He's damned
You've heard about it all over sports radio and ESPN this week, but in case you haven't actually read the Sports Illustrated article that blew the whole Barry Bonds fiasco wide open, here it is.
The league fucked itself during the '98 season. When they let McGwire and Sosa slug it out for the single season record, whilst both were obviously juiced, they set the entirely wrong precedent of feigning ignorance. Don't ask, don't tell was the undercurrent of the entire season. Bonds was no idiot. He saw what was going on and realized that the only thing that could/would stop him from doping up was himself.And here we are.
The difference between then and now is that the all time home run record is possibly the greatest in any sport, and is infinitely more important than the one McGwire broke (and Bonds now holds). Single season, schmingle season - this is THE BIG ONE. Though we've known the whole time that if Bonds ever did break it, we would have to mentally asterisk it, the overwhelming volume of clear-cut evidence that has surfaced changes EVERYTHING.
The very last thing the sport of baseball needs is another controversy on the magnitude of Pete Rose. If Bonds is allowed to overtake Hank or even the Babe, it would write scandal not only directly on the pages of history, but on the permanent record books, right there for everyone to see and cringe at forever. Because really, no one will ever be able to even approach breaking it who is clean.
755 - it's a number that deservedly stands alone, untouchable, almost holy, written on the collective sports unconscious. It shouldn't be topped, and in a perfect world, where the integrity of the sport is maintained, never would be.
Selig can't let him play this season.
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On a much lighter note, this HAS to be done at one of our home games next season. It's a 21st Century prank, if ever there was one. I nominate Cody.
posted by Anonymous @ 7:47 AM
3 comments
3 Comments:
this is all bullshit, mlb decided not to test, they didnt test babe ruth either. I dont think there should be any asteriks on anything unless bonds gets caught after it was on the books. I dont blame anyone for taking them, Its not about health its about money, and its the leagues job to protect its players, Even with out steroids mark mcguire would still be bigger and stronger than any player in the 20-70's for various nutritional, training, and supplemental reasons. Its bullshit that people are going to worry about this after the fact as a way to save face for being bullshit artists for the past 5 years.
I don't blame anyone for taking them either because you're right, it is all about money. At the same time though, the magnitude of this scandal is so great, and its ramifications so far reaching, that I don't think baseball has any choice but to draw the line right here, lest they tacitly institutionalize illegal behavior.
What's done is done and in the past, it's never to late to start enforcing integrity in a sport that is completely under your control.
Also, just an aside in response to something else you said - it's the union's job to protect the players; it is the league's job to protect the game.
the union only protects its players from the league. And the league protects itself from monetary disparity and public image problems. If the union had any interest in the health of its players they could easily set up a pension and health plan, instead they worry about collective bargaining to stop salary caps. I just think that the hall of fame issue is total shit.
On a side note when are we going to get rid of daylight savings?
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