Aaron doesn't plan to celebrate if Bonds breaks record
Associated Press
Major League Baseball News Wire
ATLANTA -- Hank Aaron doesn't plan to be at the ballpark if
and when Barry Bonds breaks his home run record.
"Uh-uh. No, no. I'm not going to be around," Aaron was quoted
as saying in Tuesday's editions of The Atlanta
Journal-Constitution.
Bonds has 735 homers, 20 short of Aaron's career record. While
Aaron has declined most interview requests in recent months, he
spoke with Journal-Constitution columnist Terence Moore.
Aaron said he wouldn't attend if Bonds were within reach of the
record when the San Francisco Giants play at Atlanta from Aug.
14-16.
"I'd probably fly to West Palm Beach to play golf," Aaron was
quoted as saying in Moore's column. "Again, it has nothing to do
with anybody, other than I had enough of it. I don't want to be
around that sort of thing anymore. I just want to be at peace with
myself. I don't want to answer questions. It's going to be a no-win
situation for me anyway. If I go, people are going to say, 'Well,
he went because of this.' If I don't go, they'll say whatever. I'll
just let them make their own mind up."
Aaron, who did not return a call from The Associated Press, said
baseball commissioner Bud Selig has told him that Bonds has asked
several times why Aaron hasn't contacted him as he approaches the
record.
"I don't talk to anybody, really, and I've never talked to
Barry, outside of that commercial we did together a few years ago,
and a few other short times," Aaron was quoted as saying. "I'm 72
years old, and I'm not hopping on a plane and flying all the way to
San Francisco for anybody."
Speaking before Monday night's game in San Diego, Bonds said he
wasn't bothered by Aaron's stance.
"He has every right to do what he wants to do. I respect
that," Bonds said. "There's no reason for me to be disappointed.
If he has other plans, other things to do, I respect that. He's his
own man. He can do what he wants to do. I respect that. No hard
feelings.
"Now if Willie wasn't there, I'd be disappointed," he said,
referring to his godfather, Willie Mays.
