We didn’t want to come to Memphis and leave empty-handed in seeing a baseball game. Although we have tickets for the Civil Rights Game, the weather is ominous and could threaten the game. So, on Friday night, we went to the Redbirds-Cardinals exhibition game. You just cannot miss a chance to see Albert Pujols or, for that matter, Rockey the Redbird.

There: I said it. Barry Bonds is the greatest. We sat through seven miserable innings of rainy baseball to see our hero just a few yards in front of us in left field. The Giants lost to the D-backs 6-0 (game shortened to 7 innings), but it was great seeing Barry in what might be his last year at Giants Spring Training.

Yes, it bothers me Bonds may have taken steroids. But he's no doubt clean now (well clean of illegal substances) and he's leading the Cactus League in homers. Does it taint his soon-to-be all-time home run record? Not for me. I have a soft spot for Barry Bonds as in 2000, at a troubled time in my family life, I had Giants season tickets and Barry's home run chase provided the distraction needed to get through. I can still see his homers sailing into the McCovey Cove past right field.

So, Barry, you are tops with us. Hope you have a great and healthy year. Just wish I could be there to see you break Aaron's record.

It's been close to 20 years since I saw Rick The Peanut Vendor (Kaminski) toss peanuts to hungry fans at the cavernous Kingdome. In this clip, Rick, who now plies his trade at Safeco Field, uses Spring Training to get in form for the Seattle Mariners 2007 campaign. Rick didn't get a lot of action at this Cactus League game as the Padres (who share Peoria Sports Complex with the M's) were the home team. San Diego fans are more the sushi sorts than peanut afficienados.

How great is it to spend a weekend in the sun watching the Cubs prepare to again break the hearts of the North Side faithful.

It’s cool to see the Cubs fans and White Sox fans go at it in Spring Training. At the cross-town, out of town exhibition game, former Cubs Hall of Famer (class of ’91) Fergie Jenkins (a personal favorite) sat at a special events table before the game, signing autographs for a $10 donation to his foundation. That’s former Tiger Ron LeFlore to his left.

Cubs fans will recognize their unofficial mascot, Ronnie "Woo Woo." Ronnie made the trip from Mesa, the Cactus League home of the Chicago Cubs, to Phoenix Muni to cheer on the Cubs as they played the Oakland A's. The game ended in a rare 5-5 tie after 10 innings. The players may need to tune up, but Ronnie "Woo Woo" is in mid-season shape.