Enamored with THE long ball

Last night, Barry Bonds hit career home run 751 at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati. And Bonds' 756 career home run cannot come soon enough.

As we celebrate America today, it is worthy to notice that America's pastime is having the ultimate season. History is being made almost daily, but the only thing fans are consistently hearing about is the chase for those sacred home runs numbered 755 and 756.

I am sick of hearing about it. And rooting for Barry Bonds is the only answer. You read correctly. I am rooting for the outfielder I have hated ever since the 1992 NLCS, the giant who abruptly left Pittsburgh bashing the fans on his way out.

Hoping Bonds gets hurt and goes on the DL will do no good. If he is injured, he will return in the game for yet another season. Bonds is arguably one of the best and most selfish players in baseball. The sooner Barry gets to 756, the sooner everyone will stop counting and baseball can finally move on.

While we wait for THE long ball, here's a recap of some of history already made this season and some that could be made soon.

THE MILESTONE LIST

May 6 - Omar Vizquel the steady San Francisco shortstop get his 2,500 career hit. It was a double in the second inning as the Giants got hammered by Philadelphia. (In the news for a day or so)

May 24 - John Smoltz earns his 200 career win, as the Braves down the Mets 2-1. With Smoltz's 200 wins he also has 150 career saves. (Still being discussed, because of Hall of Fame implications)

May 30 - Johnny Damon rips his 2,000 career hit. (In the news for a day)

June 6 - Trevor Hoffman silences the LA Dodgers bats in the ninth inning to earn career save number 500. The Padres won the game 5-2. (Still being mentioned, in the news for a couple days)

June 12 - Chad Cordero closes the door on Baltimore and becomes the second youngest player to reach 100 career saves. (In the news for a day)

June 17 - Chipper Jones belts his 2,000 career hit. (In the news around a day)

June 20 - Slamming Sammy Sosa takes a 1-2 pitch in the 5th inning deep and reaches the 600 home run plateau. Sosa is only the fifth player in MLB history to reach that mark. (In the news for a few days)

June 23 - Miguel Tejada's consecutive games streak ends at 1,152 games. Without question an achievement. No one has come closer to reaching Cal Ripken's streak since Ripken set the record. The streak started on June 2, 2000, in Oakland. It was the fifth-longest consecutive games steak in baseball history. Tejada started 14 times as the designated hitter over the past two seasons to rest balky knees. Juan Pierre now has the next longest streak. (In the news outside the Beltway area for one day)

June 27 - Ryan Howard becomes the fastest player in MLB history to reach 100 home runs taking only 325 games to do so. Also, seven 40-year-old plus pitchers start on the same day (a MLB record). They go a combined 3-1. (In the news for one day)

June 28 - A two milestone day. Frank Thomas hits his 500th home run before being ejected, then Craig Biggio smoked his 3,000 career hit into the outfield before being thrown out attempting to take second base. (In the news until July 1).

July 2 - Roger Clemens shuts down the Minnesota Twins for his 350 career win. Clemens went eight strong innings, giving up 1 run on 2 hits. He struck out four. (In the news for a couple days, so far)

July 3 - Barry Bonds crushes an 0-2 pitch from Red's starter Aaron Harang to right-center field for career home run 751. We'll be talking about this till career home run 752.

Other Milestones on the way... Bobby Cox 132 career ejections (one away), Tom Glavine 300 career wins (three away), Greg Maddox 350 career wins (10 away), Ken Griffey Jr. chasing 600 HRs (15 away) and Craig Biggio 288 career HBP (four away).