seen the Red Wings win a hockey game in person, but I did see the Pistons beat the Bulls during the Jordan era.

43. I am perturbed by the fact that Tom Green now has a show on Disney.

42. I repeat Tom Green has a show on Disney.

41. Ferris Bueller's Day Off is one heckuva movie.

40. Rookie of the Year is a much better movie.

39. I've never caught a tee shirt from a tee shirt gun at a sporting event.

38. I'm not an efficient three point shooter.

37. I can probably run, bike or swim faster than you, but I won't beat you in ice hockey, golf, or tennis.

36. I've fallen and I can't get up.

35. Jerry Rice used to be my favorite football player, but now it's Shaun Rogers.

34. I once hit a home run after a ground ball went under the first baseman's legs. No it shouldn't be scored as a single with three errors.

33. I haven't scored a baseball game that I have attended but I scored a high school softball game for work.

32. I'm watching Soul Train right now. I definitely didn't know it was still 1990.

31. I find the Dallas Mavericks offensive strategy to be exhausting.

30. I used to own a Brett Favre poster, not really sure why.

29. I used to be a huge hockey fan; I'm not really sure why that is.

28. I get the Canadian Broadcast Channel in my apartment, it has poor sports programming.

27. I'm getting really good at darts.

26. I don't doubt NASCAR is a sport, but that also means go carting is a sport too.

25. I can't bring myself to watch figure skating, fishing, bowling or boxing.

24. I can't bring myself to watch the WNBA, if I wanted to see bounce passing, I'd watch a middle school basketball game.

23. Flag football is not a sport for real men.

22. I think rugby, lacrosse, and track and field are underrated.

21. I used to love WWF wrestling before I found out wrestling was fake.

20. I did not like the WCW at all, nor did I like Ric Flair. Woooo!

19. I can't root for any teams in the AL that aren't the Tigers.

18. The Patriots are my fall back plan when the Lions lose.

17. I'm not a bandwagon fan, I swear.

16. I don't really like the Washington Redskins helmets, or Bobby Bowden in general.

15. I think Brewster's Millions is a great sports movie.

14. I have a drawer full of dodgeball jerseys.

13. I am about an inch shy of being able to dunk a basketball.

12. My friends call me the hammer when we play volleyball.

11. I think the Tigers are going to win the pennant every year.

10. Sometimes I am delusional.

9. Pro-Stars with Wayne Gretzky, Bo Jackson and Michael Jordan was an underrated television show.

8. I don't like Deion Sanders' taste in suits.

7. Chris Berman is slowly starting to annoy me, but not as much as Stuart Scott.

6. I met Al Kaline, Craig Monroe, John Clayton and Chris Berman all in the same year. It was a good year.

5. I'm sad that Malcolm in the Middle is off the air. It was fox's fault. They put it in a bad time slot.

4. Rocky Movies need to stop being made.

3. I believe there is no crying in baseball.

2. I wish the World Baseball Classic would have been more popular.

1. I can be really random when it comes to blogging about sports.            

Jon Gunnells is journalism senior at Michigan State University. He can be reached at gunnell2@msu.edu

     It's been a busy time for me this week which is the main reason for my lack of blogging. A steady mix of helping out at high school track meets, taking finals, and getting hit in he head by Delmon Young's thrown bat has kept me out of action for a while, but it can't keep me down forever.

Sports commercials have it rock bottom: I saw this Gatorade commercial the other day showing soccer clips while to the tune of Take me out to the Ball Game, now if that is not blasphemy I do not know what is. I'll leave it to you guys, the readers, to decide if soccer even has a legitimate place in sports because the argument has been exhausted on me thus far. I argue with my roommates on a daily basis about how much better baseball is than soccer, but most the time it ends up with me trying to hit someone. It's bad enough that I have had to deal with soccer being hyped up as "the next great sport" for the last 15 years, but now that it's being involved with a historic part of the baseball, I'm enraged. At this point, I despise soccer more than the WNBA, which should be saying a lot, because if I wanted to see bounce passing, I'd go watch a middle school intramural game.

The kid is not cringing because he got sweat in his eyes, he's cringing because his parents make him choose between playing soccer or watching the WNBA.

The Red Wings falter once more: For the third time in four seasons the Wings have been taken down in the first round of the NHL playoffs. This, after having the best record in the NHL. Some may say the Wings can now hit the links, but considering their age, I bet they all go down to their condo's in Florida.

John Daly and Charles Barkley are morons: But it isn't like you didn't know that already. When I first saw Daly's name in the newspaper I figured it had something to do with his reality show. You know the one where he drinks beer and swears for 30 minute segments on the golf channel. Daly claims to have lost 50-60 million dollars in gambling over the years which is absurd considering Daly never wins any money in major tournaments. I believe Daly lost that much money about as much as I believe Charles Barkley is still in good shape.

