Barry Bonds is two home runs away from Hank Aaron’s home run record. He is reviled by many baseball purists convinced by evidence that ranges from the physical – Bonds physique and head have changed quite a bit during his baseball career; traits of potential hormone and steroid use – to the legal – leaked testimony and reports of his steroid use. Wherever he goes he is booed. He is greeted with chants of “Ster-oids, ster-oids, ster-oids.” Even in his own hometown there are many deeply skeptical of him.
But.
But he was voted into the all star game – a fan popularity contest. And the closer he gets to the hallowed home run record, the more people are paying attention. It is almost impossible not to. The home runs he continues to hit nearing the age of 43 are wondrous, gravity-defying shots.
Still, there is this deep tension. Love him? Hate him? Respect him? Admire him?
I can’t help but wonder if part of the anger we direct at him is anger born of our own sinfulness.
Almost everyone knows what it is to cheat, to break the rules.
There are speed limits set aside because they silly.
There are affairs.
There are exemptions on taxes that are a bit generous.
There are expense reports with a few extra dollars.
And that says nothing of the ways people try and get ahead in office politics…to say nothing of political politics.
These are things we all hate about ourselves. They are the lesser angels of our nature – they are our dark side.
I can’t help but wonder if that is why it feels so good to be righteously indignant at someone like Barry Bonds. His cheating seems so blatant, so obvious.
That cheating, if it is real, has already cost him dearly. He will break Aaron’s record. He has already passed Ruth. He will never be Babe. He will never be Hammerin’ Hank. There will be asterisks aplenty – if not in print then in peoples’ minds.
Maybe it is time to give Barry grace for all he might have done – to spend the next few days admiring the beauty of a great accomplishment, to forgive him…and in the process perhaps give ourselves grace for all of our sins as well.
posted July 20, 2007 at 9:40 am
Bonds is the most graceful, hardest-working player in the game and has been for a long time. He’s also something of a mutton-head. I wonder if, rather than grace, it wouldn’t be better if we just looked at heroes as we do our neighbors, at once gifted and broken. I don’t really believe in his home run record but I do believe he’s the best baseball player of my lifetime. And did I mention a mutton-head?
posted July 20, 2007 at 11:16 am
I don’t love of hate Bonds as a player, but I think he is more a positive for baseball than a negative. Has he used steroids? Probably. But I get tired of people laying the entire weight of the steroids scandal on him – they’re simply unwilling to look any further than him to address the issue. They claim to hate cheating so much, but they don’t really want to do anything about it except hate Bonds. Let’s look at the wider problem, have strict rules for testing and strong punishments for cheating – but for EVERYBODY.
That said, if steroids is MLB’s biggest scandal, they’re better off then other sports. Take NFL: felony indictments seem like a dime a dozen these days, whether its dogfighting or getting caught with an arsenal in your house large enough to equip the military of a small country.
posted July 20, 2007 at 3:58 pm
for all sport figures who think that by cheating (no matter what it is) gets them farther in the game, they’re so wrong. It may bring attention for the moment. Sports figures better start thinking about the children and young adults who idolize them and portray a good and clean example.
I’d rather receive attention for the good I do rather than the trouble I can cause. It’s all about the money now these days.
The older generation of sports figures played because of the love of the sport and their records should be held in a higher degree then the records being set now. There should be three catagories: The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly.
posted July 20, 2007 at 4:52 pm
Certainly, if Barry Bonds were perceived as a nice guy, his road to forgiveness would be easier. After all, Pete Rose always had loads of fans who defended him to the hilt because they LIKED him. Sure, Rose was a phony, but he spent years charming the fans and the media, and that’s why he had so many people in his corner, willing to overlook his crimes.
But Barry Bonds is different. He’s not a nice guy, and even his biggest fans will never pretend he is.
Barry Bonds doesn’t care about other people, and never has. He has no friends on his own team, just as he never had any in Pittsburgh or at Arizona State (where his teammates voted almost UNANIMOUSLY to kick him off the team, but were overruled by their coach). He doesn’t care whether you like him or whether you forgive him.
The ONLY point I’ll make in Barry’s favor is this: he’s far from the only player who cheated, so it makes little sense to obsess over his crimes in particular.
