Thursday, June 21, 2007

Baseball, Hotdogs and Steroids

Sammy Sosa did it last night against his ex-team, the Cubs. He now joins the 600 club. But should his record, or McGwire's or Bonds', be entered into the books? I know this is an argument that has been taking place now for a few years, but it still bothers me. I grew up watching Mantle and Maris and Mays. Guys who gutted it out and played with chronic pain. And with each steroid-user's padded record passing them, they slip further and further down the list. It just doesn't seem fair.

Perhaps the saddest thing of all is that Bonds would have gone down in history as one of the greatest -- if not the greatest -- ballplayer in history. He didn't need to pad his record.

All I know is that if their records are allowed to stand when they used performance-enhancing drugs, then let's allow Pete Rose to be elected into the Hall. His record speaks for itself. Let the civil authorities take care of the legal or illegal ramafications of his off-field actions. If he doesn't belong in the Hall, neither does Ty Cobb or any number of others.

6 comments:

Jeff said...

There are too many questions with too few answers to exclude these guys from the records. If the pitchers were juiced, they had as good a chance as the hitters. What about all the guys that used steroids but never made it in the big leagues? Yes, the steroids have an impact but how big of an impact?

I think Bonds is getting the treatment he receives just because he has been perceived as a bad guy. I don't have a positive impression of him but it's all media driven. I don't know what he's really like. Hank Aaron seemed like a good guy, Barry doesn't, so I don't want Barry to get the record. Yet, A-Rod is projected to break it too.

At what point sports writers get to vote on the Hall of Fame, I think it's somewhat bogus anyway. Players should vote on players. They are the ones who really know who is good enough.

Anonymous said...

Sammy who? What car does he drive?

Jonathan said...

i think jeff gordon is juicing...i mean did you strength that he was able to hold that wheel with, he obviously has advantage over dale jr. (this comment is solely for uncle john)

Matt said...

Who could ever have Bonds as a childhood hero?

Anonymous said...

All I have to say about major league baseball in it's entirety is.....LET'S GO CATS!!!!

Anonymous said...

I think if they are in the record books, they possibly should have an asterisk by their name.

Has anyone heard of the new, independent league that just started their first season? Right now there are only 4 team and they are all in Texas. 3 teams, plus 1 travelling team. Its called the Continental Baseball League.

http://www.cblproball.com/