Two nights ago, Barry Bonds hit number 756. Good, now we can talk about football.
I've been a casual baseball fan my whole life. Colorado didn't have a baseball team until the 90's (and some would argue that they still don't!) so I wasn't raised on baseball...and my dad was hardly a baseball fanatic. Growing up we were Broncos football first, CU football second and basketball of any kind third.
So I don't have a lot of energy on the whole topic really. Aaron's number was impressive, as is Bond's. But I'm not really hung up on the whole steroids and cheating thing, not nearly as much as a lot of people.
Bonds shouldn't be marked as the poster child for steroid users. The era was (and still is I believe) loaded with users. MLB didn't even test for it until 2002! Sure there's a lot of heresay and circumstantial evidence, but the bottom line is that he's never tested positive. And yes, he's a bad guy. Bad team mate. Bad father. Bad husband. But damn good baseball player. And all of the Halls of Fame, baseball, football and basketball are loaded with "bad" guys that were terrific, game changing players. And that describes Bonds.
I don't like him though. Not because he's a "cheater"...what's the old line: You're only cheating if you get caught? I don't like him because...I don't like him. I never liked Magic Johnson; terrific basketball player, but I never liked him. Same can be said about Bones: I just don't like him. But would I support his entry into Cooperstown? Not that my vote matters, but I would. I would also put Mac and Sammy in. But not Pete or Palmero...they were caught breaking the "rules" of baseball. You can get in if you break the rules of society, but not the rules of baseball.
So there you have it. My complete and utterly random thoughts on Barry Bonds and his almighty quest for immortality. One last thought: I'd be more impressed by Barry if he were to surpass the record to the level that Babe Ruth (a genuine stud) did. His lifetime HR total: 714, everybody knows that. The guy he beat out in 1930 something? Like 160. Ruth's record beat the previous guy by 500+ home runs. You want me to declare Barry a total mensch? Call me when he hits 1200.....