A Fan Speaks Out

March 26, 2006

There’s No Saving Bonds

With the recent release of the book documenting Barry Bond’s shadowy workout regimen, I can’t help but put in my two cents on this matter.

Luckily I’m downing Starbucks doubleshots as I write this to keep me awake and allow me to complete this task.  I don’t think the shots of caffeine are going to affect my writing ability or elevate me to the level of a Hemingway. 

Barry Bonds’ talk dominated the airwaves of sports radio and has given sports columnists more than their fill of ammo to discuss whether he should be punished and if his records should remain intact in the record books.  While it’s admirable that the media is now debating whether he’s a cheat and what should be done with him, I would like to know where they were when his head grew to the size of a float in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade: Sitting idly by ignoring the obvious rather than coming out questioning the likes of Bonds, McGwire, Sosa and their ilk while trumpeting their accomplishments. 

Didn’t it occur to anyone that when 5’9” second baseman are hitting opposite field homers on a regular basis while all-time greats like Mays, Aaron, Banks, rarely reached the seats to the opposite field that something was drastically wrong?  I know there were amphetamines around in those times and the ‘greenies’ were supposed to work wonders in those dog days of August, but aside from keeping the player alert, did it give him an advantage where he could hit the ball harder and further?  I don’t think so and anyone who says anything different is full of Red Bull. 

I’ve talked to different writers and the excuse for casting a blind eye to the goings on was because it wasn’t against the rules of baseball.  I guess being against the law in this country really doesn’t matter then because if baseball said it was okay, then it’s okay. 

What really bothers me about this is what it does to the players from previous generations and their legacy.  Baseball more than any other is a game of history.  Its past is a huge part of what made it the national pastime.  If the numbers these cyborgs are putting up is making a mockery of the sport, isn’t it time to acknowledge what really went on and strike this whole era from the record books?  People say you can’t do that and you’re hurting the innocent players.  The problem with that thinking is that you don’t know anymore who the innocent players are.  Everybody’s guilty by association, whether they used the drugs or kept their mouths shut about those that did.  Because this has cast a shadow on the credibility of everyone and that’s not fair to those that are innocent. 

As for Bonds and what’s going to happen to him, I’m guessing nothing.  Commissioner Bud Selig said he’s not going to make any statement until he reads the book.  I can’t wait for his review.  If Selig stands up at the plate like Bonds dressed in his armor and takes a walk instead of swinging away, baseball will have struck out. 

SportzNutz Columnist Darrell Horwitz isn’t shy when it comes to “A Fan Speaking Out”… he holds nothing back and tells it like it is, from a fan’s perspective.  A Chicago native, Darrell is a lifelong Cubs and Bulls fan. Along with his “A Fan Speaks Out” column, Darrell is the fan writer for the Chicago Cubs, here on SportzNutz.  If you have any comments or questions, please feel free to email Darrell at darrell.horwitz@nutzworld.net