In the aftermath of the Barry Bonds Home Run Death March, the following stories were notable:

Advertising Age commended the foresight of the companies — including Charles Schwab, Diamond Nuts and Bank of America — who bought ad space on the outfield wall at AT&T Park, to the tune of $500-750K, since their company’s names will be ever-after viewed as part of the footage of Bonds’ record-breaker. (Courtesy MediaBistro.)

In his news conference following the Big Blast, Bonds was his usual self: charming and intelligent, except when he didn’t like the question. Perhaps the unluckiest recipient of Bonds’ scorn was the Japanese reporter who raised the fact that Sadaharu Oh hit 868 home runs. Interrupting the reporter, Bonds snarled, “Yeah, but that’s like Josh Gibson’s 800. Did we forget about him, or didn’t he exist?” As if some Japanese sportswriter was expected to know or care about the Negro Leagues star, who played in the 1930s and 1940s.

Not answering his own question, Bonds paused long enough for the tenacious sportswriter to ask him again: Did he have a comment on Oh’s 868 home runs? After a moment, Bonds simply laughed and said: “Congratulations, Sadaharu Oh!”

Actually, Oh’s homers were not “like Gibson’s 800.” The accomplishments of Gibson were poorly documented and no one is sure how many home runs he had; the Japanese great was covered by regular sportswriters, and his stats are not in question. And speaking of Oh, a New York Times op-ed had an interesting perspective on his home run stats versus Bonds’.

It was only the night before that Giants General Manager Brian Sabean confessed: “I’m really taking it personally and embarrassed that we’re not better than this. And I’ve got nobody to blame but ourselves and myself specifically. I take it very personally. I’ve let the whole organization down.”

And then the Giants sloughed off pinch-hitting specialist Mark Sweeney to the Dodgers in return for… what? The proverbial player to be named later. I’m sure that’s going to pay off. Perhaps the deal had just been inked when Sabean suffered his regrets about the whole season.

Speaking of Sweeney: Previously: Bonds claims Sweeney gave him amphetamines; fans and press aghast.

Related posts:

1. Giants’ announcers look forward to Bonds feat
2. Bonds’ reputation hammered in speed fiasco
3. Barry: still at 714
4. Barry has surgery, is fine with sitting next year
5. Bonds golfs while Giants cover his butt