This isn't a fair title that I have chosen tonight, because I have no intention of writing about the U.S. State Department, one of the less effective government agencies these days. But the fog is settling down on us here, so it feels right.
Nope, tonight, my thoughts are more mundane -- I'm focused on 753 and what it will take to get to 756.
As you may or may not know, the world of sports, American style, is coming to grips with the prospect that Barry Bonds, the greatest and also most controversial hitter of this (and perhaps any other) era, is poised to break the all-time MLB home run record.
There are only three names in America when it comes to HR's: Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, and Barry Bonds. The Babe hit 714, which in my boyhood was considered the record that would never be broken. But Hank Aaron did it, and ended up with 755. Now, Barry Bonds sits two HR's away from tying Aaron's record; three from breaking it.
Tonight, against all expectations, the commissioner of baseball, Bud Selig, announced that he will try to attend the game when Bonds breaks the record. He is at the park tonight, though so far Bonds is 0-2.
This is a much bigger symbolic move than you might appreciate if you don't follow baseball. I believe the reason Selig has changed his position (until today he implied he would not be present for Bonds' big moment) is that Bonds, much more media savvy than most people realize, graciously complemented Selig in a press conference recently.
Flattery will get you everywhere. Barry knows that. Bud showed up. The rest is history; and just in case tomorrow is the big date, we will be there...
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