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Show sports A8 * MONDAY • AUGUST 13 • 2007 • • * • * • • • • • • * • *.* * * Barry Bonds enters sports history after breaking Hank Aaron's all time home-run record of 755 Ben Webster • * * Sports editor * PRESENT THE * FOR DISCOUNT * * I8ES AUGUST 31, 2007 * • * • • • • * * * * • • * • * • * • • are you in? It's over. Barry Bonds owns Major League Baseball's alltime home run record. While many baseball, and non-baseball, fans already decided what they thought about Barry Bonds and his pursuit of sport's most hallowed record I watched and took in every possible detail of the game up to that swing. ESPN 2 broke into the San Francisco Giants game against the Washington Nationals in the second inning after some WNBA • double-overtime finish. Shortly after the game was finally on. Bonds was at bat. The rumbling in the stands at AT&T Park had begun. Bonds, in his first at bat of the game, disappointed his fans with a doublepeople were in attendance for one reason only and the Giants were only drawing fans for the long ball, 756. Bonds's second at bat turned out to be just another disappointment when he singled in the third inning. After four home runs in the game, it seemed as if this was going to bfc the night. Barry Zito even got his first MLB RBI, for crying out loud. This, his first year in the National League. In the fifth inning, Bonds entered the batter's box for the third time in the game, and what would be the last. Nationals's left-handed pitcher Mike Bacsik, fol- With the crack of the bat the 84 mph pitch sped over the right-center wall for the historic No. 756. Camera flashes exploding from every niche of the park. lowing his dad's advice, had been pitching to Bonds all game and continued with the game tied 4-4. Again the fans, were on their feet, cameras aimed and ready to shoot. Bonds stood, waving his black bat behind his shoulders near his shiny black batter's helmet, waiting for the 3-2 pitch. With the crack of the bat the 84 mph pitch sped over the right-center wall for the historic No. 756. Camera flashes exploding from every niche of the park. What do we do with this? To me the moment was better than I expected it to be, but it could have been better without all the controversy of Bonds. Commissioner Bud Selig didn't even want this to happen; he wasn't there when he should have been. Afterall Bonds comes from his regime. Will they boo Bonds when he enters their hometown parks away from the safety of his adoring home crowd? How many more games will Bonds even play? The steroid talk isn't going to end. The asterisk talk will continue but, for the most part, it will probably be in vain. Bonds may still be indicted for all the stuff with the grand jury, but he has the record and if retirement follows shortly, who knows what will happen with Bonds. After 33 years of Hank Aaron holding the record and 2,958 games and 9,774 at bats, for Bonds, he has done what the Giants brought him back to do this year. Like it or not, it will be said, Barry Bonds the Home Run King. Owlz playoff run may come to an end Matt Beaudin Sports writer The Orem Owlz quest for a playoff birth took a turn for the worst Thursday night as the Helena Brewers took care of business beating the Owlz 7-2 at Brent Brown Ballpark. The Brewers pitching effort held the Owlz to just one hit heading into the eighth. Orem struggled defen: sively as well with three fielding errors giving the Brewers ample opportunities to put runs on the board. "I would use the word embarrassing," said Owlz skipper Tom Kotchman of his team's performance. Helena scored one run in the third and four in the fourth giving them a 5-0 lead going into the eighth. Back to back singles by. Kiniry and Estrella gave shortstop Andrew Romine a chance with runners in scoring position. Romine made the most of the opportunity with an RBI single providing the Owlz with their first run of the game. A two-run double in the rK r\ ^\ ^\ ^\ ^ ninth all but sealed the deal for the Brewers as they improved to 3-7 for the second half of the season. For the Owlz, they drop "I would use the word embarrass- the division for the Owlz would secure that playoff spot. Thursday night's game was the first of a seven game home stand for the Owlz. With three more against Helena and then a three game series with the Missoula Osprey Orem looks to make a run to catch the Chuckars and sneak into the playoffs. ing/'said Owlz skipper Tom Kotchman of his team's performance. to 5-5 with the loss and the playoff picture appears dim at this point in the season. As one of the best teams in the Pioneer League the last five years, missing the playoffs would be quite a disappointment. The Owlz aren't completely out of the playoff picture and a strong second half might be enough to get them in. Orem trails the Idaho Falls Chuckars by three games for the division lead. Winning Owlz Schedule Aug 13-7:05 p.m. against the . Missoula Osprey Aug 14-7:05 p.m. against the Missoula Osprey Aug 15-7:05 p.m. against the Missoula Osprey |