I'm dying to dissect last night's Suns-Lakers Game 6, yet another classic in an insanely exciting, drama-soaked first round of the NBA playoffs. But it's time to put the lightning-rod theory to the test. Yesterday, Kobe. Today, Barry.

Bonds is in Philadelphia this weekend needing two homers to tie for second on the all-time list, in the most hyped-up chase for second on a career list in the history of mankind. But that's a topic for another blog entry.

First, this from this morning's Philadelphia Inquirer, with this deathless phrase: "Get ready for another embarrassing Philly sports moment.'' The point: this series is a perfect storm, Barry Bonds in a city of legends (Santa Claus, Michael Irvin, etc.). Also in the paper, an illustration of the dilemma faced by those very same fans: what do you do if you catch the Ruth-tying or Ruth-passing home run? One suggestion for fan reaction in general, from a well-known local sports anchor and talk-show host: get up and walk out every time he comes to bat. Interesting. Will that suggestion get the same frosty reception I got last year when I recommended a version of that for Rafael Palmeiro (don't show up at all)? Granted, Raffy was playing at home, but still, knowing what we do now ...

Speaking of other players on steroids who get free passes that Bonds has not:

Phillies pitcher Cory Lidle (who started last night and thus won't face Bonds this weekend) had this to say, among other things, in Thursday's Daily News: "I don't want to see him break records ... If he breaks them, it will be a shame, because I think when all is said and done, the truth will come out.''

Thought-provoking. Especially when you consider that Lidle's teammate on the 2001 Oakland A's was the reigning American League MVP, a guy named Jason Giambi. The truth came out about him, too - he admitted being a steroid user in front of the BALCO grand jury. Lidle had nothing to say about him, though, maybe because he wasn't asked.

Giambi, in fact, now gets to have his resurgence as a hitter chronicled in pieces like this one on ESPN.com with his steroid history treated almost grudgingly, addressed briefly and fairly superficially.

In that vein, here's a Daily News column pointing out not just the inherent disgust the Bonds story is generating ... but that baseball and its fans, in their hypocrisy, deserve nothing better.

Stay tuned. Meanwhile, there's still Wizards-Cavs Game 6 tonight, Suns-Lakers Game 7 tomorrow night, and (if necessary) Game 7 for Wizards-Cavs and world-champion-Spurs-Kings. Intriguing, except that Bonds is one, two or maybe three swings away from blowing all of it out of the water.