I took a couple of days to finally speak about this because it bothered me. Bob Costas spoke the day after Bonds’ career 756th home run on ESPN Radio’s Mike & Mike in the Morning. He stated that the record was no longer what it was before, now it is simply a number. Despite whether or not Barry Bonds is ever suspended from baseball for life this record will stand until someone else breaks it. But I am tired of hearing about Barry Bonds and the record. If someone comes upon Pete Roses’ career hits record will they receive the attention Barry has received?
When Hank Aaron hit career home run 715 he broke a record that had stood since 1921 when Babe Ruth hit career home run 138 breaking Roger Connor’s home run mark set in the 1890′s. These men consistently hit home runs throughout their career, and they did it naturally. Barry Bonds never hit more than 46 home runs in a season before he he 49 and 73 in 2000 and 2001 respectfully. Bonds went from being average size to body builder size within a year. He should never have been given the chance to get to this record.
Those who say that there was no rule to be broken prior to a couple of seasons to go need a history lesson. In 1921 commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis banned for life eight men who had allegedly thrown the 1919 World Series despite being cleared of all charges by a Federal Grand Jury. There was no rule against gambling on baseball or throwing a game. They were randomly tossed out of the game to be an example for future generations. When people who say Bonds never broke a rule are trying to make an excuse for him. Bonds was a hall of famer long before he broken Hank Aaron’s home run record of 755. If it comes out that Bonds did take steroids I hope that Acting Commissioner Selig has the balls to ban Barry Lamar Bonds for life. This record will be tainted until someone breaks it that is not under a cloud of suspicion.
The record was broken. The day Hank Aaron surpassed Babe Ruth the record was bound to be broken. We did not need to go into such celebration when Barry Bonds hit home run number 756.
