It's sad when "steroids" comes to mind before "home runs" when Barry Bonds is even mentioned nowadays, especially since he is one of the greatest baseball players to ever play the game. I suppose depending on who you ask when speaking of Bonds you're liable to get any number of responses - jerk, misunderstood, cheater, incredible; the list goes on and on.
But let's face the mere facts: entering today, Bonds was just 10 homers shy of Hank Aaron's all-time home run record of 755 dingers. And Bonds holds enough records to make your eyes go crossed by just looking at the extensive list.
Do I personally believe Bonds juiced? Probably; all signs point to yes (i.e. "Game of Shadows"). But until he's actually proven guilty, I cannot sit here and say he used steroids. (But does it still bother me when Bonds doesn't run out a ground ball? Absolutely; I loathe it.)
Upon hearing that Bud Selig, the commissioner of Major League Baseball, and Aaron himself were not going to be around whenever Bonds eventually breaks the record, it really surprised me; it threw me for a loop. After all, Selig was present in 1998 when Mark McGuire surpassed Roger Maris for the most long balls hit in one season. In addition, the Maris family was even in attendance to congratulate the slugger.
Apparently, the steroid allegations have really shaken Selig up - so much that he will not be present when the greatest record in baseball is broken.
Regardless of your personal feelings toward Bonds, Selig should definitely be present when Bonds surpasses Aaron. What else has Selig got to do? All this talk of "Oh, well Selig doesn't know when Bonds will hit it" is a bunch of malarkey. Selig has more power than anyone in baseball and more money than you or I will ever have; if he truly wants to be there he'll be there.
As for Aaron, I think it speaks for itself when he makes a personal appearance for Jackie Robinson Day and not Barry Bonds Day.
Based on these facts, that leads me to believe neither of these powerful men in America's pastime are actually rooting for No. 25, but rather against him.
And on a side note, what really confuses me is when people try to turn this into a racial issue. Racial issue? Are you kidding me? The home run chase has nothing to do with race. What Aaron had to go through up until 1976 (and after) when he passed Babe Ruth on the all-time home run list was nothing compared to what Bonds is dealing with today. Aaron received so many letters per week - mostly hate mail - that he had to hire a secretary to sort it out.
So, when Bobby Bonds Jr. - Barry's brother - told the media this week that he's disappointed because Aaron won't support Barry, especially since "he's a black man going through what he went through in the past" is preposterous. Besides, prior to this week did anyone actually know Bonds even had a brother?
OK, so what is the right answer?
Frankly, I have no idea. The steroid accusations against Bonds have been going on for quite some time now, but nobody seems to have any answers regarding the situation at hand. The record will be broken soon, but then what?
But I suppose it's kind of like that pink elephant in the room...
But let's face the mere facts: entering today, Bonds was just 10 homers shy of Hank Aaron's all-time home run record of 755 dingers. And Bonds holds enough records to make your eyes go crossed by just looking at the extensive list.
Do I personally believe Bonds juiced? Probably; all signs point to yes (i.e. "Game of Shadows"). But until he's actually proven guilty, I cannot sit here and say he used steroids. (But does it still bother me when Bonds doesn't run out a ground ball? Absolutely; I loathe it.)
Upon hearing that Bud Selig, the commissioner of Major League Baseball, and Aaron himself were not going to be around whenever Bonds eventually breaks the record, it really surprised me; it threw me for a loop. After all, Selig was present in 1998 when Mark McGuire surpassed Roger Maris for the most long balls hit in one season. In addition, the Maris family was even in attendance to congratulate the slugger.
Apparently, the steroid allegations have really shaken Selig up - so much that he will not be present when the greatest record in baseball is broken.
Regardless of your personal feelings toward Bonds, Selig should definitely be present when Bonds surpasses Aaron. What else has Selig got to do? All this talk of "Oh, well Selig doesn't know when Bonds will hit it" is a bunch of malarkey. Selig has more power than anyone in baseball and more money than you or I will ever have; if he truly wants to be there he'll be there.
As for Aaron, I think it speaks for itself when he makes a personal appearance for Jackie Robinson Day and not Barry Bonds Day.
Based on these facts, that leads me to believe neither of these powerful men in America's pastime are actually rooting for No. 25, but rather against him.
And on a side note, what really confuses me is when people try to turn this into a racial issue. Racial issue? Are you kidding me? The home run chase has nothing to do with race. What Aaron had to go through up until 1976 (and after) when he passed Babe Ruth on the all-time home run list was nothing compared to what Bonds is dealing with today. Aaron received so many letters per week - mostly hate mail - that he had to hire a secretary to sort it out.
So, when Bobby Bonds Jr. - Barry's brother - told the media this week that he's disappointed because Aaron won't support Barry, especially since "he's a black man going through what he went through in the past" is preposterous. Besides, prior to this week did anyone actually know Bonds even had a brother?
OK, so what is the right answer?
Frankly, I have no idea. The steroid accusations against Bonds have been going on for quite some time now, but nobody seems to have any answers regarding the situation at hand. The record will be broken soon, but then what?
But I suppose it's kind of like that pink elephant in the room...