But if I were Bud Selig, I’d announce, “I don’t know when Barry will break the home run record, but I’m pretty sure I have a pressing engagement that night. Maybe I’ll be out having dinner with Hank Aaron, the REAL home run king.”
posted July 20, 2007 at 6:52 pm
When will white america finally have enough integrity to admit what is truly in their hearts. In this example of how we love or hate our sports heroes, RACE obviously plays a role in the fact that 95% or more of the hatred geared towards Barry Bonds is from WHITE PEOPLE!!!! Sure, they can hide behind the easy excuse that Bonds is a jerk, and that he doesn’t give the media what they want. But what do they want? Do they just want a few quotes and an interview here and there? Do they want rather for Bonds and every other mega-rich black athlete to act like Shaq (who white people belove) because he puts on a minstrel show in how he as a 7 foot giant belittles himself by joking and jiving for white people. Here are two facts: no proof that Bonds took steroids/performance enhancement drugs; no proof Lance Armstrong took steroids/performance enhancement drugs. Yet one is boxed into a box of arrogant cheat yet the other has the opportunity to be seen in many lights not just within his sport (all positive) without negative criticism.
The larger issue in my eyes is the pure hatred white america has for mega rich black athletes who don’t act the way they want to act, and when they actually slip and make a mistake how they use the media to go at them hard and destroy their names and reputations. ESPN and all of sport’s talk radio would have me believe that all jerks and those getting arrested in sports are black. Look at how so many people want Michael Vick to be suspended? For what? He has been indicted yes and because of that his life and livelihood must end. What happens if he is acquitted of the charges? Can we magically go back and let him play in the season and give him his dignity back? That is the main issue behind why the NBA has suffered in ratings. No white superstar or undeniable megastar like Jordan and the casual white fan won’t watch being scared by “thug” players with tattoos and who rape white women.
Discover integrity and admit the truth that is in your heart.
posted July 21, 2007 at 12:14 am
How is an average outfielder hailed as the anything even coming close to one of the best baseball players of all time?
Bonds is a great hitter. But he hasn’t been a good player in over a decade.
And since two wrongs don’t make a right, neither do twenty wrongs make a right. The “sinners” booing Bonds are what a courtroom would call expert witnesses. Bonds is rightly booed.
And certainly Bonds and his ego infested home run endeavor, could never equal what Henry Aaron accomplished. Bonds’ boos are not .30 caliber threats. Players are choosing not to sit next to Bonds because he is a jerk, not because they could be shot “too.”
Hank Aaron is a true American hero. Barry Bonds is just a hitter.
Aaron is everything a father would want in a son. He is what every man would hope to be like. Now, granted, Aaron is no Willy Mays, in baseball excellence, but no one can is. But Aaron rose to an occasion and faced real danger doing so.
Bonds has a right to hit homeruns, but let’s all put what he is doing in perspective.
posted July 21, 2007 at 6:55 am
Whatabout Oh,from Japan! He hit over 800 home runs in his career. He should be the home run king
posted July 21, 2007 at 3:30 pm
Man does not have grace to give. A lot of people who love sports want the players to be perfect, and they aren’t perfect themselves. There is not one of us who has not tried to gain some type of advantage on another person. Sports is a god in this country, and as long as the media is the feeder to the people er sheeple, we will do and believe whatever they say. bah bah
posted July 22, 2007 at 5:22 am
It’s still a game for, by, and about 8- to 12-year old boys. Somehow, all the standards and technical rationalizations and gimmickries of grown men don’t really belong in the game- though we pretend that they do most of the time.
Barry Bonds shows us what pro baseball is now, and it isn’t what we come to the ballpark to see and be reminded of.
posted July 22, 2007 at 9:58 am
i can’t believe i am reading discussions about salvation, incarnation, deity, etc., etc, etc. and i look to the side of the page, “what about Barry Bonds?” most emailed article…this makes me laugh.
posted July 22, 2007 at 7:45 pm
Why should Barry Bonds be forgiven ? He chose to use drugs to be the best baseball player. That’s his way. He wants to be the best so bad that he uses performance enhancing drugs to do so. God gives everyone a choice. Drugs is his choice. Do I forgive him ? There is nothing to forgive. Do I pray for him to come out of hiding behind the devil and tell the world the truth ? You bet. He needs prayer not forgiveness. He didn’t do anything personal to me. He just scarred my favorite sport. God please help Mr. Bonds see the error of his ways.
posted July 23, 2007 at 12:53 pm
No matter how we feel about him, Barry Bonds is innocent until proven guilty. For that reason, I find myself on the bankwagon applauding his efforts to break the current home run record. We need to be careful about judging others when we don’t have sufficient evidence.
posted July 23, 2007 at 2:04 pm
Barry Bomds was proven guilty. Case closed. Any home runs he hits are not legitimate. Just like Tyson bitting off a guys ear and still being allowed to box. So goes it with Barry Bonds. As long as there is money to be made off someone then people turn a blind eye to stark realities, like Barry Bonds should be kicked out of the hall of fame and his record tossed in the waste can!
posted July 23, 2007 at 11:42 pm
How much of the allegations against Barry have been proven? Any? None? Ultimately if he breaks the rules then it is up to the league to find out and toss him out or punish him in whatever way they see fit. Yes, it is disgraceful but I think the anger sent at him shows how much people put too much value or worth on things that “really don’t matter”.
