Love him or hate him 756 is a big fucking number (611 hits)
Category: SportsRating: 0.34 on 31 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Spacegrass (View user info) at 2007-08-08 11:23:14 EDT
So Barry Bonds finally hit home run number 756 last night breaking the so-called most hallowed record in sports. Bud Selig, the baseball commissioner, graciously released a statement honoring the achievement, at least until evidence comes out proving Barry Bonds used steroids. Seriously, here is the quote from his statement about the home run (nabbed from http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2965348):
"While the issues which have swirled around this record will continue to work themselves toward resolution, today is a day for congratulations on a truly remarkable achievement."
Seriously, you couldn't just give this guy his due? Barry Bonds was not the only guy who (supposedly) used steroids, but he seems to have hit over 150 more home runs than anyone else who did. Let us not forget that the reason this whole steroids mess happened was because Mr. Selig turned a blind eye to the problem while a juiced up Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire homered baseball back into its fans' collective hearts.
Step back to 2001. Bonds was assaulting the single season home run record. Supposedly disgusted by the numbers lesser players achieved while chemically enhanced, Bonds went out to prove just what the greatest ballplayer of his generation could do while taking enough steroids to kill a racehorse. This guy saw maybe 4 hittable pitches a week, and deposited 3 of them in the stands. Were the steroids the difference between a long fly ball out to right field and a home run? Maybe, but until someone can prove this to me it is still an awesome accomplishment.
One of the reasons Mr. Selig is so offended by Bonds setting the record is his deep affection for the former record holder, Hank Aaron. Mr. Aaron hit the bulk of his home runs during the 60s, an era of baseball conveniently chronicled by Jim Bouton in his novel Ball Four. One point that Mr. Bouton brought up was that just about everyone used amphetamines in the 60s. Some pitchers got upset if the players behind them didn't use greenies, as they were called, because it meant the players were not giving their all. Does that mean we have definitive proof that Hank Aaron used amphetamines in the 60s? Of course not. Am I suspicious that he may have, and his contemporaries may also have used them? You are darned right I am. That means you have to question the numbers put up by, among others, Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Frank Robinson, and some of the great pitchers of that era.
Oh yes, the pitchers. For some reason, people conveniently choose to ignore the fact that just as many pitchers used performance enhancing drugs in the 90s as hitters. The pitcher who gave up Bonds' 755th home run, Clay Hensley, was suspended in the minors for using steroids. One of the most vocal pitchers who has condemned Bonds' achievements is Curt Schilling. Mr. Schilling has been linked to at least one team with suspected steroids ties. He was the ace of the 1993 Phillies who would advance to game 6 of the World Series based largely on the strength of suspected steroids users. Is there any proof that Schilling or any of those Phillies used steroids? Of course not, and it is probably dangerous to throw his name out there, but no more so than the as yet unproven accusations against Bonds. Given the stage to speak in front of Congress and the world about steroids, Schilling instead chose to claim ignorance of the topic.
While we are on the topic of pitchers suspected of using performance enhancing drugs, let us irresponsibly throw another name out there that has in the past been linked to at least human growth hormones. Barely more than a year ago, federal officials kicked down the door of one Jason Grimsley, then a relief pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks. They seized drugs and took a statement from Mr. Grimsley that would be leaked (of course) to the media. Among the names leaked in the statement were former Yankee teammates of Mr. Grimsley, Andy Pettitte and Roger Clemens. Mr. Clemens is widely lauded as the greatest right-handed pitcher of the past 50 years, an interesting celebration because his late-career resurgence is no less suspicious than Mr. Bonds'.
Cast aside by the Red Sox following the 1996 season, Clemens' amazing career seemed to be winding towards its conclusion after four sub-par (for him) seasons. It was to be expected, as power pitchers tend to lose their velocity in their mid-30s, with the notable exception of Nolan Ryan who was a freak of nature. Not wishing to tie their entire payroll to a 34 year old power pitcher with a slowing fastball, the Red Sox cut ties with Clemens. Clemens would sign in Toronto, at which point his fastball miraculously gained an extra 5-6 MPH. This is unheard of for a power pitcher. This is as strange as a slugger magically hitting the most home runs of his career in his late 30s! Hmmm...hey, that's suspicious.
Clemens would force a trade to the Yankees following two dominating seasons in Toronto, and mostly struggled with injuries his first season and a half in New York. His teammate those first two seasons with the Yankees was none other than Jason Grimsley. Following the All-Star break in 2000, a rejuvenated Clemens re-found the life on his fastball and at age 37 started a third stage of his career that saw him dominate baseball for another 7 seasons. All of this is pure speculation and in no way fair to Mr. Clemens, but is as much circumstantial evidence as has been linked to Mr. Bonds. Until we raise a public outcry and demand an asterisk be placed next to Clemens' name in the record books, we should just celebrate Bonds' record for what it is, the greatest record in all of sports.
User Reviews
Submitted by StrikerZeroX (user info) at 2007-08-09 16:29:20 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Steroids don't just make you stronger. They allow you to heal faster and work out more. It provides the longevity that would not have been possible for Bonds without the drugs. Sorry, but Hank is still the Home Run King in my heart.
