Again with Barry Bonds

[JPL]

How can you be chasing a record and not care if the current record holder is at the game. I applaud Hank Aaron for staying away from the game by the way. Barry let's face it you are a disgrace to Baseball and don't deserve the record.

[alpro2]

I totally agree, Jeff. I wish this guy would just disappear. I never liked his attitude towards the game and the way he treated people, even before I read Game of Shadows.

[alphamommy]

Hank Aaron is a gentleman, and I'm glad he won't make an effort to be present if/when Bonds breaks the record. I've never liked Bonds' attitude, and it upsets me that someone like him could be passing Hank.

[Scar]

To be fair, Babe Ruth wasn't at the game when Aaron broke his record.

Seriously, I don't think it's a big deal. You can't expect Aaron or even Selig to follow around the Giants. What if he sits on 755 for two months?

That being said, I hope he doesn't break it.

[ibrowse17]

Bonds is a disgrace, as are the Giants for giving him a new contract.

[BrerSchultzy]

Yes...Bonds is a joke. If he didn't do anything, he would just say "I didn't do anything, test me". He hasn't said that, so even if he IS clean, he's an idiot.

That said, I don't think Selig is doing this right (that'd be a first, right). After all, Bud Selig was present for the Yankees playoffs games last year, even after Giambi and Sheffield were all but convicted of steroid issues. If he were true to his principles (once he figures out what they are), he would have either dismissed himself from Yankees games, or promised to attend Giants games.

Just my .02. By the way, my opinion is that Bud Selig is JUST AS GUILTY (if not more so) as Barry and Rafael Palmeiro.

[alphamommy]

Just my .02. By the way, my opinion is that Bud Selig is JUST AS GUILTY (if not more so) as Barry and Rafael Palmeiro.

I am no Selig fan, either. I've heard so many people talk about all the things he's done for the game - huh? I just don't get it.

[indytraveler]

First of all I'm not defending Barry Bonds. If you can't throw Sid Bream out at the plate from deep shortstop you need the juice.

Think back 10 years or so and you have the strike. Fans disenchanted about losing the World Series. Come on, how can you still be a Commissioner after you give away the end of the year. What was agreed on was basically what was proposed back the previous year.

So that leads us to how do we get fans back to the games. Forget low scoring games fans want the long ball, Homeruns, etc. Mark McGuire, w/ andro hits a bunch then Sammy juices, don't forget him, and then the dam breaks and you have guys like Brady Anderson, Rafael Palmeiro, Luis Gonzalez, hitting 50+ homers a year. Barry just took the next step and hit 70. Baseball hid its face in the sand for 5-7 years when all this was going on and did nothing. That's on Bud Selig's hands.

So now when Barry is approaching Hank Aaron's mark, Bud gets all high and mighty. Wrong. You made your bed, now lie in it. If ever there was an asterisk* needed it is now. What the last 10 years did to the game of baseball and it's record books....

Do I want Barry to get the record? NO. I hope he's too injured and and physically unable to hit even 1 more homerun. However, his legacy will live on.

That's my I'll get off my now.

Thanks for the rant.

[Donald A]

This is what sports is all about. You have thugs in every major professional sport. Pro sports run the world. We have taxes dollars paid for new stadiums by people who will never even attend a game. Barry Bonds is a selfish thug and just one small part of a sports world that needs a reality check.

[SandmanGStefani24]

i think he should have all his home runs taken from him, as should sosa, mac, palmiero, et al.

How can we prove which were legitimate and which weren't?

Also, doesn't it seem funny that since the BALCO scandal all the big home run hitters are gone and all the big home run numbers went away? Coincidence? Yeah right...

[disneyfan369]

Question! Wasn't it pratically confirmed that Bonds took steroids? Or am I thinking of something else?

[SandmanGStefani24]

Question! Wasn't it pratically confirmed that Bonds took steroids? Or am I thinking of something else?

you are correct. his "doctor" who gave him the roids admitted to it, and several players admit to seeing him use and posess them. unfortunately, his 5th ammendment rights protect him.

