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Blog Entry 47 of 68 The Write Words
I hope to write about anything and everything that comes into my mind, as long as it is in good taste. I hope to communicate effectively and stimulate thought and conversation. I can't wait to get started!

Blog Url: http://denver.yourhub.com/~ErinsBlog

Booing Barry Bonds

Contributed by: Erin Di Paolo   on 5/15/2007

Last week I attended a Colorado Rockies vs. San Francisco Giants baseball game. As in the past, the crowd became raucous and belligerent when Barry Bonds arrived at the plate. They booed and heckled him mercilessly. He is, after all, the player fans love to hate.

I am no fan of his, either. I think he has done much to hurt the integrity of a sport I love. I admire his athletic ability, but am unsure of how much he has accomplished on his own, without the assistance of steroids.

Even though I have strong feelings and opinions about the man, there is one thing I will never do: I will never boo him. Last year when my friend, Holly, and I went to a Rockies vs. Giants game, she was amazed at how many people had obvious disdain for Bonds. Since she is not a baseball follower, I explained the entire horrific situation to her. Her response was, "Why is he still playing baseball then?" A loaded question indeed and one that I, nor anyone else, have a black and white answer for.

At that game, we decided to take a stand, not for Bonds himself, but for a principle. Since everyone else was booing him and carrying on in an unsportsmanlike display, we decided to rebel and clap for him. It was a blast

Last night, I carried on the tradition my friend and I began, even though she was not with me; my two sons were. I warned them I would be clapping for Bonds when he came up to bat. They were horrified. They begged and pleaded with me, citing bodily injury as a good reason to not do it (they were afraid a non-Bonds friendly crowd would turn riotous toward us).

I decided to throw caution to the wind. After all, I gotta be me.

When Bonds appeared, I clapped; the majority booed. I felt empowered. The next time he was up, I clapped again. I received a few dirty looks, but didn't care. Bonds hit two more times and I became bolder; now I stood and clapped. And when he left the field at the top of the ninth inning after being relieved by a pinch runner, I gave him a standing ovation. More jeers and boos from the crowd; more dirty looks for me.

I am no Barry Bonds fan. But I do believe in giving each and every person respect, to the best of my ability, as I believe they are made in God's image. Do I do it perfectly? Far from it. But if I can start with someone like Bonds, who I really dislike, then perhaps there is hope I can extend it to others, like, say, Hillary Clinton.

Ok, that is a stretch. But you never know.


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Showing 1-2 of 2 comments
Submitted By: Gladys Mercier
posted on 5/25/2007 @ 12:21:27 AM
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I am glad you didn't boo him. Hillary Clinton seems like a very nice person to me but it seems that I am the only one who feels that way.
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Submitted By: Barbara Neff
posted on 5/21/2007 @ 12:15:59 PM
Rated Blog Entry
Erin, I am uncomfortable booing, also. I cannot help considering the example we set for children at sporting events. Booing teaches rudeness, gang mentality, and un-sportsman-like conduct. If you can't say something good...well...we all know the rest.
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CONTRIBUTOR INFORMATION

Erin Di Paolo

Denver , CO

Erin Di Paolo has posted 68 blog entries and 1 comment since joining on 3/18/2006. Erin Di Paolo 's average blog rating is 4.45.
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