Submitted by lungfish (user info) at 2007-08-09 02:00:51 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
You make some good points.
D'backs win +2.
Submitted by Stagger_Lee (user info) at 2007-08-09 00:19:38 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Premier League starts this weekend.
Submitted by Spacegrass (user info) at 2007-08-08 16:56:39 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Heh. I could be like the sports version ETS, I suppose, but I don't care about anything enough to devote that kind of energy to a cause. I just tend to listen to sports talk all day and I haven't been able to turn on the radio for a week because it's been all Bonds all the time.
Besides, on some level, anyone who's ever called themselves a baseball fan has to have an opinion about this sort of thing. I mean, it's 755! Most sports fans have some vague idea of what that means. You can throw 894 out there and people will have no idea. Or 31, and that was set last year.
Submitted by JonnyX (user info) at 2007-08-08 16:34:23 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
what are you, ETS?
Submitted by Spacegrass (user info) at 2007-08-08 16:29:07 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Douche bag though he may be, it's still an impressive accomplishment. I didn't want to care, but I still found myself staying up to watch his at bats (albeit I missed the home run by one last night). I wonder what ESPN2 is going to do now that they're not televising every Giants game?
Submitted by Death_Metal_Dude (user info) at 2007-08-08 16:26:47 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
bonds is an outright disgrace
Submitted by DonovanMD (user info) at 2007-08-08 14:59:30 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
REPOST SPAM WHORE!
DonovanMD interviews Barry Bonds.
http://www.ubersite.com/m/85008
Submitted by scourge (user info) at 2007-08-08 14:45:27 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
You only confirmed what I said, Hadley.
I know a ton of these guys use steroids. I could give a shit if they use or not.
When we stop using athletes as role models and spokespeople and idols and start using scientists and artists and humanitarians, the issue of steroid use becomes a non-issue. We'll look at these guys for the only thing we should be looking at them...what they are able to do with their bodies to entertain.
Romans didn't care how gladiators won, they just wanted to see them do it.
But as role models and idols we expect them to live up to certain ideals regarding little things like 'ethics' and 'responsibility' and fairness'...
enough with the bullshit. Don't ask gladiators to be role models and you won't have to be disappointed when they aren't able to meet the easily conflicting expectations of the two roles.
Here was my point, spelled out just for you my sweet baboo: Barry Bonds is a fucking cockhead. I don't like cockheads. I don't lke Barry Bonds.
Submitted by Spacegrass (user info) at 2007-08-08 14:05:29 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Actually, I've heard rumors that Griffey was a whiny bitch and no one in the Seattle clubhouse was all that sad to see him go. What's interesting is that now that they're free from the Bonds albatross, insiders feel the Giants are going to cut ties with him and offer a dump-truck full of money to A-Rod when he opts out of his contract at the end of the season. Or maybe that's only interesting to me.
Submitted by Lambchop (user info) at 2007-08-08 14:04:31 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by HadToBeDone (user info) at 2007-08-08 13:06:39 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Also note: Through his first 13 seasons, Griffey Jr had 49 more home runs than Bonds did through the same period in his career. ZOMG! STEROIDS!!
And your friendly neighborhood A-Rod? More than Griffey. Where is the cries of steroid use there?
Oh wait. Griffey and A-Rod are friendly. Everyone likes them...
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I guarantee you that if Bonds hadn't been such an asshole he would have gotten a better reception
Submitted by rob_berg (user info) at 2007-08-08 14:04:18 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Can't bring myself to care.
Submitted by The_taste_of_Monkeys (user info) at 2007-08-08 13:32:50 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Hank Aaron-Ive heard of him but only because of Futurama
Submitted by Crystle (user info) at 2007-08-08 13:23:03 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Hadley?
Submitted by bob (user info) at 2007-08-08 13:15:36 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Sadaharu Oh was one hell of a HR hitter...
I can't believe he doesn't have any recognition here.
Submitted by HadToBeDone (user info) at 2007-08-08 13:06:39 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Also note: Through his first 13 seasons, Griffey Jr had 49 more home runs than Bonds did through the same period in his career. ZOMG! STEROIDS!!
And your friendly neighborhood A-Rod? More than Griffey. Where is the cries of steroid use there?
Oh wait. Griffey and A-Rod are friendly. Everyone likes them...
Submitted by HadToBeDone (user info) at 2007-08-08 12:56:39 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by scourge (user info) at 2007-08-08 11:37:47 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Difference is McGwire was ALWAYS a huge power hitter. The guy is massive. He hit like that from day one. Steroids extended his career a few years. Did they GIVE him the record for the short time he held it? I'd vote no.
Barry Bonds was a good goddamn ball player form day one...without a doubt. If he wasn't he wouldn't be in the Majors. But he wasn't a huge power guy. Juicing handed him two of the games most revered records at a time in his career when most guys are retiring because they can't play anymore. Fuck him for that.
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Barry Bonds was a Hall of Fame lock after 1998. 33 years old, 411 HR, 442 stolen bases. At that point, he had been averaging mid-30s or above in HR for 7 years. 1999, he hits 34 more homeruns. Steals 15 more bases. Decline in steals? Sure. He's getting older. Along comes 2000. He hits 49 home runs. Steals 11 more bases.
