What brings us together

I wrote this in my blog on another site to drive home my point on why 756 is special to me. Many of my friends don't understand, and already they have respectfully disagreed with Bonds breaking the record. Most of this is preaching to the converted I'm sure. I want to share it anyway.

Barry Bonds breaking the all time home run record is special to me. Of course there's the uniqueness of saying "I remember when..." There's the pride that comes from one of my favorite players breaking the record for my favorite team, in my favorite ballpark.

These things do not compare to what I love most about sports. As those who watched the celebration after Bonds crossed home plate, these moments are not about records and numbers and statistics. These moments are about coming together and celebrating. Families and friends embracing, strangers you've never met high fiving you at the ballpark, calls and IMs and texts from people you know congratulating you, this is why I love sports. One moment can bring people together, and make lots of people happy.

The first person Barry saw after he crossed the plate was his son. He's the first person he always sees after he hits a home run. The bear hug after 755 choked me up big time:

It's the basic principle of a parent and child bonding over sport. It's profound, simple, and beautiful. Something many of us can identify with, I'm sure.

Willie Mays joined Bonds on the field following his wife and daughters. The family was complete. Barry stumbled over his speech when he mentioned his father, and that's when I lost my shit too. During the press conference he said something about his father not being there but I insist that Bobby Bonds was there. He was there in memories, in the hearts of the people who knew and loved him, and he is there every time Bonds takes the field.

Hank Aaron's scoreboard message was a complete surprise. They've been doing a series of congratulatory messages on the video board for Bonds, greetings from the greatest of all time in other sports such as Joe Montana, Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretzky, and Muhammad Ali. Hank showed tremendous class in wishing Bonds the best even in a pre-recorded message.

The ballpark fell completely silent when Hank began to speak. I think everyone there, including me sitting at home, was awed into silence. Nobody knew if Hank would turn up on the day Bonds passed him, and there he was. It was a beautiful and moving greeting from one of the best hitters ever. Bonds' achievement will never diminish Aaron's greatness. It didn't diminish the greatness of those he passed before Aaron. We will still remember Frank Robinson as one of the best. Mays, Ruth, and Aaron are still legends that every ballplayer no matter the age or experience reveres and often fantasizes about passing their records. Memories cannot fade if you don't let them fade.

Of memories, I remember how special being there for 714 was. I am happy for the people who were there last night. We too share something now. Sharing is what this whole thing comes down to.

In short this is what I love about baseball. It's an icebreaker, it's a conversation starter, it's a passion, and it's a subject of endless debate. We'll be talking about these moments for the rest of our lives. The people may pass on, the places may get bulldozed and replaced with mini malls, but the stories will live on. Immortality isn't living forever in corporeal presence, it's living in memories and stories.

It is what brings us together. In a world where too many things can tear us apart, that's a pretty significant thing to have.