2007年VOA标准英语-Bonds Sets New US Baseball Home Run Record

By David Byrd
Washington
08 August 2007

San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds has passed Hank Aaron for the Major League Baseball career home run record. But the achievement is under a cloud because of allegations of steroid use. As VOA's David Byrd reports, Bonds broke the record in his home stadium Tuesday, but baseball's commissioner¹ and the former home run king were not there to witness the achievement.

Barry Bonds hits his 756th career home run in fifth inning of game against Washington Nationals, 07 Aug 2007

Giants' broadcaster Jon Miller² called the historic hit in the fifth inning of Tuesday's game against the Washington Nationals. With the long blast over the center field fence, Barry Bonds had number 756, surpassing Hank Aaron as the all-time home run king.

The hit off Nationals' pitcher³ Mike Bacsik touched off a raucous⁴ celebration at San Francisco's home field, AT&T Park. After touching⁵ home plate and being greeted by his family and his godfather - former Giants' star Willie Mays - an emotional Bonds thanked the fans and especially his father, the late Bobby Bonds, who had also been a major league player.

"Through all this, you guys [the fans] have been strong and you have given me all the support in the world, and I will never forget it as long as I live, thank you," he said. "I have got to thank my family - my mother, my wife Liz, my kids, Nikolai, Shakara, and Aisa, my dad - thank you for everything."

As part of the celebration, and coming as a surprise to almost everyone, former home-run king Hank Aaron congratulated Bonds by way of a recorded video on the stadium's big screen.

"I would like to offer my congratulations to Barry Bonds on becoming baseball's career home-run leader," he said. "It is a great accomplishment⁶, which required skill, longevity⁷ and determination."

Also absent in person from the game was Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig, who had been in attendance Saturday in San Diego when Bonds tied Hank Aaron's career mark of 755 home runs. Selig issued a statement saying that he had spoken to Bonds by phone after the historic record-breaking hit.

After the game, Bonds told reporters he hoped that the milestone⁸ was not tainted⁹ by allegations that he used steroids. The Giants' slugger said he hoped that his team can now focus on winning games instead of the home run chase.

Barry Bonds reacts after hitting his 756th career home run in the fifth inning, 07 Aug 2007

"Now, you know the hard part is over and we get to actually like go back to our everyday routines and enjoy ourselves," Bonds said. "Like we said in there today, 'Let us now just start having some fun, now that we get some peace and quiet, we can just turn the music up, have a good time and enjoy it.'"

Peace and quiet is not something Bonds has enjoyed lately. He has been at the center of a doping controversy¹⁰ that included congressional hearings, suspensions and several colorful figures.

Bonds' trainer Greg Anderson remains¹¹ in jail for refusing to testify against the slugger before a grand jury. Anderson has been connected to the so-called BALCO scandal surrounding a San Francisco-area laboratory that produced steroids. The head of the lab - Victor Conte - has completed his jail time for his part in the case.

According to the book Game of Shadows - by two San Francisco Chronicle newspaper reporters who broke the story of a sports steroids scandal - Bonds decided¹² to use steroids in an attempt to surpass the achievements of Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa. McGwire and Sosa helped revive baseball with their memorable¹³ home run race in 1998 in which both exceeded Roger Maris's single-season record of 61.

The steroid scandal also swirled¹⁴ around New York Yankees hitter Jason Giambi, who has publicly confessed to steroid use. Sprinters Tim Montgomery and Marion Jones, NFL players Bill Romanowski and Barret Robbins, and swimmer Amy Van Dyken were also among those caught up in the drug allegations.

Last year, Commissioner Selig appointed former U.S. Senator George Mitchell to investigate steroid use in baseball. But because Mitchell does not have the power to compel players to talk to him, his probe is still in progress.

Bonds has consistently denied using steroids, but many fans are skeptical¹⁵ that his performance was due to workouts only. But for now, Barry Bonds can bask¹⁶ in the title of all-time home run king.

1 commissioner   

n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员

参考例句：

• The commissioner has issued a warrant for her arrest.专员发出了对她的逮捕令。
• He was tapped for police commissioner.他被任命为警务处长。

2 miller   

n.磨坊主

参考例句：

• Every miller draws water to his own mill.磨坊主都往自己磨里注水。
• The skilful miller killed millions of lions with his ski.技术娴熟的磨坊主用雪橇杀死了上百万头狮子。

3 pitcher   

n.(有嘴和柄的)大水罐；(棒球)投手

参考例句：

• He poured the milk out of the pitcher.他从大罐中倒出牛奶。
• Any pitcher is liable to crack during a tight game.任何投手在紧张的比赛中都可能会失常。

4 raucous   

adj.(声音)沙哑的，粗糙的

参考例句：

• I heard sounds of raucous laughter upstairs.我听见楼上传来沙哑的笑声。
• They heard a bottle being smashed,then more raucous laughter.他们听见酒瓶摔碎的声音，然后是一阵更喧闹的笑声。

5 touching   

adj.动人的，使人感伤的

参考例句：

• It was a touching sight.这是一幅动人的景象。
• His letter was touching.他的信很感人。

6 accomplishment   

n.完成，成就，（pl.）造诣，技能

参考例句：

• The series of paintings is quite an accomplishment.这一系列的绘画真是了不起的成就。
• Money will be crucial to the accomplishment of our objectives.要实现我们的目标，钱是至关重要的。

7 longevity   

n.长命；长寿

参考例句：

• Good habits promote longevity.良好的习惯能增长寿命。
• Human longevity runs in families.人类的长寿具有家族遗传性。

8 milestone   

n.里程碑；划时代的事件

参考例句：

• The film proved to be a milestone in the history of cinema.事实证明这部影片是电影史上的一个里程碑。
• I think this is a very important milestone in the relations between our two countries.我认为这是我们两国关系中一个十分重要的里程碑。

9 tainted   

adj.腐坏的；污染的；沾污的；感染的v.使变质( taint的过去式和过去分词 )；使污染；败坏；被污染，腐坏，败坏

参考例句：

• The administration was tainted with scandal. 丑闻使得政府声名狼藉。
• He was considered tainted by association with the corrupt regime. 他因与腐败政府有牵连而名誉受损。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 controversy   

n.争论，辩论，争吵

参考例句：

• That is a fact beyond controversy.那是一个无可争论的事实。
• We ran the risk of becoming the butt of every controversy.我们要冒使自己在所有的纷争中都成为众矢之的的风险。

11 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

12 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

13 memorable   

adj.值得回忆的，难忘的，特别的，显著的

参考例句：

• This was indeed the most memorable day of my life.这的确是我一生中最值得怀念的日子。
• The veteran soldier has fought many memorable battles.这个老兵参加过许多难忘的战斗。

14 swirled   

v.旋转，打旋( swirl的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The waves swirled and eddied around the rocks. 波浪翻滚着在岩石周围打旋。
• The water swirled down the drain. 水打着旋流进了下水道。

15 skeptical   

adj.怀疑的，多疑的

参考例句：

• Others here are more skeptical about the chances for justice being done.这里的其他人更为怀疑正义能否得到伸张。
• Her look was skeptical and resigned.她的表情是将信将疑而又无可奈何。

16 bask   

vt.取暖，晒太阳，沐浴于

参考例句：

• Turtles like to bask in the sun.海龟喜欢曝于阳光中。
• In winter afternoons,he likes to bask in the sun in his courtyard.冬日的午后，他喜欢坐在院子晒太阳。