Thoughts on Bonds and other subjects

Now that Barry Bonds has hit No. 715, I hope everybody can take a collective breath and get on with life.

It was only a matter of time before Bonds moved into second place on the all-time list behind Hank Aaron. Now the circus following Bonds can move on to other important things.

It was interesting to see how newspapers played the feat. It should have been front page (with art) of every paper in America, and some of the major newspapers across the country did just that. Others kept it on the sports page.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I don't expect Bonds to break Aaron's mark this season, and depending on what happens with the ongoing steroid inverstigation that he might even retire at the end of the season.

Bonds' knees are shot. I just groan when I watch him run, partially because I know how much pain he's in and partially because I remember how graceful he once was. Not too long ago, he was a 30-homer, 30-stolen base guy. He was one of those rare specimens that had power and speed

• The Nevada volleyball recruiting class has been ranked 23rd by PrepVolleyball.com, just four spots behind perennial WAC powerhouse Hawai'i.

Sage Aune, a 6-foot-2 middle blocker, 5-11 outside hitter Lelani-Kleman-Maeva, 5-10 setter Sonnie Sei and 6-1 right-side hitter Jorgan Staker are the keycogs in this year's class. And, don't forget that Emily Haas, the former standout at Douglas High and University of San Diego, joined the program last year and red-shirted.

Coach Devin Scruggs said this is probably her best class since 1998. She also said this is an athletic class.

• You have to love Pat Hill, Fresno State football coach. He will schedule anybody any time.

I'm a big Hill fan, but I don't think he made the wisest move last year when he played USC with two games left in the regular season, and the conference title still up for grabs. I mention the conference title because Hill said at last year's WAC Media Day in Reno how important winning the conference was to him.

The Bulldogs had just come off an emotional 27-7 win over arch-rival Boise State, and they had USC on the ropes before losing 50-42. The game drained the Bulldogs mentally and physically, and they fell flat on their face against Nevada (38-35) and Louisiana Tech (40-28).

Apparently that didn't bother Hill, because he did the same thing again this season. Fresno State hosts Hawai'i on Oct. 14, goes to LSU on Oct. 21 and travels to Boise State on Oct. 28. Sounds like sheer lunacy to me. The Hawai'i and Boise State games are critical and could decide the championship.

Conversely, Boise State's schedule, despite the fact that the co-defending champs return 20 of 24 starters, is on the light side. Boise State opens at home against Sacramento State, and follows that with a home game against Oregon State plus away games at Wyoming and Utah.

• Nevada's Caira Hane and Inger Appanaitis have qualified as at-large entrants for next week's NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Sacramento State University.

Hane, a senior, qualified seventh at last week's regional event. Her 199-11, however, was was a personal best and a new school record. The mark was good enough to get her into the prestigious meet.

Appanaitis was ninth in the javelin last weekend with a toss of 150-5. She currently has the 14th best mark in the nation.

• Contact Darrell Moody at dmoody@nevadappeal.com, or by calling (775) 881-1281