"I weigh how much now"

In the land of commercials Whopper is king: Leave it to me to bring up commercials in my first four rants but has anyone seen their new spot. Thousands of men cheering on manly acts while eating outrageous sized burgers is truly a brilliant brain child. It's lack of commercials like this that keeps me away from McDonald's wacky advertisements featuring nocturnal D.J.'s and rollerblading basketball players. Seriously rollerblading basketball players? Are you kidding me? You would have to get the Cha-Ching from Rally's circa 1990 to sell me anything that comes from McDonald's.

The NBA Playoffs are outrageous: By comparison, the regular season was a terrible intro to round one, which is why I didn't watch much of it. I did the same thing concerning hockey. I mean what's the difference you know what's going to happen. Larry Brown is going to be the center of attention, Kevin Garnett will be ostracized for doing something or another wrong. Kobe will be loved, then hated, then loved some more, then snubbed, all while a shaggy haired point guard wins another MVP award. And not to get off the subject or anything but the Wendy's commercials aren't too good either. They really need to bring Dave Thomas back.  I mean I know he is dead, but if Tupac can release three albums after his death, Dave Thomas could do a cameo for the square burgers again. Really though why the square burger? You know if I wanted to poke my eye out, I'd just fall on a rusty nail. Thanks.

Jon Gunnells is journalism senior at Michigan State University, who is appalled at the poor level of fast food advertising on television. He can be reached at gunnell2@msu.edu.

The Detroit Red Wings front office will be running a problem solving clinic this summer as they try to re-tool the best regular season NHL team that just can't win a playoff series. Sitting atop General Manager Ken Holland's "what to do list," involves a trio of aging superstars who have undetermined futures, beginning with long time captain Steve Yzerman.

Steve Yzerman Age: 40

The sentiment around hockey circles is that Yzerman who will turn 41 this week will not be around next season. Even in his 40s Yzerman was one of the most productive Red Wing players this postseason. Captain Stevie has already hinted that he may retire, and that he doesn't want to be one of those guys who stays beyond his welcome. But as the Wings leader, and one of their best players, the question for Holland is how to keep the captain around for one more cup run. It's unlikely that money would sway Yzerman, especially since under the new salary cap, the Wings don't have it. Because Yzerman already led the Wings to a Stanley Cup it is also unlikely that he will return for another year like other famous athletes such as Ray Bourque or Jerome Bettis did. For Holland and the rest of the Red Wings staff, the question is not whether to encourage Yzerman to stay or not, the question is what to do if he leaves.

Yzerman has been the Wings captain since Russia was a communist country.

Chris Chelios Age: 44

Chelios is slowly becoming a big nosed, hockey version of Julio Franco. At the ripe age of 44, set to turn 45 mid-season, Chelios's future in Detroit is also a huge question mark. Like Yzerman, Chelios, is one of the Wings best players and the best stay at home defensemen. Regardless, Chelios may be expendable if Yzerman retires and the Red Wings organization decides to rebuild and go with a younger team centered on Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg.

Brendan Shanahan Age: 37

By comparison, Shanahan still has some decent hockey years ahead of him. Then again, of the three golden oldies, Shanahan is probably the least productive. Excluding this season, Shanahan has been a playoff liability. If the Wings do rebuild Shany is good as gone.

The questions for the Wings front office do not end with Shanahan, the Wings also need to make changes on defense and in goal if they want to sustain another title run. At age 33, Chris Osgood and Manny Legace both have expressed interest in becoming the Wings starting goalie, yet both have not proved they are worthy of that position as of late.

If the Wings do decide to rebuild the defense is likely to be the first area corrected. Nicklas Lidstrom, Mathieu Schneider and Jason Wooley are each 36-years-old and Cory Cross is 35-years-old. While Lidstrom is still arguably the best defensemen in the NHL, he hinted about retirement after the Wings won the Stanley Cup in 2002. The Wings also must fill the void left by Jiri Fischer, who after a seizure during last season is no longer able to play hockey.

So while there are many decisions concerning players, the salary cap, bolstering the defense and goaltending, they all hinge around Yzerman's decision to play one more year. For Holland and the rest of the Detroit Red Wings staff it is not a question to rebuild or not to rebuild, it's a question of whether they can teach old dogs new tricks.

For the third time in the last four years the Wings were ousted in the first round of the playoffs by an inferior team. I'd like to make the comparison between the Wings and the Yankees but they are not the same. The Wings have been shaky in the playoffs since the mid 90s when they lost to teams like San Jose in 1993, or got swept in the Stanley Cup Finals in 1996 by New Jersey after winning the President's Trophy.

Three meticulously placed titles among 13 years of hockey dominance have kept the Red Wings off the hot seat for a while but now things are different. With aging players, and a new salary cap the Wings are certainly in unfamiliar territory.

Yes, they are still among the leagues elite icers but they are without many of the players that made the first three titles possible. Darren McCarty, Martin Lapointe, Sergei Federov, Vladimir Konstantinov, Igor Larionov, 'Slava Fetisov, 'Slava Kozlov, Brett Hull, Luc Robitaille, Mike Vernon, Larry Murphy, and Dominik Hasek are all gone. But are the Red Wings future playoff hopes?

Only this off-season will tell.

