The Starting Five

For an audio example of my thoughts on Barry, click here and navigate through from the pros until you see my name.

Last year this time was such a proud time personally in the context of baseball. I couldn’t help but to smile for Barry Bonds broke the career home run record set by the great Hank Aaron. My only regret was not documenting the moment with my children.

I’d texted a couple of writers with “Happy Barry Bonds Day” and rejoiced with others who were very familiar with the Bay. It didn’t bother me Bud Selig had the look of a cheap department store mannequin as Barry rounded the bases. The raucous applause of the Pacific Bell Park (now AT&T Park) faithful had to sting Bud just enough but I’m sure he thought to himself that it would all be over soon.

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Regardless of who does what, these games will most likely be remembered for what Michael Phelps accomplishes as he sets out to break Mark Spitz’s record and win an unprecedented eight gold medals…

but there’s been a gate crasher in one Cullen Jones.

In the preliminary heats Cullen and his teammates shattered the world record in the 4X100 Freestyle–leaving US coach Eddie Reese with a decision of who to add to the finals team of Phelps, Jason Lezak and Garrett Weber-Gale.

The decision most likely became obvious after Jones’ sub-48 split was the deciding factor in the prelims. Jones was part of the team that broke the world record in 2006.

Alain Bernard earlier was quoted as saying: “The Americans? We’re going to smash them. That’s what we came here for.”

The French were favored to win the event and become just the third team besides the Americans to win the relay.

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