Barry Bonds

[Mehen]

11 away from Aaron's all-time record of 755.

I'm curious - is there anyone left that will still defend Bonds after all he has done?

[Helevitia]

Only ignorant fan boys and girls who live in a world of denial.

[Dr Mordrid]

If I were commissioner of MLB he'd have been banned long ago.

Then again; waiting until he's 1 home run away from the record then banning him would have significant entertainment value

[Jammrock]

He's still knocking them out of the park with ease even after the steriod scandal, and technically roids aren't illegal in the MLB (at least not while he was using), so the record will stand.

[Helevitia]

He's still knocking them out of the park with ease even after the steriod scandal, and technically roids aren't illegal in the MLB (at least not while he was using), so the record will stand.

Just because it isn't illegal doesn't make it right. Taking steroids is cheating IMHO.

[ZokesPro]

I'd feel more satisfied winning something by my own means than taking crap like steroids to break a record. I hope he feels the same way.

@Helevitia: I agree. Plus it's nothing to be proud of either.

[Jammrock]

Just because it isn't illegal doesn't make it right. Taking steroids is cheating IMHO.

I agree, but being strong has less to do with hitting home runs than have a good eye and an excellent swing. I do agree that taking any performance enhancers is cheating, but Bonds is a good enough player that he deserves the crown, roids for a season or two or not.

Personally I think the whole thing is being blown out of proportion by Yankee and Red Sox fans who are jealous that Bonds wouldn't move the hell...I mean NY or Boston and play for them. The rest of the world kind of got duped into following along. I bet if Bonds was a Yankee or a Red Sox player everyone in the sports world would be defending him, saying he was tricked into thinking the stuff was legal and FDA approved by ... whoever it was selling disguised roids to atheletes.

Jammrock

[Helevitia]

I guess we will have to agree to disagree Regardless of how strong/good/athletic he is, I feel he deserves to get kicked out of baseball for cheating. This is the same thing as what Pete Rose did, but Pete got booted and deservedly so.

When do you draw the line for things like this? I guess my line comes sooner than yours?

[Gurm]

The problem is that you're scapegoating. Instead of trying to FIX the problems with the sport, you just want to make someone pay for it. The guy took some steroids. Yay. So did everyone else. He still hit very well. Steroids don't make you connect with the ball more often (in fact, just the opposite).

But PLEASE, let's call a spade a spade. If this guy were a murderer, a drunk-driver that mowed down small children, a rapist, or other lowlife scum... everyone would be defending him, just like they do with all the others.

[Jessterw]

I have to agree with Gurm. Save for the whole "everyone" bit about defending someone who did those aforementioned things. I don't know anyone who would do so.

As Jamm said, Bonds hit the ball just as well after as he did while he was on the roids. Certainly doesn't make it right, but it doesn't make it a scandal either.

Now MLB players when they visit Tampa - there's some scandalous material to be found there (or at least there used to be years ago).

[Dr Mordrid]

The problem is that you're scapegoating. Instead of trying to FIX the problems with the sport, you just want to make someone pay for it. The guy took some steroids. Yay. So did everyone else.

Speaking as a former Little League coach (all divisions; little to big) with 20+ years in the dugout;

BS. Ruth didn't. Maris didn't. Aaron didn't.

IMO Mark McGwire and Barry Bonds "records" should be expunged from the books and they should get the same treatment Ferguson Jenkins got for using drugs: banned for life.

That an arbitrator overturned it later is irrelevant, it should have stuck because of the poor example he set, sending the message to kids that drugs were OK in sports. Stuff like that matters to young players.

Because of their horrid example, and those of players in other sports, we have Little Leaguers shooting steroids and growth hormones

[Jessterw]

Now that I can agree with as well. It's not a black and white issue. There are just as many players who have cheated in one way or another as have not.

[Helevitia]

The problem is that you're scapegoating. Instead of trying to FIX the problems with the sport, you just want to make someone pay for it. The guy took some steroids. Yay. So did everyone else. He still hit very well. Steroids don't make you connect with the ball more often (in fact, just the opposite).

But PLEASE, let's call a spade a spade. If this guy were a murderer, a drunk-driver that mowed down small children, a rapist, or other lowlife scum... everyone would be defending him, just like they do with all the others.

Just because I'm talking about Barry, doesn't mean I don't feel the same way about everyone else. I feel the same way about all of them. Mark McGuire, etc...I grew up admiring Mark and others. Now I feel saddened that this is what things have come to. And it's not just baseball, it's everything. Now, I know people make mistakes. Fine, aopologize maybe, and then move on. But continue to lie and deny the truth even though everyone knows you are a lier, means that you are scum IMHO. That means you would probably lie about a bunch of other things as well.

And the whole murderer, drunk driver, rape thing is bullshit. Talk about changing the subject

And last, in the end, it's not for me to judge who Barry or Mark or anyone else. But I do feel that if you are in the public, you need to live up to a certain moral responsibility. It's sad that athletes act like gangsters, drug dealers and more.

[Helevitia]

Speaking as a former Little League coach (all divisions; little to big) with 20+ years in the dugout;

BS. Ruth didn't. Maris didn't. Aaron didn't.

IMO Mark McGwire and Barry Bonds "records" should be expunged from the books and they should get the same treatment Ferguson Jenkins got for using drugs: banned for life.

That an arbitrator overturned it later is irrelevant, it should have stuck because of the poor example he set, sending the message to kids that drugs were OK in sports. Stuff like that matters to young players.

Because of their horrid example, and those of players in other sports, we have Little Leaguers shooting steroids and growth hormones

We don't agree very often, but this time I think you are spot on

[Gurm]

I have to agree with Gurm. Save for the whole "everyone" bit about defending someone who did those aforementioned things. I don't know anyone who would do so.

Flagrantly generalizing again, sorry. Just upset over ... uh ... whatshisname from the Red Sox a few years back who kept getting drunk and mowing down innocent families. What was his name? I've tried to purge it. Judges let him off, people from all walks of life came to his defense. This is one of my gigantic problems with "sports", as we've been over before.

ANYWAY, I think that all the fuss about steroids is just hypocritical self-righteous pandering.

Nobody says boo when some star athlete rapes a girl, gets high and smashes his car into a bus full of kids, or other horrible acts. Hell, if you're a popular enough player, you can murder your wife and her gay friend! But HEAVEN HELP US if you use steroids!