Determined to free up hard cash and introduce youth to an aging, playoff deprived franchise, the San Francisco Giants bid farewell to Barry Bonds after 15 asterick stained seasons on Friday, setting the stage for an off season of wild speculation as to which team the home run king will choose to finish his career with.
     ESPN's Tim Kurkjian weighed in on Bond's options , reporting it's almost a certainty, the aging slugger, now 43, will jump to the junior circuit, where he can circle the bases as a full-time DH. 
      The speculation is the future hall of famer will stay in the Bay Area, and sign with Oakland, a team that never replaced the thunder from Jason Giambi’s bat; the Angels and the Rangers, aren't to be counted out yet either.    
         But as long as George Steinbrenner is alive and kicking, the combustible owner, who has a penchant for treating the Yankees as if it were a Broadway production—might find a way to squeeze the troublesome superstar into his playbill. Consider the violent storms that would tear through the clubhouse--if Bonds and the New York press regularly went at each other over steroid investigations, hitting slumps, or halfhearted base running, a trait the moody slugger often showcases like a badge of honor?
        It might get ugly, but it's precisely the kind of tension Steinbrenner longs for; and sell a few extra tickets in the process.

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       The Giants decision to sever ties with the all time home run leader should silence those moaning about players having no team loyalty, only being interested in chasing after the pot of gold, or abandoning the fans, who supported them through thick and thin.
       So now we know, the Giants could care less about team loyalty either; neither did the Yankees, they cut the Babe, who finished  his career with the Boston Braves; they traded Roger Maris to the St Louis Cardinals for Charley Smith; even the Brooklyn Dodgers, after squeezing all the juice out him,  traded Jackie Robinson to the Giants; but the second baseman called it quits before slipping on a uniform of his chief rival.
     Perhaps Barry will sign with the Bombers, but only on the condition he be allowed to wear no. 3.
      Could you imagine? Then the Bronx would really be burning
-Bill Lucey
billlucey@bellsouth.net