You don't have to like Bonds to appreciate him. (The Closer).

As I watched during the World Series with my jaw on the floor, I couldn't think of another player who has done the things Barry Bonds has in the past two years.

He has parlayed his success into a reputation as the most feared hitter of our time--if not any time. Baseball never has had a guy dominate the sport, cloud opposing players' judgment or impact the decisions made within a game the way Barry does. Barry is becoming our Michael Jordan.

Please don't lose sight of what he has done just because you don't like him. Nobody likes him, but we all are able to recognize greatness. He is at a point that he either walks or hits it out--plain and simple.

In the big leagues today, there are great players all over the place, but there are a few you hang your hat on: Mark McGwire and Cal Ripken (before they retired), Sammy Sosa, Nomar Garciaparra, Derek Jeter, A-Rod and Bonds. In '98, it was McGwire. People always wanted to know how you did against Big Mac. In '95, it was Cal and what was it like to face a living legend during his streak.

But I think Bonds in the last two years has been more of a high-wire act than any of them. When you face Barry, it is almost primal--it's man vs. man. When I was a rookie in '93, I got to face Barry. I can remember thinking that for all his money and his fame, he has to give me his undivided attention. For that brief moment, all he cared about was what I was going to throw. To be honest with you, if you're a pitcher, it's almost a no-lose situation if the ...