Shouldn't that be "714*"?

Blah blah blah, [the insufferable] Barry Bonds purportedly ties Babe Ruth's second-place all-time home run record, and is "poised" to catch up to the incomparable Hank Aaron's 755, they say. First of all, Babe Ruth hit 714 career home runs fueled by fried chicken and bathtub gin, so far from the "protein shakes", "B-12 shots" and steroids that have enhanced Bonds' career, it's an insult to the Babe's memory to discuss Barry in the same breath. Second, don't the record books have an asterisk designation when records are tainted just as Bonds' is, by the aforementioned performance enhancers or whatnot?




"It's a pretty unbelievable thing," Astros reliever Brad Lidge said in Houston, "No matter what kind of controversy surrounds him and no matter what side of the fence you are on as far as what he did or didn't do with performance-enhancing drugs, you've got to admit that it's a pretty impressive number."

No, actually, Brad, it's not such an impressive number, when you in fact take into account what he did do with performance-enhancing drugs. It's not like that aspect of his athletic performance is either insignificant or immaterial. What feats would he have performed without BalCo's help? We have no way of knowing, although I think we can guess he'd have been a better-than-average but not-nearly-so-spectacular baseball player, and likely one whose career would have ended 5 years sooner.

It's just not the same, people, any way you look at it. Barry's "achievement" is one of chemistry over sweat, because who knows what he would have done had he not spent the better part of 7 or 8 years amped up on human growth hormone (hGH), Depo-Testosterone, insulin, Clomid, or whatever made his muscles (and ego) so big and his numbers so high. He should be ashamed to see his name up with the greats, his godfather included.

"I still remember Barry Bonds as a great player, regardless of steroids or what," Yankees manager Joe Torre said. "How many home runs would he have hit without whatever people are saying is going on? I don't know. I know one thing: That player-wise, he's pretty good."

Yeah, Joe, but "pretty good" sure as hell isn't in the same league as Babe Ruth or Hank Aaron, is it? On the other hand, I guess you'll want Jason Giambi accorded the same degree of respect should he ever attain a similar pinnacle, so maybe you really don't care about the cheating. Ick.