It was a reasonable question, the one about how difficult it is to be a San Francisco Giant fan. During my holiday revelry, my pal Steve from Seattle said, “So, is it getting harder to be a Giants fan?”

Well, we signed Zito for something in the range of Norway’s GNP. The court is using tests from 100 ball players. Schmidt went south to play for the hated Dodgers.

And Bonds is still there.

And therein lies the problem and the nature of Steve’s question.

Hope did spring eternal when Bonds showed up at Major League Baseball’s winter meetings. I thought maybe somebody else would sign the headache, the man who will break the home run record and anger millions in doing so. The man who apparently risked his long-term health and reputation in a snit over the attention a white player was getting. One thing is clear. Bonds is getting plenty of attention.

As a life-long member in good standing of the Evil Empire, I’ve been though this with George Steinbrenner. With Bonds, however, you have a different type of high wire act. You want to root for the orange and black to win, but if they do it because of a Bonds’ big fly … well, let’s just say I had no good answer for Steve.

*****
When do you think the national media (ESPN especially) will stop talking about Terrell Owens? The guy leads the league in dropped passes and immaturity. Yet, for some reason we seem fixated on his every move — which is exactly what he wants.