Did Hank Aaron Use Webster's To Diss Barry Bonds?

I'd heard about Hank Aaron's congratulatory recorded message to Barry Bonds played on the AT&T Park Jumbotron after 756 but never saw it.

I'd also heard talk that Aaron was "convinced" by the Giants to make the tape.

So when ESPN radio was playing an excerpt yesterday, I turned up the volume. Here's part of what I heard Aaron say.

"I move over now and offer my best wishes to Barry and his family on this historical achievement."

Whoa. Wait a minute.

Historical?

Aaron used the word "historical" instead of "historic."

There's a subtle but very real difference between those two words, as explained in Webster's Third New International Dictionary:

Usage Note: Historic and historical have different usages.

Historic refers to what is important in history: the historic first voyage to the moon. Synonyms: notable, renowned, famed, memorable.

Historical refers to whatever existed in the past, whether regarded as important or not: a minor historical character. Synonyms: documented, authentic, factual, attested.

Think about it. Hank Aaron congratulating Bonds on his documented achievement is a helluva lot different than congratulating him on his renowned achievement.

"Jesus, Panger, nobody spends that much time on a speech. He probably meant the one and said the other."

Yeah? Well read this from the San Francisco Chronicle on Thursday. It describes the meticulous efforts made crafting Aaron's speech. [emphasis added is mine]

Throughout the summer, Aaron made public comments that seemed to disparage Bonds' quest for the record. [Giants Executive Vice President Larry] Baer said he told Aaron a videotaped congratulations message "could be good for everybody and great for the game of baseball. It's right for you to make a statement about this. You don't want be a no-comment forever about this."

The Giants sent a proposed script to Aaron. Baer said the finished statement was far different, and that "every word was crafted with precision." Baer assumes Aaron had many discussions with his own people on the final wording because it took six weeks before Aaron was ready to tape the message.

"Every word was crafted with precision."

Hank Aaron is a very bright guy.

He knew exactly what he wanted to say.

The best politicians know how to get across their positions on hot button issues using subtext and subtlety.

So it's not unreasonable to conclude Hank Aaron knew that two little letters changed his congratulations from one of true respect to mere acknowledgment.