Bonds’ Home Run, Mark Ecko, and Choose Your Own Adventure Books.

Anyone remember Choose Your Own Adventure books, the greatest book series ever?

…if you do, continue reading below

…if you don’t go here, and start reading. When finished, continue reading below.

Okay…now that we’ve got that out of the way, do you remember Barry Bonds, the guy who broke the home run record of 755? (i know its difficult since its football season…that’s why i gave you the link to his profile).

As you may, or may not know, Bonds’ record breaking 756th homerun was auctioned off last week Saturday.

What you may not know is that the winner of the auction was Mark Ecko. Yes, that Mark Ecko. The one who makes clothes. What’s he doing with the ball? Ah…there lies the “choose your own adventure” portion of the post. If you go vote at Ecko’s website (hurry, voting ends September 25th), you can help decide whether or not Bonds’ ball will

a.) Go to Cooperstown, unmarked, as the official ball that broke Hank Aaron’s record

b.) Go to Cooperstown, with an asterisk branded on it.

c.) Be put on a rocket that is then sent into outer space.

First off, Mark Ecko has too much money. Secondly, I understand what Mark Ecko is trying to do here. Let the people decide what to do with, for better or worse, one of the most talked about records in the history of sports. Democracy at its finest (and it only cost 750K!). But seriously…a rocket? Do you have friends at NASA? are you going up in one of Richard Branson’s Virgin Mobile Flights? Do you know Superman, or some other flying superhero? How are you putting this thing into space?

On a side note, how crazy is it, and how much does it say about the current state of baseball, when the record breaking ball, of arguably the most hallowed record in sports history, might be sent to the baseball hall of fame…with an asterisk engraved on it? Just think about that for a minute…

Barry Bonds’ take on Mark Ecko? “He’s stupid. He’s an idiot”

…I honestly hope people vote for the rocket…if only to satisfy my curiosity.

UPDATE: SEPTEMBER 26th…the ball is going to the hall! with an asterisk.  And yes, the hall is definitely accepting it. 

Sotheby’s SCP Auction: Barry Bonds 756th Home run

Mark Ecko’s Website: For the Record…

Yahoo! Sports: Bonds: Man who bought home run ball is an idiot