Wrong forum? I know, sue me. That said. We all know the performance enhancing drugs debate. There are many angles to argue, from other influencing factors in MLB stat history, like the raised mound, lack of African-American players in much of the history of the game, the cocaine binge of the 1980s, to all the legal advantages like nutrition and weights that modern day hitters benefit from... As well as modern day pitchers... That said. Bonds tagged one to opposite field tonight, and it was pure swing. 755. One hundred. Two hundred. Three hundred. Four hundred. Five hundred? Six hundred!? Seven hundred!?! Seven fifty five. And counting. That's a home-run every day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year, for over two years. To watch each one on tape would take over 4 hours. Did you see Selig's statement? It was sad: <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">"Congratulations to Barry Bonds as he ties Major League Baseball's home run record. No matter what anybody thinks of the controversy surrounding this event, Mr. Bonds' achievement is noteworthy and remarkable."</div> No doubt this statement has been carefully planned out, thought out, scripted, written, re-written, and re-analyzed for months. This two sentence tribute is no doubt the work of a collective team of writers, lawyers, editors, and Selig himself. And this is what the jury finally settled on? A disgrace to the game itself, IMO. Two words stand out, two words that were carefully chosen and planted: controversy, and noteworthy. Controversy: This one first. Controversy? The definition of the word is of a prolonged public dispute; a disputation concerning a matter of contention. What a poorly chosen word! While there is certainly public debate surrounding the question of whether Barry used any drugs which were deemed illegal during said time of use, there is NO question of the accomplishment whatsoever. Dude hit 755 home-runs!!!! There's no controversy regarding that. No question of whether he did or did not hit them. He put wood on 755 balls, and that's that. No controversy. No debate about the feat. If you want to debate the question of players using drugs, supplements, steroids, or whatever, sure -- go ahead -- you'll implicate half the league in the process. Which doesn't make it right. But, IMO, that is a separate topic. IMO, the question of whether Barry Bonds took any type of drug during his career is COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT of whether he just hit 755 home-runs. IMO, the question of whether Barry Bonds took any type of drug during his career is COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT of whether he is the greatest offensive force in the history of professional sports. And I am not even a huge Barry fan. I'm just a realist. This guy is the best. C'mon! 2nd word: noteworthy. Huh? Noteworthy? You mean, one of the greatest athletes ever in the history of civilization, just tied probably the most heralded record in professional sports, and it's... "noteworthy?" How cute. You mean, Selig, like it's an accomplishment that's "worth making note of?" Like in a person's biography, it's noteworthy where they went to school or where they grew up? Like, it's worth making note that Barry wears an elbow guard and bats left handed? Or that he hit it off Clay Hensley? WTF!!!! It's so much more than "noteworthy," it's not even worth making note of. Fool! What a despicable choice of words. So clever. So planned out. So vile. And I'm not even a die hard Bonds fan. Simply a realist.
Yeah, way-to-go Barry. I don't think it's the biggest record in baseball or in sports like people say. I think that is just all media hype. But it's a pretty impressive mark, nonetheless. Also I wonder, Alley Oop, if you've heard Bob Costas say that he is certain that Bonds took these drugs. One of his reasons is because of the big boost in his stats randomly. I just wonder how much of that boost was from moving from Candlestick Park to Pac Bell Park. Nobody ever talks about that transition and studied how that change may be the reason why he started to hit more home runs. Also there are those times where you have those magic seasons. I remember even Rich Aurillia and Jeff Kent were all-stars in those magical Barry seasons. Perhaps those things are contageous? Then again maybe Barry took something that he wasn't supposed to before. But part of me says that some of the sports facination is just watching what a human body can do. Also he's never been tested positive for anything anyway. As far as Bud Selig, he is in a tough position anyway. The media has him in a tough spot. I'm sure Bud doesn't want to answer any questions about the accomplishment and what it means to baseball or whatever, especially with the "controversey". But there is a reason why baseball hasn't been very successful compared to other sports, and I think it has to do with Bud and perhaps to a degree the media.
Good thoughts guys. I've got mixed feelings too because Bonds has to have been a great hitter to even reach that mark, yet people forget that because of drug allegations. Even if you take steroids, you still have to have great technique, anticipation and coordination to hit the ball cleanly. The other thing is you also have to work out like a mad man to even get that big so you have the power and weight transfer to send that ball sailing. One can't take drugs and not work out and expect results. As for how many of his alleged steroid home runs could have been fly balls or singles... I'm not sure... Barry did hit with enough power that even if he was a little bit skinnier, I think he could still clear the warning track by quite a lot. Even as his career is winding down, pitchers still fear him. Can't say that about any other player who admitted they were on something or allegedly took something.
Example of how steroids don't work: I play baseball, I can't hit for chicken sh-t. I get up to bat, my swing is off, my stance is horrible, and my step always loses balance. Every once in a while I'll get lucky and hammer a pitch, but steriods won't hlep me if I can't even hit the damn ball. Go Barry!
