It is odd these days to witness ethics and sport and perhaps crime collide when you are not talking about the NFL or Italian soccer. But that is why we have Barry Bonds:

"Let them investigate," he said. "Let 'em."

So began the San Francisco Giants' 2007 baseball season. This could be the year that Bonds breaks the career home-run record, or the year that he is indicted by a federal grand jury, or both. For the past three seasons, Bonds has pursued some of baseball's most hallowed milestones at the same time grand juries have investigated his connection to the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative steroid distribution case.

Asked Tuesday how the investigation weighed on him, Bonds said, "It doesn't." Asked about his level of concern about the outcome, he said, "None." Asked for an explanation, he told reporters: "It's just you guys talking. It's a media conversation."

Again, I say, I say: is there any sport that makes for better reading than baseball? This article in the New York Times about Barry Bonds moving towards the sullied home run record is great in its focus on his relationship with newly acquired (and also Barry) Zito. Not so much with the hockey quote of "working hard for the team" or the NBA prima donna quote about being all fun and one big family and the ball sucks / does not suck. The batter like the pitcher plays an individual sport within a team sport in a way. They do not need us. They need that moment.

All of a sudden, a batting-practice session in February turned into a midseason confrontation. Cain unleashed another fastball. Bonds met it over the middle of the plate. The ball landed on a grass-covered hill beyond the right-center-field fence.

"I'm ready," Bonds proclaimed.

Just March Madness to get through and then it's all lawn for months.