While giving the commencement address at Concordia University in Wisconsin, Hank Aaron offered sage words to the kids.

“This is advice from an old man who has been a lot of places, seen a lot of things,” Aaron said.
“Be careful before you make choices. Avoid shortcuts. They are quick fixes and unrewarding.”

Some of baseball’s steroid cheats might disagree with Hank’s assessment – given the millions they made while juiced to the gills — but young people need to hear stuff like this from their elders.

As for Barry Bonds, the man who broke his career homer record, Aaron offered some empathy during a news conference. Bonds faces perjury charges tied to the BALCO prosecution.

The controversy swirling around Big Head Barry goes on and on and on.

“I’m sure he wants to get it over and done with one way or the other,” Aaron told reporters. “I played a long time with his father. I never played with Barry, but I can tell you this: He is a tremendous ballplayer. There aren’t many people who can change the game of baseball the way you can football or basketball, but he can change the way people think about how to approach him.

“I just hope it’s over for him soon so he can get on with his life.”

MYSTERIES OF THE UNIVERSE

Questions to ponder while waiting for the Royals to solve Jon Lester:

• Did Andy Roddick pull out of the French Open with a sore shoulder . . . or a bruised ego?
• Isn’t it great to see yesteryear hitmen Dallas Drake and Darren McCarty still steaming up and down the ice for the Red Wings?
• Don’t you half expect Joey Kocur to come over the boards as well?

QUIPS ‘R US

Here is what some of America’s leading sports pundits have been writing:

Greg Cote, Miami Herald: “Spygate won’t die despite the NFL’s ardent wish that it would. Now former Patriots videographer Matt Walsh is making the media rounds emphasizing the advantage it gave New England, while Sen. Arlen Specter wants a federal investigation. Cannot confirm desperate commissioner Roger Goodell is trying to arrange another Pacman Jones arrest just to divert attention.”

Scott Ostler, San Francisco Chronicle: “Politicians should get involved in sports problems. Their wisdom and power can affect changes. However, I’m not sure what our esteemed legislators can do about the Patriots’ spying, and I’m only lukewarm on Sen. Arlen Specter’s proposal to invade New England.”

Norman Chad, syndicated columnist: “For whatever reason, men don’t like watching the WNBA; I’m among them. I, too, love women. I’ll work with them and I’ve worked for them. I’ve used them as doctors, lawyers and counselors. I’ll watch them play tennis. I’ve even married ‘em. But, as Susan B. Anthony is my witness, I’ll hardly ever watch women play professional basketball.”

Mike Bianchi, Orlando Sentinel: “Have you heard about Roger Clemens‘ new favorite pickup spot? The Hannah Montana concert.”

Dan Daly, Washington Times: “News item: According to an NCAA report, only 19 of 119 athletics departments in the Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A) turned a profit in 2006. Comment: What, did the mascots unionize or something?”

Steve Rosenbloom, ChicagoSports.com: “The debate began immediately after the Cleveland LeBrons lost, the same way it raged when the Chicago Jordans would lose: Does LeBron James recognize that he has teammates? For those people who think that James should share the ball with the other Cavs, it should be suggested that the other Cavs get a job. Say, rebounding. The Celtics hammered the Cavs on the boards by a 12-4 margin in the critical fourth quarter and had an 8-nothing advantage in second-chance points in the same critical quarter. Yo, and guard somebody, would you? Not just Paul Pierce, but the Celtics shot better and scored more in Game 7 than at anytime in the series.”

Dwight Perry, Seattle Times: “As the gossip mags have it, Lance Armstrong has gone from divorcing his wife to dating singer Sheryl Crow to dating ex-kid actress Ashley Olsen to dating fashion designer Tory Burch and, now, to dating Kate Hudson. Or, as the former Tour de France champ prefers to call it, recycling.”

Will Leitch, Deadspin.com, on Big Brown: “We find it difficult to become too inspired by a horse who, within minutes of winning the Kentucky Derby, already had an endorsement deal with UPS. Well, OK, the horse still doesn’t have any idea what’s going on and is mostly curious about where the oats are. But still.”

MEGAPHONE

“In 10 years from now, when I’m 43 years old, I’m hoping that people are talking more about the things I’ve done in the film business than what I did in football or dancing.”

Dolphins sackmaster Jason Taylor, talking to ESPN in the midst of his “Dancing with the Stars” glory.