Disgusted with Bonds?

But scuffing the ball is against major league rules. And Perry made an entire career out of spitballs, totally illegal. Isn't it?

Let me ask you this though, does it bother you that he used it or that he used it and is going for the record? Suppose he used it and was closing in on 600 homeruns instead would you care?

But scuffing the ball is against major league rules. And Perry made an entire career out of spitballs, totally illegal. Isn't it?
I am unsure as to the rules at that time (I wasn't born until 75). However, if he did use it as often as you say, and it was against the rules, then I say take him out of the hall.

Let me ask you this though, does it bother you that he used it or that he used it and is going for the record? Suppose he used it and was closing in on 600 homeruns instead would you care?

Yes, it bothers me that they use it. That means some kid busting his butt the legal way won't make it cause someone is doing it the illegal way...however, I am 10 times more upset that he is trying to taint a record, especially such a big time record like the all time homer record. I was upset about it when he hit 600, and now I am irrate that he's going to beat 755.

I am a 1975'er as well. But I vividly remember Perry being kicked out of a game for doctoring the ball back in 1982. And I've heard and read that he'd been doing that for years.

Would it bother you if say Aaron Boone said he was using roids, knowing he's nowhere close to any record?

Baseball is interesting in that it's so numbers oriented. I mean where was the outcry for all the Carolina Panthers found to have ordered roids and HGH during their super bowl year?

I applaud you for bringing this up at a time when nobody seems willing to call out Bonds.

Bonds isn't the problem, baseball is. they knew what was going on, but had no language written into the union contract that made steroids testable. the whole long ball thing with McGuire and Sosa made baseball sexy again, and the owners were loving it. baseball, with a screwed up drug policy, and no salary cap, is a messed up sport

How can I get upset at a man who shrank his weenie just stroke a stick better? He's the dumbass who is and will pay for his mistakes in more ways than one.

But it wasn't tested for right? And I can't imagine he's the only player to use steroids. And how is what he did necessarily worse than scuffing a ball, or even stealing signs? If someone like Gaylord Perry can be in the HOF, then so can Bonds.

Everybody does it, so it's ok??? Good call

Besides, look a the fine BIG head he got out of the deal.
I heard on a sports talk show the other day that Hank Aaron apparently attends many baseball events, as a guest, for the good of baseball. They added, that if Bad Barry breaks his record, he will NOT be in attendance. "he will be fishing".

Bonds isn't the problem, baseball is. they knew what was going on, but had no language written into the union contract that made steroids testable. the whole long ball thing with McGuire and Sosa made baseball sexy again, and the owners were loving it. baseball, with a screwed up drug policy, and no salary cap, is a messed up sport

Exactly the point I was trying to make. The problem is baseball turning a blind eye to the steroid problem until it was too late. Exacerbating the problem, as I said earlier, is the fact that Bonds is generally considered an ass. If he was some fun-loving, jovial guy I'm sure most people would look at this differently.

I agree with SmootSmack that this is compliacted. While I do think it is wrong that Bonds is now going to break this record chiefly because he took steroids there is a lot of me that thinks that a huge amount of players were doing this and to single out Bonds just because of who he is and what he is doing is unfair. Considering that a large amount of players were doing this one could argue that to compete a player HAD to do this. Now it is complicated. I blame the players in general for creating the atmosphere where streoid use was not only acceptable but almost requires. I blame MLB for doing nothing to stop it. Performance enhancement has been in baseball for decades but I think it is time they start getting rid of all this legacy crap and move into the 21st century when it comes to how to operate the sport.

One thing everyone needs to remember is that baseball is FAR FAR FAR different in the way it is run than any other sport. Due to that matter in which it was organized and started it is much more loosely managed from a central source(MLB). It is almost like all the teams are totaly separate and operate alone. This means that MLB itself is very weakened. This is the way it has always been. I think Selig is pathetic but when was the last time MLB had a perceived good commisioner? Yeah it has been decades because the owners work to keep the commissioner relatively weak compared to other commisioners. It is time they started operating this like one business instead of 32 separate ones. Then issues like steroids can get weeded out by a strong central fiugure without fear of being fired.

A lot of people are indicting Barry Bonds in the court of public opinion for essentially cheating; and they're doing this with the idea in mind of protecting the integrity of baseball.

But by going after Bonds these people are really saying that the sport in general has no more integrity, because if you go after Bonds then you have to go after McGwire, Sosa (corked bats), Gaylord Perry, Ken Caminiti, Canseco, and any pitcher who's ever used sandpaper or otherwise doctored a ball. You can't pick and choose who you want to eject from the hall because they're "going after a hallowed record." That makes no sense and is prejudiced against someone you perceive to be an asshole.

If you go after Bonds, you have to go after every cheater and weed them all out of the HOF voting process. You have to wipe Bonds' 73, McGwire's 70, and Sosa's 66 HRs from the books and give the record back to Maris. And then once you're done, are you even sure you've gotten every cheater? How do you determine for sure who was a cheater? Based on your "opinion"?

You go after Bonds alone, then you've ruined the integrity of the game just as bad as steroids themselves has. You send the message that it's OK to cheat, just don't be an asshole like Barry Bonds and don't break Aaron's record, and you're cool in my book.