Over the last few days, I have heard only one good argument for participating in the All Star Game - namely, that such participation allows a player to compete against the best players in the game. In that sense, the player can gain personal satisfaction from playing in the game and holding his own.

Bonds will make the history books, but what adjectives will appear before his name when the history books are written? Ty Cobb is in the books, but is not necessarily universally admired.