The fans speak out. .(Letter to the Editor)

Finally, a sportswriter has spoken out against the classless practice shown by many home run hitters after sending one out of the park.

In the January issue of Baseball Digest, John Kuenster stated that Barry Bonds diminished his home run achievements by standing at home plate and watching his tape-measure blasts.

Standing at the plate and watching is bad enough, but when he disdainfully flips his bat prior to doing his slow trot around the bases, it appears that he is saying to the pitcher, "Who do you think you are that you could stop me from hitting a home run?"

Barry isn't alone, Of course. There are many other major leaguers who emulate his actions.

If sportswriters and broadcasters began doing their jobs and described those actions for what they are, classless buffoonery, perhaps those players would begin acting like players.

Obviously, I'm from the "old school" and think that players in any sport should do their job, forget the histrionics, and have fun.

I can only hope that major league baseball doesn't go the way of the NFL and NBA with their hot dogging, show boating, trash talking, taunting, posturing, pandering, hype and glitz.