I remember where I was when I watched McGwire hit his 62nd home run.
I remember where I was when I watched Cal Ripken play in his 2131st game.
I made it a point to experience these events live as they happened. No Sportscenter recaps for me. When future generations ask me what I was doing when an all-time mark was set, I don't want to say I was out back mowing the lawn.
For better or worse another monumental mark is about to be reached. And as much as I don't want Barry Bonds to hit 756 home runs, as ashamed as I am to call him a baseball player, I've still got to watch.
Do you know how badly I wish I could've seen Aaron's 715th homer?
Rose's 4190th hit?
Maris's 61st home run?
Live on TV?
No historical baseball records are going to pass me by.
So I feel sort of obligated to watch Barry Bonds piss me off.
Now let me tell you how mad I am at Sportsnet, the less-annoying Canadian ESPN equivalent, right now. They promised me more Giants' games. Okay. Fine. They promised every Bonds at-bat until he breaks the record. Good... I'll have to wade through some boring CFL highlights, but they'll cut to the at-bats live.
Last night I was all prepared to watch history. I had the Yahoo Gamechannel running on the computer to tell me when he was coming to bat. I had the TV on the Sportsnet channel ready for some live history-making. I had a plate full of chips to munch on while I waded through the boring CFL highlights. At this point Bonds was at 754. One more to tie Aaron.
And...
And...
More boring CFL highlights.
I glanced at the computer. Bonds was on first base.
EVERY AT-BAT MY BUTTOCKS.
Maybe they just... forgot?
Next at-bat. Boring CFL highlights. Computer glance: Bonds on first base again.
I went to bed.
Fortunately (in more ways than one) he didn't tie the record that night. But TV lied to me. I can't angrily watch Barry Bonds break the home run record if I can't angrily watch him at all. Don't promise me every Bonds at-bat, Sportsnet, if you're not interested in broadcasting every Bonds at-bat.
For crap's sake.
I may end up witnessing the 756th home run for the first time on YouTube or something like that. That's no way experience a momentous event.
"Where were you when Barry Bonds broke Hank Aaron's all-time home run record?"
"I was in the living room screaming at boring CFL highlights."
