Bonds and... free speech?

Got many calls on my 700 WLW Sports Talk show the last few days, from fans who said they were hassled and even ejected by vigilant Reds security people at GABP Tuesday and Thursday nights, for dogging Barry Bonds. They claimed guards told them not to use the word "steroids'' when heckling Bonds. I heard enough say the same thing to think it was at least believable.

I asked Reds security chief Kerry Rowland about it. He said there had been some sort of directive issued by MLB to that effect, but that if hecklers weren't profane, they could yell what they wanted at the Giants left fielder (Rowland also told me there were no armed FBI agents in the stands, then turned around and told an Enquirer reporter there were, so believe what you want.)

Point is: Who is Baseball to tell fans they can't dog Bonds? While you or I might find it sad/silly/ reprehensible, fans heckling athletes is about as rare as the sun rising in the East. As long as it's not profane or racial, what business does Baseball have telling people what they can yell at a ballgame?

It reminds me of what happened at Duke in the mid-80s. Coach K pleaded with the Cameron Crazies to stop the "Bullsh--'' chant after questionable refs calls. The next game, after a bad call, the Crazies chanted "We beg to differ, we beg to differ.''

Gag-ruling fans heckling Bonds? That's bullsh--, er, I beg to differ.