The Home Run Chase Sucks
I too am going to join the crowd of saying it really is bad to see Barry Bonds about to break Hank Aaron's record and I don't really see 2 sides to the issue. Here is my reaction to a few common defences:
Innocent Until Proven Guilty
This is normally a statement I endorse, but Selig's "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy to steroids has made people dependent on speculation. And you don 't have to speculate very much when a guy grows 2 hat sizes during his 30s.
But Pitchers Could Use Them Too
Yes, but they obviously didn't do as much good. Maris's 37-year record was broken 6 times in 4 years. I don't remember any pitching records being broken during that time.
Barry Bonds Was on the Hall of Fame Path Anyway
Yes, and that's why taking steroids took him to a ridiculous level. Kind of like if Superman started roiding. And if he'd have maintained his pre-roid pace, he'd be at about 650 homeruns, not 750.
It's Just Statistics
Records matter in MLB, or at least they used to. Baseball is obsessed w/ numbers, particularly career ones. And although there is some ridiculousness to this (different-sized ball parks, expansion...) the only factor that has made numbers literally uncomparable was the steroid epidemic. And for the sole reason of steroids, numbers may never again hold the same importance.
On a funnier note, here is Chris Rock's take on why Babe Ruth's homeruns should be discounted as well.
Bob Costas: Is race irrelevant?
Chris Rock: Ty Cobb's numbers are bullshit and Babe Ruth's numbers are bullshit.
Bob Costas: Because of segregation –
Chris Rock: Because they didn't play against black players. It's like saying I won the New York City Marathon but no Kenyans ran that year. Babe Ruth has 714 Affirmative Action home runs.
Innocent Until Proven Guilty
This is normally a statement I endorse, but Selig's "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy to steroids has made people dependent on speculation. And you don 't have to speculate very much when a guy grows 2 hat sizes during his 30s.
But Pitchers Could Use Them Too
Yes, but they obviously didn't do as much good. Maris's 37-year record was broken 6 times in 4 years. I don't remember any pitching records being broken during that time.
Barry Bonds Was on the Hall of Fame Path Anyway
Yes, and that's why taking steroids took him to a ridiculous level. Kind of like if Superman started roiding. And if he'd have maintained his pre-roid pace, he'd be at about 650 homeruns, not 750.
It's Just Statistics
Records matter in MLB, or at least they used to. Baseball is obsessed w/ numbers, particularly career ones. And although there is some ridiculousness to this (different-sized ball parks, expansion...) the only factor that has made numbers literally uncomparable was the steroid epidemic. And for the sole reason of steroids, numbers may never again hold the same importance.
On a funnier note, here is Chris Rock's take on why Babe Ruth's homeruns should be discounted as well.
Bob Costas: Is race irrelevant?
Chris Rock: Ty Cobb's numbers are bullshit and Babe Ruth's numbers are bullshit.
Bob Costas: Because of segregation –
Chris Rock: Because they didn't play against black players. It's like saying I won the New York City Marathon but no Kenyans ran that year. Babe Ruth has 714 Affirmative Action home runs.
Labels: Sports
posted by chuckdaddy2000 at 2:06 pm
5 Comments:
Even if there were no 'roids involved, bonds shouldn't gather accolades as he's such a despicable human being. Hank Aaron had class and it was a great moment (not that I remember) when he broke the record. Obviously Bonds and McGuire were doped up - to think otherwise flies in the face of logic. I just wish someone nice would start hopping up on the juice so that we could cheer for them to see Barry in 2nd place or worse...
My health teacher in high school was Hank Aaron's son. And they looked exactly alike. And I will never be impressed with any record Barry Bonds holds because he's a total douche bag. And Bud needs to step up and doing something about 'roids because baseball is just as big of a joke as the Tour de France.
I'm actually really excited that Aaron isn't going to be there when Bonds breaks his record. First of all, why would anyone want to be there to see their record broken? But even he was more high-minded than that, why give Bonds that legitamacy
Based on that... you don't like Roger Clemens either. Funny how no one talks about him. Same things apply.
Um, who is Barry Bonds??? Just kidding...I know!
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