What does this mean? Some say 2000 was when he started doping. Most say 2001. His numbers in 2000 aren't far outside his usual stats. So totaling his "Hall of Fame" credentials at the end of the 2000 season we have: 494 home runs (that's an average of over 37 per 162 games). 468 stolen bases. Oh, and that little matter of awards.
NL MVP 3 times
2nd in NL MVP twice
Other Top-5 MVP finishes: 2
Nine-time All Star
To say he was "GOOD" is an injustice. He was a better player than McGwire before the doping. He was a better player during the doping. He is a better player after the doping. People want to give the credit for his number of home runs to steroids and only steroids. But look at this. Through 2000 he played in, on average, 143 games per year. Since the doping began, 117 games.
I'd go into this more, but everyone's mind is made up. Barry Bonds is a Hall of Famer, as soon as the bitter old men (who were all juiced on amphetamines as noted below) begin to die off and the younger writers and retired players get their votes.
Hank Aaron made his peace with the fact that he plain got outhit by a younger player who had training advantages (some of them even legal!) over him. Why can't the rest of you figure it out too?
Submitted by loki (user info) at 2007-08-08 12:55:29 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
The real winner is the Mets fan who caught that ball.
Submitted by Razor (user info) at 2007-08-08 12:21:15 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Just 'roids?
http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003621797
Submitted by Shlongy (user info) at 2007-08-08 11:54:42 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Hate him.
Add Zito to my list of hate, while you're at it.
Submitted by Dolson (user info) at 2007-08-08 11:51:49 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Barry Bonds is the greatest baseball player ever.
I'm not kidding. I think the numbers more than back that up. He was a great player before the steroids, and he's a great player after them. Without doubt the greatest left fielder of all time, and it's not even close.
Submitted by Beano312003 (user info) at 2007-08-08 11:49:58 EDT (#)
Ranking: -1
Only Lungfish can post about Baseball and get a positive rating from me.
You underdtand.
Submitted by EmissionImpossible (user info) at 2007-08-08 11:47:36 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
I have no idea what you're on about.
I want the fishing rod, not the fish.
Submitted by Spacegrass (user info) at 2007-08-08 11:45:52 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Wouldn't it be funny if Canseco is right and A-Rod used steroids too?
The real tragedy of the steroids era that no one ever talks about is Darryl Strawberry, who was probably the greatest natural home run hitter I've ever seen, got into coke before he got into steroids. A fully roided up Strawberry might have hit 900 home runs.
Submitted by scourge (user info) at 2007-08-08 11:39:33 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
And now I'm just cheering for A-Rod to take the damn thing away from him in the next 8 or 10 years.
Submitted by scourge (user info) at 2007-08-08 11:37:47 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
He's a giant asshole. ('giant' asshole. hahaha)
Yeah, a lot of players used steroids. I cheered for McGwire when he was chasing the single season record. Fuck, Sosa too for that matter, much as I dislike the Cubs. And I'm pretty sure they both used steroids.
Difference is McGwire was ALWAYS a huge power hitter. The guy is massive. He hit like that from day one. Steroids extended his career a few years. Did they GIVE him the record for the short time he held it? I'd vote no.
Barry Bonds was a good goddamn ball player form day one...without a doubt. If he wasn't he wouldn't be in the Majors. But he wasn't a huge power guy. Juicing handed him two of the games most revered records at a time in his career when most guys are retiring because they can't play anymore. Fuck him for that.
And fuck him because he's an absolute dickhead.
At the end of the day, baseball needs to take a once and for all stance on the issue.
It's either do the MLB equivalent of decriminalization, or make offenses a permanent banning offense. No asterisks, no short suspensions, you use you're gone.
Submitted by Spacegrass (user info) at 2007-08-08 11:29:23 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Shit! I forgot the whole rant about football. Er, the American version. Or as I like to call it, the only sport with more drug users than bike racing.
I never said he was misunderstood, the whole point is everyone cheated so why single him out? Personally, I was hoping against hope that as he stood there at home plate with is arms raised to the heavens the ball was going to bounce off the wall and then he got thrown out at first. That would have summed up his career perfectly. But still, it's 756!!!
Submitted by TheUniter (user info) at 2007-08-08 11:29:17 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
Submitted by particle_man58 (user info) at 2007-08-08 11:26:35 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
I hate baseball....
WOOOO FOOTBALL!!!!!!! YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Submitted by PokeyMen (user info) at 2007-08-08 11:26:14 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Supposedly disgusted by the numbers lesser players achieved while chemically enhanced, Bonds went out to prove just what the greatest ballplayer of his generation could do while taking enough steroids to kill a racehorse."""
What a noble motivation!
The cheating cunt is just misunderstood!
Where did you get that piece of indepth reportage from?
-apollo
Submitted by SunnyG (user info) at 2007-08-08 11:25:06 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Yup, sure steroids help him hit that ball into the water, but he's a talented player either way.
Fuck it, everyone is on roids these days. Never mind the pro level, but even in university. Ahem, besides me.