It's been almost a week since Detroit News columnist Rob Parker penned the remark, but time has failed to fade the ridiculous nature of his inflammatory statement.
In what I deem to be a desperate, and successful, attempt at gaining national notoriety, Parker attacked one of baseball's most stand-up gentlemen, Henry Aaron.
The first five words of his April 20 column were "Hank Aaron is a coward."
According to Parker, during an interview on ESPN Radio's nationally-syndicated program Mike & Mike in the Morning Tuesday, Aaron must step upon the soapbox and speak his mind on Barry Bonds' chase for his career home run record.
Since Bonds has made it apparent in recent years he will surpass Aaron on the all-time list, Hammerin' Hank has indeed chosen to not speak about his stance concerning the issue, or Bonds' steroid allegations.
He has, though, stated he will not attend the game where Bonds hits No. 757.
According to Parker, not only should Aaron be in attendance, he must make a public statement about the record, or else it would not be fair "to baseball, its fans or Bonds."
Let's take these in order.
First, Aaron has accomplished a lot for the game of baseball, as a player and ambassador to the sport.
During the 1970s he carried on what the great Jackie Robinson began as the leading African American in baseball.
While carrying the flag in the struggle against racism, he faced the most hallowed record in all of sports, Babe Ruth's legendary 714 home runs.
Throughout his career, and especially as he approached the sacred numeral, he received death threats and was called every racial slur imaginable.
Nonetheless, he carried on, crushing the Babe's record, and placing himself among the all-time greats.
His courage against the ignorance and intolerance of the time is far from cowardly.
Next come the fans. Personally, as a fan of baseball, what Hank Aaron wants to do is Hank Aaron's business.
His intentions on not attending the game tell me all I need to know. If he were supportive of Bonds, he'd be there.
Aaron's politically correct explanation, which Parker views as absurd, is that at 72 years old, he is in no condition to fly around the country, waiting for Bonds to break the record.
This is a perfectly acceptable reason because it could take two weeks or more for the record to fall.
It's a different set of circumstances than when Cal Ripken Jr. broke the iron-man record. That date was set.
It was prepared for. No. 757 is unpredictable.
Finally is Barry Bonds himself. This is my most inane of Parker's demands.
Bonds has done everything in his power during the last five-plus seasons to alienate himself from his teammates and baseball.
He violates laws of the player's union.
He speaks condescendingly to reporters, as well as his coaches and teammates. Hank Aaron owes absolutely nothing to Bonds.
Most of all, Aaron owes nothing to Rob Parker.
His attempt to slander one of baseball's best representatives is enough to make blood boil and my only hope is that informed readers understand what Aaron went through and that the last word he should ever be associated with is "coward."
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