By Eric Cooper Santa Monica
Kenny Mack can see no other reasons than racism (“Let’s Stop Fooling ourselves on Race,” Opinion, Dec. 21) for the difference in the way Barry Bonds has been treated this year compared to Roger Clemens. So, let’s give him some.
Reason No.1 it’s not racism: Barry Bonds has been connected with BALCO, the steroid source, for years and has admitted to at least taking some of their products. Roger Clemens has never been publicly associated with BALCO, until now. The Mitchell Report listing his name last week was the first time fans heard about it.
Reason No. 2 it’s not racism: In the mere days since the Mitchell Report, pitcher Curt Schilling, a future Hall of Famer, white peer of Clemens, has challenged Clemens to prove he did not take steroids or else give back four of his Cy Young Awards. In the years since Bonds has been associated with steroid use not one of his peers, Manny, Ortiz or A- Rod, has asked Barry to prove himself or give back four Most Valuable Player Awards.
Reason No. 3 it’s not racism: When Bonds passed Mark McGwire for the all time single-season home run record “White America” yawned. But when Bonds approached and passed Hank Aaron for the all time home run record, “White America” was outraged. Let’s recap: Bonds breaks a white guy’s record and white people don’t care. Bonds breaks a black guy’s record and white people are furious! How can that be in Kenny Mack’s racist world?
Reason No. 4 it’s not racism: Baseball fans bleed team colors, not racial ones. You won’t get a beer spilled on your head for being black or white at a game. But you most definitely will get drenched if you wear a Giant’s uniform to a Dodger game or a Yankee uniform to a Red Sox game.
As baseball fans we don’t care about skin color, Kenny. Sorry you still do.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 25, 2007. Read the original PDF.