[disneyfan369]

you are correct. his "doctor" who gave him the roids admitted to it, and several players admit to seeing him use and posess them. unfortunately, his 5th ammendment rights protect him.

That is absolutely stupid! What a jerk.

[Juniorunc2001]

Barroid Bonds is a joke.

He needs to break the record, retire, and never speak again - just like McGwire.

The record will get broken, but it will always be Hank Aarons - he was a true gentleman and a great ball player.

He is a joke, and will always be a joke.

[CleveSJM]

I think they should put his pharmacist's name on the record with him. It should be in the books as: "Bonds/Dr. Smith - 780 HR's."

Same with Mac, Sosa, Raf, etc.

[Juniorunc2001]

I think my favorite story is Jason Giambi.
He apologizes, but doesnt say what for. Of course, he is with the Yankees - they are a perfect match.

[Scar]

i think he should have all his home runs taken from him, as should sosa, mac, palmiero, et al.

This cannot, nor should it, happen (with the possible exception of Palmiero.) Prior to 2003, MLB had no policy regarding steroids. None. There is no way you can punish a player for doing something that was not against the rules. I have read the new rules regarding steroids and even now, all that is addressed is testing and suspensions (50 games for 1st offense, 100 for 2nd, lifetime for 3rd.) Even now there is no provision in the rules to take away statistics from cheaters. Should there be? Absolutely IMO. But only for anyone caught since 2003, (Palmiero) and only for any stats achieved since 2003. I’m sorry, but there is just no way that MLB, which did nothing when they knew it was going on, can take away records and stats when there was no rule saying they couldn’t do steroids.

[CleveSJM]

This cannot, nor should it, happen (with the possible exception of Palmiero.) Prior to 2003, MLB had no policy regarding steroids. None. There is no way you can punish a player for doing something that was not against the rules. I have read the new rules regarding steroids and even now, all that is addressed is testing and suspensions (50 games for 1st offense, 100 for 2nd, lifetime for 3rd.) Even now there is no provision in the rules to take away statistics from cheaters. Should there be? Absolutely IMO. But only for anyone caught since 2003, (Palmiero) and only for any stats achieved since 2003. I’m sorry, but there is just no way that MLB, which did nothing when they knew it was going on, can take away records and stats when there was no rule saying they couldn’t do steroids.

I disagree. Whether or not MLB had an official rule about steriod use or not is not the issue. They knew they were cheating and it was wrong. It was illegal drug use. If they did it out in the open and said "Hey, I'm on roids because it's legal and my doctor prescribed them" then I would agree with you. They didn't. Give them the dreaded asterisk and let them skulk in the shadows of legitimacy like Rose...

Just my ...

[Scar]

Whether or not MLB had an official rule about steriod use or not is not the issue. They knew they were cheating and it was wrong.

But how could they be cheating if there was no rule?

It was illegal drug use.

Many players have admitted / been accused of using illegal drugs in the past and none of their stats were taken away.

Give them the dreaded asterisk and let them skulk in the shadows of legitimacy like Rose...

I think this statement actually proves my point. Rose does not have an “asterisk”, he owns the hit record. He is banned because he broke a written rule.

[CleveSJM]

But how could they be cheating if there was no rule?

It was an implied rule. I'm pretty sure they knew use of illegal performance enhancing drugs was cheating. If not, admit it and I'll agree the stats should stay. Don't admit it (because it was cheating) and get the asterisk.

Many players have admitted / been accused of using illegal drugs in the past and none of their stats were taken away.

Perfromance enhancing drugs? Nope.

I think this statement actually proves my point. Rose does not have an “asterisk”, he owns the hit record. He is banned because he broke a written rule.

My Rose statement was about his shunned status not about his records. Bonds will and should be shunned. He already is by Hank and that's good enough for me.