Barry Bonds, in San Francisco on August 3rd at the San Francisco Giants-San Diego Padres game, finally tied Hank Aaron's home run record at no. 755.
Aaron was not there. He has previously stated he doesn't even know how to spell Bond's name. This is not out of jealousy or resentment at his record being tied (and doubtless soon-to-be surpassed), but disappointment amid the allegations of steroid use. Prior to these allegations, in fact, Aaron was one of Bond's biggest fans and supporters.
Bonds, of course, continues to deny the allegations, including reportedly in recent Grand Jury testimony which has been leaked.
Well, let's assume for a minute that Bonds did indeed engage in steroid use, as most people at least who follow sports seem almost totally convinced that he did. Assuming this just for the sake of argument, we should all take a deep breath, and remind ourselves that this was, unfortunately, the culture of not just baseball but until recently sports in general. It was a part of that super-competitive mindset that insinuated that, if you expected to continue in the career, you had to accept certain realities.
Looking at it from this perspective, Bonds might well have decided he was faced with two choices.
CHOICE THE FIRST:
He would tie and then break the home run record previously set by Hank Aaron, but any mention of that in record books would be followed by an asterisk, pointing the way to a very nasty footnote.
CHOICE THE SECOND:
Barry Bonds entire baseball career might become nothing but a footnote.
Given the reality of professional sports at the time, I am not so sure I am willing to fault Bonds for making the choice he made, if that was indeed the case. And it does seem to be the case, looking at his seemingly overnight weight and muscle gain, as well as (unproven) allegations of 'roid rage made by certain parties.
Still, it is the system that should be faulted, not the individual players. To be sure, I do not condone any players steroid use, past or present. I especially do not condone the trend that seemed to be underway at one point of steroid use among high school athletes.
In that latter case, I blame the high school coaches, the system that demands the winning of championships at all costs, and to some extent the parents, many of whom were more determined to raise a multi-millionaire sports star than they were to raise a son. I don't blame the kid.
Professionals like Bonds of course are more responsible than kids, but by the same token, they have significant pressures to have to juggle.
Another thing to consider is the evolution of sports and science. Someone is eventually going to develop a natural, healthy way to build body mass and increase stamina, speed, reflexes, etc., in such a manner as contains no or relatively minor harmful side-effects. We have that now, actually, they are called vitamin supplements, but I'm sure there will eventually be other innovations.
Early in the days of steroid use, they were probably considered just that innovation. It was only after the detrimental effects became known that it became an issue. Where the real problem arose, causing it to become a legal and legislative, as well as an ethical and moral issue, was in the continued use and promotion of them after the dangers became all too well known.
So, to be on the safe side, should we not ban the Bowflex? Isn't that an innovation in the realm of exercise? Should we also ban vitamin supplements? Many have tried, and still want to do just that. To be sure, they as well can have negative side-effects, albeit relatively minor ones.
Therefore, again, let's all take a deep breath, and not get too carried away.
Aaron was not there. He has previously stated he doesn't even know how to spell Bond's name. This is not out of jealousy or resentment at his record being tied (and doubtless soon-to-be surpassed), but disappointment amid the allegations of steroid use. Prior to these allegations, in fact, Aaron was one of Bond's biggest fans and supporters.
Bonds, of course, continues to deny the allegations, including reportedly in recent Grand Jury testimony which has been leaked.
Well, let's assume for a minute that Bonds did indeed engage in steroid use, as most people at least who follow sports seem almost totally convinced that he did. Assuming this just for the sake of argument, we should all take a deep breath, and remind ourselves that this was, unfortunately, the culture of not just baseball but until recently sports in general. It was a part of that super-competitive mindset that insinuated that, if you expected to continue in the career, you had to accept certain realities.
Looking at it from this perspective, Bonds might well have decided he was faced with two choices.
CHOICE THE FIRST:
He would tie and then break the home run record previously set by Hank Aaron, but any mention of that in record books would be followed by an asterisk, pointing the way to a very nasty footnote.
CHOICE THE SECOND:
Barry Bonds entire baseball career might become nothing but a footnote.
Given the reality of professional sports at the time, I am not so sure I am willing to fault Bonds for making the choice he made, if that was indeed the case. And it does seem to be the case, looking at his seemingly overnight weight and muscle gain, as well as (unproven) allegations of 'roid rage made by certain parties.
Still, it is the system that should be faulted, not the individual players. To be sure, I do not condone any players steroid use, past or present. I especially do not condone the trend that seemed to be underway at one point of steroid use among high school athletes.
In that latter case, I blame the high school coaches, the system that demands the winning of championships at all costs, and to some extent the parents, many of whom were more determined to raise a multi-millionaire sports star than they were to raise a son. I don't blame the kid.
Professionals like Bonds of course are more responsible than kids, but by the same token, they have significant pressures to have to juggle.
Another thing to consider is the evolution of sports and science. Someone is eventually going to develop a natural, healthy way to build body mass and increase stamina, speed, reflexes, etc., in such a manner as contains no or relatively minor harmful side-effects. We have that now, actually, they are called vitamin supplements, but I'm sure there will eventually be other innovations.
Early in the days of steroid use, they were probably considered just that innovation. It was only after the detrimental effects became known that it became an issue. Where the real problem arose, causing it to become a legal and legislative, as well as an ethical and moral issue, was in the continued use and promotion of them after the dangers became all too well known.
So, to be on the safe side, should we not ban the Bowflex? Isn't that an innovation in the realm of exercise? Should we also ban vitamin supplements? Many have tried, and still want to do just that. To be sure, they as well can have negative side-effects, albeit relatively minor ones.
Therefore, again, let's all take a deep breath, and not get too carried away.
