Baseball should either put up or shut up

Are they going to wait until 754 before they make a move?


With Barry Bonds, Baseball should either put up or shut up
2007-05-03
By Mark Chalifoux
Athens NEWS Sports Columnist


The one storyline that has captivated even the most casual of baseball fans is Barry Bonds' pursuit of the holy grail of sports records, Hank Aaron's home-run record. This story is interesting for a variety of reasons but the most intriguing aspect for me is just how horribly Major League Baseball has handled the entire saga. It's been the most poorly executed witch-hunt I've ever seen.

Barry Bonds is rapidly approaching hallowed baseball ground, yet so many people are trying to downplay it. His team has done little to publicize the chase, and MLB Commissioner Bud Selig still isn't even sure if he's going to be in attendance when Bonds breaks the record. Bonds had his own reality show when he was catching up to Babe Ruth's home-run mark (why can't we have "Bonds still on Bonds"?), and Hank Aaron has already declared that he's going to be on a golf course when Bonds hits number 756. It's incomprehensible that Bonds can be closing in on such an important record with such little fanfare.

Fans, many of whom are rooting vehemently for him to fail, rationalize baseball's apathetic approach by claiming that Bonds clearly used steroids and that makes him unworthy of the record. The question to ask then is if he blatantly cheated and everyone knows it, why is he still playing baseball? If it was so clear to the MLB brain trust that Bonds used steroids after they were banned in 2005, then what's taking them so long to take him down?

It's not like they haven't been trying. Bonds has been the number-one target of the War on Steroids for a long time. Sen. George Mitchell has been heading up team "Get Barry" for more than a year and has produced absolutely nothing.

The federal government is investigating Bonds for potential perjury charges. Their big trick to curtail the Bonds home-run parade? Getting a former batboy to plead guilty to distributing steroids. That's it. If this was 17th century Salem, Bonds would've been barbecued at the stake months ago whether he was innocent or not.

Apparently, there's enough evidence in the eyes of Selig and company to distance themselves from Bonds' pursuit of the game's greatest record, but there's not enough evidence to take him off the field. They can't have it both ways; either Bonds cheated and needs to be dealt with or MLB needs to do more to recognize his accomplishments when he becomes the true home-run king. If baseball can't take him down, then he must be celebrated.

At this point, it's almost easier to root for Bonds than to root against him. Anyone can jump on the anti-Bonds bandwagon and whine about how he represents everything that's wrong, and most people do because it requires little thought. Even if he's guilty as sin, though, it's still impressive that he has managed to outsmart both the federal government and MLB. Two powerful entities came after Bonds, yet it's the slugger who is still standing. And, if he's innocent, he just may be the biggest underdog in sports.

Consider all Bonds has had going against him in his pursuit of this record. First, he's had to deal with all the negative fan reaction. He's hated at every ballpark outside of San Francisco. On top of that, he's been chasing this record while dealing with the stress of being the top target of the league's investigation. He also has had to deal with the federal government investigating him for perjury. One of his biggest adversaries has been Father Time as Bonds (he'll be 43 in July) has been forced to overcome the injuries and challenges that come with age.

There isn't a current player who has faced anything close to those obstacles. At any moment, his quest for the home-run record could be derailed by a major suspension or a federal indictment, and that's if old age and nagging injuries don't end his career first. One of those factors alone could be enough to break a man, and a combination of them should be far more than enough to rattle any competitor. For now, Bonds has overcome them all. He is still standing.

And as long that continues, he needs to be treated like the future home-run king that he is.

 

He lost me when he said "If it was so clear to the MLB brain trust that Bonds used steroids after they were banned in 2005, then what's taking them so long to take him down?"

Steroids were banned in 1991. I constantly hear people say they were banned two years ago and it's just not true. They were banned in 1991, but MLB failed to get the union to agree to testing. So if a player was caught red-handing shooting steroids into his ass, there would have been consequences.

It was a toothless policy, no doubt. I just get tired of hearing people say steroids weren't illegal in the sport.

 

why can't we have "Bonds still on Bonds"?

Because the ratings blew chunks.

Even the marketing muscle of ESPN couldn't turn Bonds into a likeable character. He's the sporting equivalent of Anthrax.

 

What a hyperbolic load of shit.

Why is Bonds still playing if everybody knows he used PED's? Because he didn't fail a test. Doesn't mean he's clean and it doesn't mean we don't know better. The writer is either being disingenuous or really stupid with that point.

The comparisons to the Salem witch trials and the "Get Barry" gang bullshit are just too stupid to even comment on.

Why do I click on these threads? Why?!

 

Which one, Creamora or the columnist/

 

Mr. Cream or Clear

 

Creamora's PR Director:

 

This couldn't go in one of the other BS threads?

 

Maybe they are not going to go after Bonds until after he breaks the record.
Can you imagine if the names of players who were routinely doing business with Radomski are leaked shortly and they include some of the most high profile pitchers in the history of the baseball? Pitchers who were taking steroids? Pitchers who Bonds faced throughout his career?

 

Can you imagine a world where people stopped making shit up as they go along just so they can defend their favorite baseball player?

 

outofplace,

Keep your seatbelt strapped on. The list of names associated with Radomski may possibly contain some very high profile players. In fact, the world of baseball may be turned up side down here shortly. Sports journalists may have much more to worry about besides Bonds. Just think. The story is only at halftime and you are already out of breath.