How do you feel about Barry Bonds?

[DoctorP]

What do you think about his assault on Hank Aaron's record?

Steroids or no steroids, it is still impressive. Add to that, these pitchers didn't have to throw grapefruits at him over the years making it so damn easy! :D

As far as I can remember, there has always been cheating in baseball! Phil Niekro, Nolan Ryan, McQuire, Sosa, Giambi...so why is Bonds being hated so much?

What are your thoughts?

[StreetBiker]

I think people are making a big deal about nothing he is nothing to great. I mean think about it technology in baseball has changed so much that they should have a cut off on breaking records. Not for the steroids but for the way a baseball is made, the bats, the supplements that a player can use, and working out techniques are better. In a sense I consider it's a whole new era of baseball in my opinion.

[Tempestuous]

I think people are making a big deal about nothing he is nothing to great. I mean think about it technology in baseball has changed so much that they should have a cut off on breaking records. Not for the steroids but for the way a baseball is made, the bats, the supplements that a player can use, and working out techniques are better. In a sense I consider it's a whole new era of baseball in my opinion.

Very good point! Didn't even think of that aspect, but they are essentially playing a whole new arena.
My BIL was recently showing me the guts of his bat- telling me about different bat compositions. Kinda blew me away- I think bat + ball + glove you are ready to go out and play- NOPE! Not so!

[dk]

When he breaks the record, I'm going to pretend it never happened. And when my child grows up and asks me about Barry Bonds breaking the home run record, I'm going to tell her, "Yeah, but he cheated to do it. A lot. So it hardly matters."

It's an impressive number, but I'm not impressed with how he did it.

[DoctorP]

But did he really cheat? And hasn't cheating always been a part of pro sports?

[dk]

I would call an "unfair advantage" cheating. Cheating might always be involved in pro-sports, but it doesn't make it right. Has Hank Aaron become well known for steroid use? Babe Ruth?

This is one of the reasons I just don't care for professional sports at all.

[DoctorP]

Babe Ruth was often on the sauce...depending on who you ask that could be a hinderence or it could help. Deeply religious people pray to God. If he really exists isn't that the epitome of outside interference?

[dk]

I don't see god choosing favorites in professional sports. I just don't.

And that's IF he even exists.

[Tempestuous]

Wouldn't there likely be people on each side praying for their team to win? Then you would have a draw, right?
How would God choose who got their answer?

[DoctorP]

I guess by the number of prayers made for that team????:D

[Tempestuous]

LoL, so the team with the biggest following wins, that explains all the Yankee wins, eh?
All those Hail Mary's for them?

[dk]

I guess by the number of prayers made for that team????:D
I think the proper prayer would go more along the lines of "God, please help us play at the best of our capabilities". I can see a god listening to something along those lines. And both teams can pray the same thing, but one team's best will always be better than another team's.

[dk]

LAME, I just heard on the radio Barry Bonds just broke the record. :cursing:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/baseball/mlb/08/07/bonds.record/index.html?cnn=yes

[okibill]

756* :thumbdown:

[atb35]

I think cheating at any level is BS, but the fact remains, the guy broke the record. Steroids may have helped him somewhat, but he hit over 750 home runs....no way steroids contributed THAT much. I personally dont agree with what he did, or how he got his home runs, but Im ok with the fact that he will always have an asterisk next to his home run record. Besides, in several years ARod will break the record again and this will be old news:)

[DoctorP]

Yeah...I just don't see steroids helping all that much anyway! I think if Griffey Jr. had stayed healthy he would own the record...and I think A-rod (as much as I hate him) will definitely get it one day!

[dk]

Who is A-rod? o.O

[atb35]

Alex Rodriguez, he plays for the Yankees. Just went over 500 home runs and he only just turned 32. He really is a freak as good as he is. Hitting 30+ home runs every year. He is projected to go over 800 home runs in his career...barring injury or something that makes him retire early.

[Brett23iu]

wether he cheated or not he hit 757 home runs faster than hank aaron did so he must have been doing something right

[dk]

wether he cheated or not he hit 757 home runs faster than hank aaron did so he must have been doing something right
I could change my mahjong highscore to 50 billion in the arcade and I'd have beat the previous record. Doubt it could be classified as "doing something right".

Steroids = cheating
Changing scores in admin tools = cheating

They're both the same to me. Granted, Barry Bonds is a great baseball player and he possibly could have done it on his own, but I'm a pretty good mahjong player too and there's a good chance that one of these days I'll beat temp's wicked high score. Hope you see the comparrison. That's how I see it at least.

[atb35]

Well the difference is, you are changing the score, he earned the score. If you were to inject something that helps you become smarter and beat the high score, then there wouldnt be any difference. Yeah for you!, but you'll always have an asterisk next to your record stating you did it shady.

Just like with everything else in America, 'Performance Enhancing Drugs' (PHDs)werent "Illegal" until someone bitched about someone else having an unfair advantage. MANY athletes used them, and yet he did something that even the other players couldnt do. He was a much better athlete then them before PHDs, and they just made him that much better. Personally, I feel things like PHDs and stuff like Ephedra are a good thing when USED PROPERLY, unfortunately that never happens. Some morons abuse it, they die then everyone is in an uproar over that harmful drug!

[dk]

Good points.

[DoctorP]

I agree with you totally. I just don't see the big deal here. He still had to hit the damn ball, and steroids or no steroids that is a difficult thing to do. 2nd the pitcher has to put it in his wheelhouse in order for it to go flying 400ft! If half of the morons pitching to him had stayed out of the danger zone, we wouldn't be having this conversation.

I think the only reason he would need an asterik by his name is because the pitching these days is not up to par with the pitching Hank Aaron had to face.

[Muku]

I think the only reason he would need an asterik by his name is because the pitching these days is not up to par with the pitching Hank Aaron had to face.

That is due to expansion as well.

Just imagine if Barry Bonds was playing DH for some American League team, he probably would have broken the record a few years back.

Now then, in my opinion, sure he has to hit the ball, but his recovery from the daily grind of day to day playing the game of baseball took its toll on his body. He recovered faster probably due to the effects of the steroids he was taking. If he had not taken them chances are his career would have been over much sooner. So while I agree he still has to hit them, the steroids made it possible for him to play longer than someone who wasnt using them.

That is an unfair advantage.

One other thing, how many adults after the age of 30 manage to "grow" their physiques naturally of course, without the aid of any steroids, to nearly double their original size, playing baseball for a living?

[DoctorP]

Meh...baseball is not much of a contact sport...so I don't see a persons body needing too much recovery time anyway. I understand what you are saying, but there are people who are older than him who played the game and they made it ok...I still don't see the steroids being a big issue.

[Muku]

Meh...baseball is not much of a contact sport...so I don't see a persons body needing too much recovery time anyway. I understand what you are saying, but there are people who are older than him who played the game and they made it ok...I still don't see the steroids being a big issue.
Let's ask Mark McGwire. :D