As we go to press, ESPN is reporting that the Giants will sign Barry Bonds to a one-year contract worth $16 million. The signing comes despite any other team bidding on Bonds, and after the San Francisco Giants shook down San Francisco for $6 million in reduced stadium tax assessments (for details go to http://cbs5.com/localwire/localfsnews/bcn/2006/11/02/n/HeadlineNews/TAX-GIANTS/resources_bcn_html.) The Giants have essentially taken this $6 million away from the city’s needs and given it to Bonds---who had no other offer on the table!!

After the Giants have been wearing the white hat in contrast to the 49ers, we now find that our local baseball team is all about the Benjamins. A franchise supposedly unable to attract high-priced talent is giving $16 million to a 43 year old broken down left fielder who hit 36 homeruns over the past two seasons combined.

Since Bonds had no other offers, paying him $16 million confirms that Brian Sabean, Larry Baer, and Peter Magowan have lost whatever insights they once had about running a baseball franchise. Unless running a team into the ground, and turning the Giants into a national laughingstock constitutes an “insight” (national sports radio shows have had a field day describing under-40 players as “too young” for the Giants).

I could better accept the Giants inability to evaluate talent if they had not fought tooth and nail to steal $6million from San Francisco’s Treasury on the grounds that SBC Park’s value went down while real estate everywhere else in the city went up. Assessor Phil Ting fought the original $10 million theft, leaving us “thrilled” about the Giants hijacking of “only” $6 million.

I can’t wait to read about the next Giants charity event for the underprivileged. This team has taken more money from the city’s low income residents by its tax heist than it will ever give back.

And the best part happens at season’s end when Bonds is still a few homeruns shy of Aaron’s record. Then Sabean and Co. can give him another $10 million plus so he can break the record as a Giant.

Another sad day in a sad era for Bay Area sports.

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