My Evening With Barry

First let me preface this entry by stating how happy I am with the decision not to post on a regular basis, headline chase, and follow every instinct I have about the team, because then things like the last week happen, and everyone who commented along the way pretty much looked like idiots. First the bluster before the Philly series, then the despair afterwards, only for us to have swept the Braves, take 2 of 3 from the suddenly competent Reds, and sweep the (dis)Astros. That's why they play the games. Anyway.

So it was the week of the San Francisco series at Shea in late May, and my uncle calls me with two tickets, right along the left field line. I already have my usual Tuesday/Friday seats for the 29th, but I opt to sell my seat for that game and go on Wednesday. Usually these things backfire on me bigtime, but Barry doesn't play on Tuesday, and is in the lineup for Wednesday. I depart the 7 train at around 6:30 and am immediately aware of the circus surrounding me. People with derrogatory t-shirts, steroids chants (outside the stadium!) and of course several competing anti-Bonds websites with party favors. The one that stuck with me most was boycottbarry.com, who were giving out sleep masks in the hopes that everyone in the stadium would don them as Barry came to bat.

My uncle and I make it to our seats and patiently await Barry's first appearance. After retiring the first two batters, Glavine gives up a double, and guess whose turn it is. Of course the boos come out, and it's honestly like nothing I've borne witness to at Shea before. At this point, some of the more conscientious sleep mask holders cover their eyes with their free handouts, but they are in the vast minority. In retrospect, it was a bit ambitious to expect even a small percentage of patrons to cover their eyes in such a manner; you don't even get everybody to clap their hands when they announce "Everybody clap your hands." I'm glad boycottbarry.com wasted their money on that stupid idea. Anyway the first inning (finally) ends after 2 Giant runs, and Barry makes his way out to left field, greeted by the lusty boos of my entire section (I chose to remain neutral). To my surprise, he tosses the ball around with Victor, the left field ball boy, a routine he would repeat before the bottom half of every inning. This must have been some night for Victor. Ball boys get a lot of abuse during the season; I hope he got laid because he played soft-toss with the new disputed Home Run King. Anyway Vic acquitted himself very nicely despite the pressure, with only a few slightly errant throws all game. God knows if it was me out there I would've broken out in hives and looked like the 2006 Detroit Tigers infield during the world series. Nobody would've been safe.

The bottom of the first continues on, and the boos do not subside. Barry's response to this, and I suppose the entire reason for this post, could be described as "amused dismissal." He smiled at the crowd, waved a little, and even flexed his muscles as the usual torrent of steroids accusations flew at him. I never would have expected this given his demeanor during his (admittedly choreographed) plays to the media, such as the interview when he dragged his son into the whole mess a few years back, and the "reality" show "Bonds on Bonds" where he (presumably) emoted into the camera about how tough it was being Barry Bonds and (definitely) dressed in drag for a spring training game.

As the game wore on and it became apparent that not only wasn't Bonds bothered by the cat-calling and steroid accusals, but that he was actually enjoying the attention, the fans in my section became much less vocal. They actually became speechless. One fan who had been the most vocal even resorted to talking under his breath to Barry and pretending he was having an intimate conversation with him. I think it's safe to say that Barry "got to him." In all, I think the amount of time Bonds spent looking at the crowd vs. the amount of time he spent paying attention to the game could be accurately summarized as a 70/30 split. There's no point in speculating as to whether Bonds' critics that night would have the guts to say all those things to his face one on one, because when it came down to it, they didn't even have the wherewithal to get under his skin with 54,000 reinforcements.