Fetishes, in the traditional/anthropological sense, are items from which people obtain spiritual or magical power. I often keep baseball/sports cards in my bass cases, to draw inspiration and power from a likeness of my heroes in other areas. As I start to learn the nuances of the upright electric double bass, I decided to draw on a new fetish.
Overlooking my practice area, right next to my little Beethoven figure and amid stacks of CD’s, the stern visage of Barry Bonds watches my every move.
Why Bonds?
Because Bonds (arguably was) (could have been) the greatest baseball player who ever lived. He could do it all: hit for average & power, was a great baserunner, an excellent fielder. He was one of the players who made you stop what you were doing when he came to bat, because something amazing might happen. Or he might just hit a dinger, which isn’t necessarily amazing, but it is a beautiful thing to watch.
Of course, despite arguably being the greatest baseball player who ever lived, Bonds is not in the Hall of Fame. Everyone knows the story, no need to repeat it here, there are plenty of places to find it if you aren’t familiar. In short, it is beyond a reasonable doubt that Bonds used steroids and/or other performance enhancing substances. The only real question is whether he knew he was doing it.
So why do I elect to have Bonds watch over my practice?
To remind me there are no shortcuts to true greatness.
The Book of Five Strings 