Why is Bonds still allowed to get after the record?

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by jsarno

So it doesn't concern you that he actually admitted it? The fact that he says he thought it was flaxseed oil is beleivable for you?

My understanding is in a leaked grand jury testimony he said he unknowingly took the cream or clear or something like that. But he's never been tested for it, as best I can recall.

What concerns me is the double standard. As has been mentioned, cheaters have been allowed for years in MLB. See Gaylord Perry, who's in the Hall of Fame for crying out loud. The Sosa's, McGwire's, and Bonds' of the world saw an opening when baseball turned the other way when performance enhancing drugs came into play. They needed fans back in the seats and "chicks dig the long ball." Then when the public outcry came, baseball suddenly went Renault on everyone. ("Shocked! Shocked! to find out there is gambling going on here" only to be handed his gambling winnings while making this pronouncement.)

MLB wants to act like Bonds has ruined the integrity of the sport, but they themselves ruined it long ago. The concern should be about the dangers of these drugs (see Chris Benoit, or the girl who died of an infection after applying too much cream), not whether there should be an asterisk next to Bonds' name. Will there be one next to all the pitchers he didn't get a homerun against who were on steroids themselves.

Look, I don't know Bonds but most say he's not that great a person. And that certainly hurts him at this time. I think even before the last decade he's one of the greatest players ever and he's a Hall of Famer if his career ended 10 years ago. Would he be my first choice to hold the record? No, but that doesn't mean I think everything should be done to keep him from it