Barry Bonds made the front page of the Chronicle again this morning, above the masthead. That's to be expected, considering what he accomplished in his first two games. It helps to have something to focus on other than oppression, destruction, car bombs and tanks. If we ever needed a distraction, it's now. We should be grateful to whoever provides it.

Wouldn't you think that now that baseball season has started, I wouldn't have to follow the news any more? It doesn't seem to be working out that way, though. They're still singing "God Bless America" in the middle of every game, and somehow it's become important to have a moment of silence at 9:11 pm.

So obviously, there's no escape even in the fantasy world. The Oscars were peppered with September 11 references. I haven't watched Saturday morning cartoons for a long time, but I'm afraid of what I'll find if I do.

Our fun and games are no consolation to the people who get in the way of the bombs and tanks, and they won't be much help to us the next time the cloud of terror passes over our own heads. I suspect a healthy dose of both — the distraction, and the news we need to be distracted from — is the only way we'll get through this to the World Series, and the next one and the one after that.

I must be doing something right. (No, really. Law of averages and all.) I've been getting hungry at the times I've decided are meal times. Three times a day, that is, instead of six or seven or twelve.