SAN FRANCISCO — For weeks, Bud Selig seemed unwilling to make a commitment to Barry Bonds, the Giants slugger whose pursuit of baseball's all-time home run record has been shrouded in controversy.
Tuesday, the baseball commissioner went all in, traveling to AT&T Park to attend Bonds' games through Friday, a gesture that seemed more a tribute to one of sport's most hallowed records than the man who is on the verge of breaking it.
"Out of respect for the tradition of this game, the magnitude of the record, and the fact that all citizens in this country are innocent until proven guilty, I will attend Barry Bonds' next games to observe his potential tying and breaking of the home run record," Selig said in a statement.
While record-holder Hank Aaron, who hit 755 home runs, has distanced himself from Bonds, Selig had remained at arm's length from the player who remained stuck at 753 homers after singling in five at-bats Tuesday night during the Giants' 7-5, 13-inning loss to the Atlanta Braves.
Selig's refusal to say if he would be on hand for Bonds' landmark home runs stirred more debate about the legitimacy of Bonds' achievement -- he has been dogged for years by steroid allegations -- than the glory of the record.
"This is one of those situations where ... you're damned if you do, damned if you don't," Selig said. "Given the way I feel about baseball, I'd rather be here than not. ... I don't let my personal feelings enter into a decision that I feel is in the best interest of baseball."
Selig, criticized for not acting against performance-enhancing drugs earlier than 2003, when baseball began steroid testing, has been conflicted about Bonds passing Aaron -- not because Aaron is a close friend (which he is), but because Bonds, who has 259 homers since 2001, is alleged to have cheated.
If Selig's presence Tuesday is viewed as his taking accountability for the steroid era blooming under his watch, is he comfortable with that interpretation?
"I'll take responsibility for all things under my watch," Selig said. "But we now have the toughest testing in sports. We've banned amphetamines, we're funding a program for human growth hormone testing. ... I think we've made progress."
Selig will travel to Cooperstown, N.Y., for Sunday's Hall of Fame induction ceremonies, missing the Giants' weekend games against Florida, but if Bonds hasn't broken the record by Sunday, he said he would "probably" rejoin the home run chase Tuesday at Dodger Stadium.
