NOBLESSE OBLIGE
On August 7, 2007, Barry Lamar Bonds moved his name up the record books. Barry Bonds, with a swing of the bat surpassed one of the greatest Major League Baseball records of all time, the all-time homerun record. This record ranks up there as one of the best records in all of sports history.
Breaking and holding records is something that is not foreign to Barry Bonds. Mr. Bonds currently holds some of baseball’s greatest records, some included, now all-time homerun king, most home runs in a season, most MVP awards, most walks, as well as an array of other amazing feats. The fact is when Bonds finally hangs up the cleats; he will hold the majority of the all time baseball records. On paper, he may rank as the greatest baseball player to ever put on a uniform.
So why is it, that despite all of his amazing achievements, that he will never be known in the public eye as the greatest?
It isn’t his poor attitude, defiant nature, or lack of world series victories. It comes down to whether if in fact, he cheated on baseball, the fans, and himself.
“Since 2003, Bonds has been a key figure in the BALCO scandal, though Bonds has never failed a steroid test. He is also under investigation for perjury by a federal grand jury regarding his testimony in the BALCO case, but he has not been indicted.” (Wikipedia)
"The question is, if a person is considered a Hall of Famer without chemicals but chooses to take them to raise their accomplishments even further, where does that person set in comparison to those who did not?"(AOL Sports)
Should this phenom of a player and genius of a hitter, be shunned for taking a short cut? Is it right for his records to stand up against all the amazing historical greats that he has moved past?
Regardless of his poor media relations and the ethical controversy over cheating, the fans that watch this man, are watching a one-of-a-kind talent. Speculation will continue on whether these records will hold up, but there definfinitely is a mixed level of excitement between watching greatness; and the high level of dissatisfaction, over hearing and seeing the best of our time, take the short cut to legend.
A part of me wants to know why? Why would someone so gifted, choose this fate, a route to unending guilt? A player like Barry does not need to cheat. He is clearly one of the great players in the game's history. One will only guess where this greedy nature turned greatness, into forever, almost the greatest.
Breaking and holding records is something that is not foreign to Barry Bonds. Mr. Bonds currently holds some of baseball’s greatest records, some included, now all-time homerun king, most home runs in a season, most MVP awards, most walks, as well as an array of other amazing feats. The fact is when Bonds finally hangs up the cleats; he will hold the majority of the all time baseball records. On paper, he may rank as the greatest baseball player to ever put on a uniform.
So why is it, that despite all of his amazing achievements, that he will never be known in the public eye as the greatest?
It isn’t his poor attitude, defiant nature, or lack of world series victories. It comes down to whether if in fact, he cheated on baseball, the fans, and himself.
“Since 2003, Bonds has been a key figure in the BALCO scandal, though Bonds has never failed a steroid test. He is also under investigation for perjury by a federal grand jury regarding his testimony in the BALCO case, but he has not been indicted.” (Wikipedia)
"The question is, if a person is considered a Hall of Famer without chemicals but chooses to take them to raise their accomplishments even further, where does that person set in comparison to those who did not?"(AOL Sports)
Should this phenom of a player and genius of a hitter, be shunned for taking a short cut? Is it right for his records to stand up against all the amazing historical greats that he has moved past?
Regardless of his poor media relations and the ethical controversy over cheating, the fans that watch this man, are watching a one-of-a-kind talent. Speculation will continue on whether these records will hold up, but there definfinitely is a mixed level of excitement between watching greatness; and the high level of dissatisfaction, over hearing and seeing the best of our time, take the short cut to legend.
A part of me wants to know why? Why would someone so gifted, choose this fate, a route to unending guilt? A player like Barry does not need to cheat. He is clearly one of the great players in the game's history. One will only guess where this greedy nature turned greatness, into forever, almost the greatest.
posted by Jonathan at 7:51:00 PM
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