Another roadside distraction? No thanks

We applaud the decision of the state Transportation Commission this week not to legalize electronic billboards across Montana.

The commission wisely decided the issue needed greater examination statewide and should go to the Legislature.

As a transportation spokesman said, allowing electronic billboards had the potential to "change the sign culture in Montana and change the landscape."

Changing the landscape - Montana's world-famous landscape - with flashy, high-tech outdoor advertising is something we shouldn't do without a compelling reason.

People come to Montana, in part, to get away from the bright lights and commercialization of the big city. Why would we want to diminish that attraction?

Plus, we don't really need any more distractions for drivers on the roads.

The Transportation Commission made the right call.

Undefeated and unchallenged could sum up the sparkling tennis career of Whitefish's Danni Paulson.

Paulson, a senior, wrapped up her third state championship last weekend in typical overwhelming fashion: a 6-0, 6-0 title-match triumph.

That marked her 77th high school victory out of 77 matches. And most of the matches in that 77-0 run weren't even close: Paulson lost only five games this season - and dropped only one set in her three varsity seasons.

That's dominance.

A similar dominance was evidenced by Bigfork distance runner Brooke Andrus, who swept the 800-, 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs at the Class A state track meet last weekend.

The triple triumph closed her high school career with a total of six state championship medals.

One more local athlete deserves kudos: Chris Hicks of Whitefish won two events and placed in two others to help his Whitefish Bulldogs run away with the team title at the Class A track finale.

With his 715th home run, San Francisco slugger Barry Bonds shoved Babe Ruth out of his way in the record books.

Forgive us if we don't ooh and ahh.

In an uncharacteristically gracious moment, Bonds thanked his fans for their support after breaking the record over the Memorial Day weekend.

The thing is, Bonds might have a way with wood on leather, but he doesn't belong in Babe Ruth's league.

Bonds' aggression, open hostility, and unnatural growth (we won't say steroids) makes him a hero only to those who value quantity over quality.