Bonds Primed for a Special Year

After belting his 735th homer and first of the year on Wednesday night, Barry Bonds finds himself only 21 homers away from breaking Hank Aaron's record of 755.

The nightly ESPN ticker of the "Barry Bonds Home Run Chase" has begun with a bang. On a 2-2 count, Bonds sent a shot to left-center just over the wall off Padres pitcher Chris Young on Wednesday night.

Bonds' opposite field shot proved that his knees are good to go and will be knocking on Hammerin' Hanks' door sooner than later this year. With the support of the city of San Francisco, Bonds will be sure to hear the chants of "Barry! Barry!" all season long on his chase.

If that isn't proof enough that Bonds is healthy and ready to rock n' roll then his hustling, sprawling catch down the third base line to rob Marcus Giles of a double does. The catch also saved a run and a Giants lead at the time. Although the Giants fell, their star, and the biggest Giant of them all showed he's back.

Coming into this season, Bonds was coming off a tough year surrounded by scrutiny, constant steroid controversy including the ongoing government investigation by George Mitchell, and reestablishing power in his knees. Bonds went through a trio of knee surgeries in 2005 and only accumulated 42 at bats and 5 HRs. Last year, he returned with 26 bombs and 77 RBIs in 367 AB. However, in his last 30 games, Bonds was on a torrid pace. He launched 10 long balls, knocked in 26 runs, and hit .368.

With an off-season to get back into shape, the 7-time NL MVP used it wisely by rehabilitating his knee to 100 percent. Bonds even dominated spring training hitting seven clouts in only 45 AB.

If anything is clear, it is that the slugger of San Francisco is back, and back to break a sacred record. Hammerin' Hank Aaron's record-breaking homer to past Babe Ruth was celebrated throughout baseball and America. The only thing that scares me is that MLB and commissioner Bud Selig fail to recognize this historic achievement. For everyone's sake, it would be perfect if Bonds hit the record-breaker in his protective bay.

Whatever steroid allegations and controversies surround Bonds must be left as allegations and nothing more. There still has been no proof and until there is, Bonds must be celebrated. He holds single-season records in some impressive categories: 73 homers in 2001, 232 walks in 04', 120 intentional walks in '04, .609 on-base percentage in '04, .863 slugging percentage in '01, and a 6.52 HR ratio in '01. Bonds also has 18 seasons of at least 20 clouts in his 21-year career. On top of all that, Bonds led the Giants to the NL penant in 2002 and his 1st World Series apperance. In the 2002 playoffs, Bonds hit a jaw-dropping eight homers with four coming in the World Series.

The numbers speak for themselves, so when Bonds' hits 755 and 756 be sure to say congratulations because regardless of speculation, Bonds is the greatest hitter of all-time and arguably the greatest player.

Barry Lamar Bonds I salute you for your accomplishments now and into the future. I've been a fan of Bonds since my childhood, when I traded all my Ken Griffey Jr. baseball cards to my oldest brother Steve, for all his Barry Bonds'.

Without this steroid controversy, those could have been the greatest trades ever. Both are Hall of Fame bound, but I would rather have close to a hundred cards of the home run King.

Oh hell, "Barry!Barry!"

Chicago Bulls Improving Every Step of the Way

The Chicago Bulls are playing sensational in the second half of the season yet again after dominating the Pistons in a 106-88 statement game Wednesday night

The Chicago Bulls put the Eastern Conference on notice Wednesday night...they are for real.

Heading into the Palace, the Bulls were without former Piston Big Ben Wallace due to sinus inflammation, so someone would have to pick up the slack on the boards. Early on, another Ben was crippled due to foul trouble. Ben Gordon scored only two points in 12 minutes of action after entering averaging 21.5 points a game, so someone would have to pick up the slack offensively too.
With both tasks at hand, the whole squad decided to rise to the occasion in the rout. Kirk Hinrich poured in 29 points going 4-6 from 3-point land, and grabbed eight rebounds. Loul Deng continued his incredible play by dropping 22 points and snatching nine rebounds, while Thabo Sefolosha started his first game in the NBA, notched 11 points and 10 rebounds in a career-high 40 minutes of action. The other stud rookie Tyrus Thomas put on another spectacle by high-flying to 13 points, snatching eight rebounds, including five offensive in ten minutes of action before being ejected in the fourth quarter with 8:12 remaining after an altercation with Richard Hamilton.

The Bulls steam rolled into Detroit grabbing their sixth win out of their last seven, while taking the season series three to four for the first time since the Jordan era (1998). With only six games remaining, the Bulls still find themselves only a 1/2 game behind Cleveland for the second-seed in the East. However, the last six are against the Nets twice, Raptors, Knicks, Bobcats, and Wizards (possibly Gilbert Arenas-less) with three of the six at the United Center.

Over the last three years, the young Bulls have shared a common theme: improving significantly throughout the season. Although, this time they aren't playing for their playoff lives. The Bulls secured that spot long ago and clinched last week, yet with the second seed on the line the Bulls are playing their best basketball at the end of the season again. Since the All-Star Break, the Bulls are a remarkable 16-6 and improved to 12-4 against divisional opponents with their W over the Pistons.

