Enough.

I've been pretty disgusted by the content and sheer volume of the press exposure regarding Barry Bonds' steroid use and pursuit of Babe Ruth's home run record. So it's with some hesitation that I tackle the issue at all.

The hypocrisy demonstrated by virtually every sector of American society in response to this issue is sickening.

The fans knew he was doping--if they didn't, they were stupid, or just not paying attention--and they cheered for him and regularly tuned into Baseball Tonight to watch his dongs splash into McCovey Cove anyway. Now they're offended. Betrayed. Concerned for the sanctity of the game. Puhleeze.

The commissioner and owners were complicit in rampant steroid abuse, including Bonds'. The Steroid Era filled stadiums and enhanced the reputation of the Commish--shit, it damn near built it after the strike--and lined the pockets of the owners. Now they've got a serious interest in maintaining the game's integrity and sending a message to America's "youngsters". Uh huh.

The press has taken a wide assortment of negative stances towards Bonds, whether because they bear personal antipathy towards him or because they just sit down over their morning coffee and are too lazy to find anything else to write about. It's easy. Believe me; I know.

But the most ridiculous thing I read came recently, in a story on ESPN.com, about how Babe Ruth's descendants have declined the Giants' offer to participate in a congratulatory ceremony of some sort when Bonds hits 714. First of all, do we really give a shit what Babe Ruth's granddaugher thinks of Barry Bonds? I should think not. I should hope not. I find the whole inclusion of the families of former record holders to be a bogus PR stunt. It was bad enough when McGwire broke Maris' record.

But this businses about Linda Tossetti, Ruth's granddaughter, is rigoddamndiculous. Despite having never met the Babe, the Durham, Conn. resident told reporters "I've got a lot of my grandfather in me." Sure. "What she knows about the Babe she's had to learn from her older siblings." Uh huh.

But the biggest bullshit is Tossetti's bogus moral stance on the message doping sends to kids. OK, I buy that, but did you KNOW what Babe did behind closed doors? ESPN says it thusly:

It's the steroids allegations trailing Bonds that are disconcerting to Tosetti. She said drug use sends a disturbing message to youngsters. Her grandfather, she said, enjoyed being a role model for children, even though his hard-drinking, hard-living life is well-documented.

"Look, he did his carousing. But liquor didn't touch his lips when he was with children. That's how his image is for the youth," Tosetti said. "I would hate myself a million times if I shook Mr. Bonds' hand if he did do it. These guys are making adult decisions about their body. It's the kids who think they're bulletproof coming up in high school who don't have that luxury."

Tosetti insists she has no malice toward Bonds, whom she's never met.

"I can't point a finger at Mr. Bonds. That's for people at a higher power to do," she said. "I'm sure he's a nice young man."

Where do I begin?

OK, so liquor didn't touch Babe's lips when he was around kids. OK, great job. So he wasn't a complete sleazeball. But isn't it important to keep in mind that Bonds doesn't walk around the clubhouse with a syringe hanging out with his ass cheek? Or do PSAs about the benefits of human growth hormone? He avoids the issue at every opportunity. He's been intensely private about it. Untl this year's reality show, that is, at which point every sordid detail had been fleshed out by nosy reporters.

I'm not saying the press shouldn't pursue stories like this. But the fact remains that had everyone just shut up about it--or if they resolved to do so now--their WOULDN'T BE ANY BAD EXAMPLE for kids, because they woulnd't know about it. Conversely, had the assembled press been all up in Babe's business while he was passing out drunk in hookers' tits, etc., maybe Ms. Tossetti wouldn't feel so morally superior.

She makes one good point. He made an adult decision about his body. So leave the man alone. He wasn't sending any sort of example to kids. He was trying to make that money and break those records. But any effect his personal actions have on the actions of children is the media's fault--not his.

But you know the part that really gets me? The "I'm sure he's a nice young man line." Not only is it the most ingenuine, tossed-off, subtly shit-eating self-loving line I've heard in some time, it's ridiculous when you consider Tossetti's age relative to Bonds'.

Bonds is 42 years old. He's a grown ass man, with children of his own. He's not nice--she probably knows this--and he's certainly not a young man. And she's 51! Not nearly old enough to adopt the tone of sage wisdom born of old age, as she does here. Shit, she's probably fuckedguys that are Bonds' age.

She, and the rest of society, should cut the bullshit. Please.