Friday, May 05, 2006

Not in our house


By Steven Lienert

Philadelphia fans will make national news this evening.

And, once again, it won't be for the right reasons.

Barry Bonds will man left field at Citizens' Bank Park tonight, his first venture to Philadelphia since the congressional hearings on steroids and the BALCO investigation.

He may want to don a batting helmet while playing the field, because an empty syringe is the least of his worries tonight.

The stands behind Bonds will be packed with fans that have ill intentions toward him. They will incessantly heckle him to the brink of tears. Things will be thrown at him. He will get booed in a very malicious manner.

Oh, yes. Things will not be pleasant for Mr.Bonds this evening.

The fact that ESPN replayed the syringe incident over and over again almost cemented the fact that Bonds was going to have more things thrown at him in the future.

And the infamously emotional Philadelphia fans will let Mr. Bonds know -- one way or another -- that his march toward Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron is an empty one.

Personally, I'd like Bonds to just go away. But he won't. Instead, then, I'm hoping he leaves Citizens Bank Park homerless, still two behind the Babe.

I don't want this ballpark to be stained, forever linked with Bonds and his rare case of gigantism.

Steve Lienert can be reached at stevelienert@hotmail.com

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