Taking a look at the Bulls as a whole, GM John Paxson deserves a huge pat on the back and a toast for his excellent work. Over the last four years, Paxson has drafted exceptionally starting with Kirk Hinrich seventh overall in 2003. Then Ben Gordon third, Loul Deng seventh (originally drafted by Phoenix), and Chris Duhon 38th in 2004. The Bulls had no draft picks in 2005, but rebounded with fourth pick Tyrus Thomas (originally drafted by Portland, traded for second pick LaMarcus Aldridge) and Thabo Sefolosha at 13 in 2006. The Bulls also have the option of flipping picks with the New York Knicks in the 2007 draft, which they will of course do (anything can happen in the lottery).

After congratulating Paxson, fans should turn their next "thank yous" to head coach Scott Skiles. Skiles has molded the young crop of Hinrich, Gordon, Deng, Duhon, Thomas, and Sefolosha beautifully with veterans Ben Wallace and P.J. Brown. All six of the picks over the last four years have contributed significantly to the Bulls reemergence in the Eastern Conference, while Hinrich, Deng and Gordon have become stars with Thomas and Sefolosha chomping at the bit.

On top of it all, gritty warrior Andres Nocioni is scheduled to return to action this Friday against the Nets after sitting out since basically Feb. 3 due to plantar fasciitis. Paxson managed to sign Nocioni as a free agent from Argentina in August of 2004. To say the least, 2004 was a big year for the Bulls with Gordon, Deng and Nocioni joining the ranks to form the nucleus. With Nocioni's return the Bulls add yet another scorer and rebounder in their talented rotation.

Since the Jordan era ended in 1998, Bulls youngsters have been cycled in and out; however, this crop has a different bounce to their step. Those youngsters of the past include Elton Brand, Marcus Fizer, Jamal Crawford, Tyson Chandler, Eddy Curry, and Jay Williams (motorcycle was a great mistake). All were shipped out of town, but in 2003 the new crop arrived starting with floor general Hinrich.

The pieces are all in the place. The Bulls are primed to snatch the two-seed from the Cavs and claim home-court advantage (28-10 at the United Center).

On Wednesday, the Bulls proved they are for real, but the next six games will show whether they are a true contender.

I already got them in the Eastern Conference Finals, and I hope to see you there as well.

Tyrus Thomas Soaring to New Heights...Literally

Over the past week, Thomas has marked up the box score, including his most recent performance Saturday in a 112-108 OT loss to Cleveland

This time last year, Tyrus Thomas led LSU to the Final Four as a freshmen.

Now, Thomas (T^2) is blossoming into the player everybody thought he could be when the Bulls traded the second pick LaMarcus Aldridge to Portland for the fourth pick Thomas. In a heart-breaking overtime loss to Cleveland 112-108 on Saturday, Thomas scored a career-high 27 points, grabbed eight rebounds, snatched three steals, swatted three shots, and had a handful of high-flying dunks. Thomas also shot a sensational 9-11 from the field and 9-10 from the free throw line in a career-high 37 minutes of action off the bench.

Over the past week, Thomas has come into his own. It all started with his game-winning tip against Denver with two-tenths of a second left on March 22. Thomas' tip-in propelled the Bulls to a 109-108 victory. He also notched nine points and 11 rebounds, including five offensive in only 21 minutes of action. Then on March 29, in 27 minutes of action Thomas scored 13 points and grabbed 10 boards (six offensive) enabling the Bulls to squeak by the pesky Detroit Pistons 83-81.

All of this has been made possible due to the injury to Andres Nocioni. Nocioni has been suffering from plantar fasciitis since Feb. 3 and has not played in a game since Feb. 22, in which he only logged 15 minutes. Plantar fasciitis is a painful inflammatory condition caused by excessive wear to the plantar fascia (heel) of the foot. Nocioni's injury paved the way for Thomas and will continue to do so since the Chicago Tribune reported on Wednesday that Nocioni still had inflammation in his right foot.

Without Nocioni, the Bulls have been one of the hottest teams in the NBA and the hottest team in the Eastern Conference since the All-Star break going 14-6. The Bulls can thank Thomas' play off the bench especially over the last week for their hot streak.

At only 20 years-old, Thomas has all the upside in the world. He is a player that progresses through confidence, which after Saturday's game vs. Cleveland should be through the roof. His athleticism on both ends of the floor was the reason he was drafted fourth overall last year. Now, every game fans are just waiting to jump out of their seats to celebrate one of Thomas' jaw-dropping, thunderous slams or monstrous, "get that junk out of my house" blocks.

If the past week is a sign of things to come (which I strongly believe it is) then the Bulls should be extremely pleased with Thomas' progress this year. The only thing they should be focused on is trying to overcome the 1 1/2 game difference separating them and the Cavs. The team that is able to hold on will get a comfy two seed, while the loser will have to deal with the fifth seed with no homecourt advantage.

With only ten games left and the playoffs just around the corner, the Bulls will have to count on Thomas more than ever. I do not see a problem with that because Thomas' energy, explosiveness, and athleticism will be on full displayed come April and playoff time for Chicago.