I’d show more concern for homeless people than whether or not Bonds is cheating…
posted July 23, 2007 at 11:51 pm
I think we all have sinned and come short of God’s glory. Forgive and you will be forgiven.I believe Barry Bonds has done an excellent job on the baseball field.What I don’t believe is the fact that we want to be forgiven and don’t want to forgive others.Keep up the good work Barry!
posted July 24, 2007 at 10:13 am
People are just showing their true colors, and most of these people are white christian males(which does not suprise me). This country is full of hate and evil and there is not even one thing that is godly about this hateful place. How could you even hate someone over a game?
posted July 24, 2007 at 2:36 pm
Why does it matter if Barry Bonds did it when so many others did it as well. If you want to be against steroid use talk to the MLB company and tell them to suspend half of the baseball players today. Then we’ll see how fun it is to watch them play. Get over it already. The same people booing him and talking smack are the same ones watching and taking pictures. I just dont get it.
posted July 24, 2007 at 3:07 pm
I say all who is without sin cast the first stone. How jealous can people be. Save your hate for your self,leave Barry alone, GO BARRY WE WISH YOU LOVE.
posted July 24, 2007 at 5:38 pm
Are there any white people out there. Why does every issue about an African American have to be about racism. God created all men equally. Why can”t all African Americans Have an open mind ? The ones who think all other ethnics are all racists need to look in the mirror. Are you that insecure about yourselves. I, as a white catholic, was brought up to love all of God’s people. Why can’t you.
posted July 24, 2007 at 11:43 pm
I am so tired of this already, it is not because he is color. It is because he cheated plain and simple. Cheated did you get this. Did not play by the rules.
posted July 25, 2007 at 3:48 pm
No way, Barry Boggs does not deserve to be given that award. What are we telling our children? It’s ok to be dishonest. So, he got caught but it’s ok. Hank Arron and the Babe worked very hard under extreme circumstances to obtain the records they did, and Boggs, using steroids,obtains the same record and it’s ok. No way, Jose. Color, did I hear someone say color? what the heck does that have to do with anything?
posted July 27, 2007 at 9:06 am
Sports are a cultural metaphor for social values. Society in many ways is a competetive game based on rules or social norms. People like sports because they sum up ways we believe people ought to properly behave in the course of the game of life.
We should play by the rules, win fair and square, etc…
Not only on the metaphorical playing fields of our leisurely dreams…the baseball diamond reflects our ideal vision of social harmony and respect…
Bonds violates our aesthetic sense and our ethical sense, and you know what? In my opinion more people adhere to more rules in the right way as they play the game of life than get ahead by breaking them…
Therefore I understand and agree with the distaste for Bonds and his pseudo accomplishment…
Sorry I do not buy into the we are all no good so lighten up on Barry self loathing perspective.
posted August 5, 2007 at 9:19 pm
I agree with Kevin – we can’t ignore the race angle. Look at the news pictures of people holding asterisk signs, and see if you can find someone who isn’t white. Kevin is right – we didn’t hold Lance Armstrong, or Floyd Landis, to the same standard that we are applying to Barry Bonds. So many people are calling Barry a cheater, but the truth is that ‘cheating’ means breaking the rules, and there were no rules against his alleged infractions. Are the people who want an asterisk next to his record also going to insist on an asterisk next to the names of every pitcher he ever faced? How many of them were juiced? Way more than Hank Aaron, or Babe Ruth, ever faced. So, in my book his record is real – he faced the best his era had to offer, under the same conditions they did.
The more interesting question is, how long will it take until A-Rod breaks Barry’s record? Because sure as sunrise, it’s going to happen, probably in 2014, and this ridiculous controversy will be relegated to the history books.
posted August 9, 2007 at 9:05 pm
I agree that grace and forgiveness should be extended, and that we should be willing to forgive. Particularly, those of us whose sins have already been forgiven through faith in Jesus Christ. However, there is a small problem with this blog, and one we should not ignore. Barry Bonds hasn’t asked for forgiveness nor has he confessed his sin. We should be willing to forgive, but the actual granting of forgiveness requires that it be asked for. And, if the evidence proves that Bonds is guilty? He may certainly ask for forgiveness but it still won’t remove the tarnish from the record.