Matchup 5: Barry Bonds vs. David Beckham

Moving on to the Stuart Scott Region

BARRY BONDS--CREDENTIALS

• Over 700 home runs
• Was one of the game's best players, even before the allegations
• One of sports' most polarizing figures (which equals ESPN publicity out the yin-yang)
• ESPN feels obliged to stop everything EVERY SINGLE TIME he comes up to bat
• "Chasing Ruth" and "Chasing Aaron"
• The Giants have been the first team on the Bottom Line ever since he got close to Ruth
  
• "Bonds on Bonds"
• Steroids, BALCO, etc
• Made Pedro Gomez famous

DAVID BECKHAM--CREDENTIALS

• One of the world's most popular athletes
• Helped Manchester United win a lot of titles
• ESPN treated his arrival in Los Angeles like The Beatles' arrival for the Ed Sullivan Show
• Posh Spice
• The phrase "Bend It Like Beckham" (the movie wasn't ESPN's fault)
  
• ESPN overhyped his L.A. Galaxy debut, in which he only played in the last 13 minutes of the game