Because everyone now believes that steroids gave him the power to slam most of those home runs, he deserved to be greeted with jeers; and
Because his 714th home run was only good enough to tie the second-rate achievement of the over-celebrated Babe Ruth, it deserved to be greeted with yawns.
No feature in modern sports elicits (and warrants) such mixed emotions as Bonds’s quest to become the home-run king of Baseball. And, alas, no Baseball player exhibits more unappealing traits, which make fans loath to celebrate him as king, than Barry Bonds.
Nonetheless, as I wrote in this previous article, despite his (probable) use of steroids, Bonds deserves to be recognized as Baseball’s most valuable player and appreciated as the one most likely to dethrone the reigning home-run king, Hank Aaron. After all, if all players suspected of steroid use were similarly pilloried and summarily discredited, there would be few notable players left in the game deserving of cheers.
Of course, I hasten to clarify that this objective regard for Bonds’s professional talents and accomplishments as a player must be distinguished from one’s subjective regard for his personal traits and shortcomings as a role model. Because, as I readily conceded in this previous article, Bonds – off the field – is a major-league jerk. But that has nothing to do with the respect he has earned and deserves on the field.
NOTE: A friend asked why, if I’m not bothered by his suspected use of steroids, I was so blasé about Bonds hitting his 714th home run on Saturday. And I think it’s worth sharing with you what I told him:
The most hallowed record in Baseball is Hank Aaron’s 755 home runs. Therefore, I see no reason to get worked up about Bonds matching or surpassing Babe’s 714, when it’s Hank who is king. Just as I imagine no real fan saw any reason to get worked up when Pete Rose matched and surpassed Wee Willie Keeler’s 44-game hitting streak, since Joe DiMaggio held (and still holds) the record at 56 games.
ENDNOTE: Because he has become so notoriously unlikable, even if Bonds eventually breaks Hank’s home run record, I doubt anyone will ever be willing to pay the equivalent of $195,000.00 for his jersey – the amount someone paid for DiMaggio’s, ironically, also on Saturday at an auction of his memorabilia.
Babe Ruth, Barry Bonds, home run record
Dave says
As a die-hard baseball fan thank you for putting this steroids crap into perspective. It’s easy to pick on Bonds but the guy is the most exciting biggest money making draw in the game. People should shut and enjoy his chase of Aaron’s record.
Michelle says
Hi Anthony
My husband totally disagrees with you on this. He thinks it’s unfair to Babe Ruth for Barry to be considered his equal since Ruth never took steroids. I understand your point but we think it sets a bad example for kids who we’re trying to teach that cheaters never prosper.
JJ says
i never thought about it like that but you right. why they making so much noise about the guy now being tied for second place. most people probably don’t even know who hank aaron is with all of the hype on ruth. let him get to 754 then we’ll talk!!!