As I get ready to write my column this Saturday morning, I want to give you one note from the Bonds trial on Thursday, something that sticks in my mind.

At 8:30 Thursday morning Barry Bonds entered the courtroom. He immediately walked over to his mom — who was sitting in front of me — and, in a warm voice said, “Hi, Mom.” Just that. He sounded like any nice son. He sounded like Iggy saying hello to my wife in the morning. And I thought maybe there’s a real person in him somewhere. Maybe. And I wondered why I never had seen that person before, if it exists. His life would have been so much easier if he’d let that person out more often.