Jon Gunnells is a journalism senior at Michigan State University who remembers being bummed in 1993 when Arturs Irbe outplayed Chris Osgood and the Wings lost. Thirteen years later, Jon is still dissapointed because Osgood is still mediocre. He can be reached at gunnell2@msu.edu.

     Over the past week, the talking heads of sports journalism have debated over who deserved the 2006 NBA MVP award in the newspapers, on the radio and all over the internet. The MVP controversy even appeared at the NFL Draft this past Saturday when former USC running back LenDale White donned a Chauncey Billups tee-shirt with the phrase "got robbed" scripted on the chest.

     While some defend the  decision to give Phoenix guard Steve Nash his second straight award, fans and analysts continue to lobby for the likes of Kobe Bryant, Dirk Nowitzki, LeBron James and White's cousin, Billups.

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Why Nash deserved the MVP: Behind 18.8 points, and 10.5 assists per game, Nash's numbers topped even that of Chauncey Billups. With injuries to superstar teammates, Nash helped dictate the tempo of the Sun's games in a teammate- friendly, pass-first based offense. He improved his stats from last season, when he also won the MVP award.

 

Why Nash didn't deserve the MVP: Based on pure stats, Nash may not be the quintessential league MVP- he's probably closer to third banana.  While he edged out Billups by the narrowest of margins in points and assists, he couldn't touch Billups or his three point swagger. In April Billups destroyed Nash for 35 points and five assists, and four rebounds. That same day, Nash only mustered 13 points. Nash also averaged 17 points less per game than Kobe while only tallying six more assists per game. His six more assists per game would all have been needed to be converted in the form of three pointers for his offensive output to surpass that of Kobe's.

Why Billups deserved the MVP: Unlike his hair, his points per game (18.5) and assists (8.6) stacked up pretty well against Nash. His on court leadership and three point prowess helped the Pistons become invincible at certain points of the season. In a game earlier this spring, Billups scored 11 points in a little over a minute to secure a come from behind win against the Grizzlies. It wasn't always pretty jumpers and fancy passes, but it was always consistent through the lane, from the line and behind the arc. His 4.1 assists to turnover ratio is probably the most telling stat of all.

Why Billups didn't deserve the MVP:  His offensive numbers were even further away from Kobe's than Nash's and even though his division was deeply talented, the rest of the Eastern Conference was not. Much of Billups's success can be attributed to his four starting teammates who are  arguably better than any supporting cast on any other team. Reliable back up guards also made it possible for Billups to get the rest he needed, so he could shine in crunch time. Kobe, Dirk, Nash and LeBron did not share that luxury.

Why Kobe deserved the MVP: He took an irregular cast of underachieving characters and turned them into a 45 win team. In case you missed it he averaged 35 points a game and earned his second straight scoring title. He also dropped 81 points on the Toronto Raptors. Some people label him as a ball hog but he also averaged 4.5 assists per game, the second most on the Lakers. Besides, what is he supposed to do, roll over and let his team lose to the bottom feeding Raptors?

Why Kobe didn't deserve to win the MVP: He had no viable options around him which raised his scoring output and made his offensive accomplishments look  much better. He got suspended for a few games mid-season which translated into two losses for the Lakers. MVP's don't do that.

Why Dirk deserved to win the MVP: Although there really aren't stats to show it, his defense drastically improved while his offensive stats stayed in place. Even with a long, awkward last name,  Dirk averaged over 26 points and nine rebounds per game - the most rebounds of the bunch. His offensive output topped that of Nash and Billups even among a starting five that all averaged over 10 points per game.

Why Dirk didn't deserve to win the MVP: His offensive counterparts were arguably as productive as the Pistons starters at some points. In terms of points per player, Dirk's next five options were better scorers than that of Billups. His 2.8 assists per game, were nothing to write home about.

Why LeBron deserved to win the MVP:  In terms of individual impact, nobody has had a greater affect on his teammates than King James. His overall athletic ability cannot be rivaled by Dirk, Nash or Billups. His 31.4 points, seven rebounds and six assists per game gives him the second best complete stat line of the bunch. More importantly, his team probably wouldn't be in the playoffs without him. The same cannot be said about Dirk, Nash and Billups.

Why LeBron didn't deserve to win the MVP: His assist to turnover ratio is only half that of Billups, and his teammates lent a strong helping hand when it comes to scoring. The clutch factor was also not in the King's favor this season. According to 82games.com, LeBron was 3 for 17 on game winning shots this season, well below some of the league leaders like Carmello Anthony.

 

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      As you can see, a case can be made, or not made, for any one of the five best NBA players of the 2005-2006 season. No certain player excelled in every category and no certain player wasn't the best in a unique way. Since they each brought a different style of play into a different team environment the only way to truly judge the league MVP, would be to pull a switch-a-roo, but obviously that will never happen. The talking heads of sports journalism can argue until they are blue in the face, but as far as far as Dirk, LeBron, Nash, Billups and, Kobe go, there was no clear cut winner or loser.

 

Jon Gunnells is a journalism junior at Michigan State University who thinks Kobe should have gotten the nod for the MVP award just because his nickname is Mamba. He can be reached at gunnell2@msu.edu