756(*?)

Barry Bonds set the all-time record for home runs when he hit the 756th of his career off the Washington Nationals' Mike Bacsik in the fifth inning last night.




The new home run king, with his godfather Willie Mays behind him.

Bonds worked a 3-2 count before fouling off the sixth pitch of the at-bat. Barry smacked the seventh pitch a few rows deep in the seats in right center field.

Hank Aaron was not at the game but did give an inspiring message in a pre-taped speech that was broadcast on the Jumbotron after the blast:

"It is a great accomplishment which required skill, longevity and determination.

"Throughout the past century, the home run has held a special place in baseball and I have been privileged to hold this record for 33 of those years. I move over now and offer my best wishes to Barry and his family on this historic achievement.

"My hope today, as it was on that April evening in 1974, is that the achievement of this record will inspire others to chase their own dreams."

Bonds then thanked his father in an emotional speech to the crowd. The game paused for the celebration a total of ten minutes.

It was a nice event to witness in a vacuum, but the controversy surrounding the star will greatly cloud the memory in the minds of many baseball fans.

W the Wiretapper (assist to the cowardly Blue Dogs)

This is as reckless as it was unnecessary. Democrats had presented a compromise plan that would have permitted surveillance to proceed, but with court review and an audit by the Justice Department's inspector general, to be provided to Congress, about how many Americans had been surveilled. Democrats could have stuck to their guns and insisted on their version. Instead, nervous about being blamed for any terrorist attack and eager to get out of town, they accepted the unacceptable. Most Democrats opposed the measure, but enough (16 in the Senate, 41 in the House) went with Republicans to allow it to pass, and the leadership enabled that result.

Four of those 41 included Texas Democrats Nick Lampson, Chet Edwards, Henry Cuellar, and Ciro Rodriguez, Blue Dogs all.

Bad dog. No bone for you. Get in your crate. (And you oughta get a whippin' ...)