AP News, May 22nd, 2007
Even if Barry Bonds is poised to break the home run record right there in Atlanta, Hank Aaron is not going.
Period.
"I will never reconsider my decision," Aaron told The Associated Press in a telephone interview Tuesday from his adopted hometown.
Bonds is 10 homers from matching the 755 mark that Aaron set during a 23-year career with the Milwaukee and Atlanta Braves, and the Milwaukee Brewers.
Aaron doesn't plan see the milestone homer in person, wherever it might happen. And that includes Atlanta, if it takes that long _ Bonds and his San Francisco Giants don't play there until mid-August.
"No, I won't be there," he said.
Asked why, Aaron said: "I traveled for 23 years, and I just get tired of traveling. I'm not going to fly to go see somebody hit a home run, no matter whether it is Barry or Babe Ruth or Lou Gehrig or whoever it may be. I'm not going any place. I wish him all the luck in the world."
Aaron said he had no wisdom for Bonds as the Giants slugger pursued the mark.
"I don't have any advice whatsoever, no advice to anybody," Aaron said.
The interview largely covered a classical music composition by Richard Danielpour whose subjects are Aaron, Jackie Robinson and Josh Gibson.
Aaron for the most part declined to discuss Bonds, whose run for the record has been tainted by allegations that he has used performance-enhancing drugs.
Aaron, a Braves senior vice president, said he follows his team closely, but usually by television from home rather than going to Turner Field.
As to what he might be doing when Bonds broke the record, Aaron said, "I have no idea, probably playing golf somewhere."
