Last week we linked the story in which Alex Rodriguez allegedly told Barry Bonds that he was gunning for his home run record. Besides a brief smile, either genuine or sardonic, that shouldn’t have inspired much emotion in anyone. For one thing, it was probably just a little bit of ribbing/jest between a couple of athletes. And even if it wasn’t, it’s not exactly a news flash that athletes do and say a lot of things in order to motivate themselves.
But, apparently, A-Rod should never have said such a thing because that makes him delusional and horrible and everything. From John Harper at, you guessed it, the Daily News:But it comes on the heels of word from Barry Bonds that A-Rod recently told him he still has every intention of breaking his career home run record, which immediately makes a mockery of any notion that he is thinking rationally these days.
Never mind that his decision to work out with Bonds, the most notorious juicer of them all, was foolish enough by itself, considering that A-Rod is theoretically trying to rebuild some credibility fresh off his season-long suspension for using PEDs.
If he really thinks he can hit another 109 home runs, which is what he would need to pass Bonds’ total of 762, then A-Rod is as delusional as he was when he decided that attacking everyone in baseball was a good strategy for escaping punishment in the Biogenesis scandal . . . Talk about being out of touch.
He’s right. Athletes should have no goals and should be constantly aware of and vocal about their age, mortality and declining skills. They should not believe they can do difficult things. They should be consistent in downplaying their skills and in doubting their value as athletic performers.
Look a Michael Jordan. What made him great? That’s right, humility, lacking confidence in himself and a sense that many were greater. Take Jack Nicklaus before the 1986 Masters. Long the stories have been told about him telling everyone he met, “Christ, I’m OLD! No WAY I win this. If I were to think otherwise I’d be out of touch! And then what would the newspapers say?!”
This is Daily News we’re talking about here. They know what reality is. When they say what is realistic and what is not, by gum, everyone should listen to them.
