Asonokirk V 2.0
05-25-2006, 03:21 PM
Regarding Mr. Bonds and the record books.
Major League Baseball's most hallowed records (those that haven't been broken, or were only broken very recently) were established when minority athletes were not allowed to participate. They were established during a period were some players TOOK BRIBES TO FIX A FREAKING WORLD SERIES!
They were established during a time when baseball had much less history behind it.
They were established when it was common for players to violate the written rules of the game at almost every opportunity. Examples: doctoring baseballs, bats, selves (yeah, NO players used any kind of drugs back then, right), equipment (think Ty Cobb's spikes as one reference), fixing individual games, and performing on the field at sometimes "just a bit outside" of the optimum level of physical condition.
Additionally, they did not have access to modern training methods and equipment. More hits got through holes in infields and past outfielders because the gloves were smaller and more poorly manufactured That extra bit of size and more efficiently made glove takes away that inch or two past which a lot of those hits got past the defenders.
The only reason I mention any of the above is to put everything into perspective. Barry Bonds may or may not have used performance enhancing drugs. EVEN IF HE DID, he acted within the rules of MLB at the time. If an athlete performs his sport entirely within the rules of that sport, then WHY WOULD THERE BE ANY QUESTION OF THE LEGITIMACY OF THOSE RECORDS?
I was once on the side of those critical of Bonds and felt any records he made are/were tarnished. I've had a lot of time to think about it, and I believe that if we would punish Bonds, then we should punish all. No record set in the days before minority athletes were in MLB should have any value whatsoever. No record should count if it is later proven that the player violated the rules of the game while engaged in attaining the record.
Whatever records Bonds establishes should in no way be considered diminished, tarnished, or denied.
Major League Baseball's most hallowed records (those that haven't been broken, or were only broken very recently) were established when minority athletes were not allowed to participate. They were established during a period were some players TOOK BRIBES TO FIX A FREAKING WORLD SERIES!
They were established during a time when baseball had much less history behind it.
They were established when it was common for players to violate the written rules of the game at almost every opportunity. Examples: doctoring baseballs, bats, selves (yeah, NO players used any kind of drugs back then, right), equipment (think Ty Cobb's spikes as one reference), fixing individual games, and performing on the field at sometimes "just a bit outside" of the optimum level of physical condition.
Additionally, they did not have access to modern training methods and equipment. More hits got through holes in infields and past outfielders because the gloves were smaller and more poorly manufactured That extra bit of size and more efficiently made glove takes away that inch or two past which a lot of those hits got past the defenders.
The only reason I mention any of the above is to put everything into perspective. Barry Bonds may or may not have used performance enhancing drugs. EVEN IF HE DID, he acted within the rules of MLB at the time. If an athlete performs his sport entirely within the rules of that sport, then WHY WOULD THERE BE ANY QUESTION OF THE LEGITIMACY OF THOSE RECORDS?
I was once on the side of those critical of Bonds and felt any records he made are/were tarnished. I've had a lot of time to think about it, and I believe that if we would punish Bonds, then we should punish all. No record set in the days before minority athletes were in MLB should have any value whatsoever. No record should count if it is later proven that the player violated the rules of the game while engaged in attaining the record.
Whatever records Bonds establishes should in no way be considered diminished, tarnished, or denied.