The asterisk just doesn't apply (THE 2ND MOST CONTROVERSIAL HOME RUN IN BASEBALL HISTORY)

Chicago Sun-Times ^ | August 8, 2007 | CHRIS DE LUCA

[Chi-townChief]

The Sun-Times is going wild with this - the print edition actually has a full-page Barack Hussein Obama on the front cover and a full-page Hank Aaron on the back.

[Puppage]

they can swear that he became a home-run machine through performance-enhancing drugs

Naw, not Barry...

[Chuck54]

And if you are a baseball fan, deep down, you know he deserves it.

You can try and sell that shi* in Peoria or somewhere else, but not here where I reside.

[wagglebee]

The all-time hits leader: Pete Rose, who has been banned by baseball and who was convicted of tax evasion, serving a prison term in Downstate Marion. There isn't a single asterisk next to any of his records -- and Rose committed the game's biggest sin, gambling on baseball.

What Pete Rose did was deplorable; however, there is absolutely no link between his crimes and his record -- betting on the game doesn't help you get a hit.

[GOP_Party_Animal]

I love how the article just blows past the issue:

Critics can hate Bonds, they can swear that he became a home-run machine through performance-enhancing drugs, but they can't erase 756 home runs.

"Yes, maybe he cheated, but he got 756 home runs!"

[Chuck54]

You Deluca........

Not you Chi-town.....

[Old Phone Man]

And if you are a baseball fan, deep down, you know he deserves it.

DUH?

[MBB1984]

Bonds will forever be a cheater in the eyes of public opinion and therefore the record is without merit.

[Vaquero]

Pete should be in the hall of fame....though he should not be allowed to work in the game in any capacity.

[Anonymous Rex]

Amen to that.

[Mr. Jeeves]

It would be one thing if Bonds were a unique case, the lone abuser in an otherwise clean game. If you believe that, you're as naive as Selig now claims he was back in the 1990s.

Looks like most of FR is just as naive as Selig. ;)

Bonds is a classic "other team's bad guy" and he since he's big, black, mean-looking, and plays in "that gay city" too, he must be the only problem. Never mind that many of his home runs were hit off of steroid-fueled pitchers.

[ladtx]

And if you are a baseball fan, deep down, you know he deserves it.

I have yet to talk to a true fan of the game that says he deserves it. The casual fan or sometimes fan may say that, but anyone who has any respect for the game does not.

[stillwaiting]

just check out how many more at bats bonds had compared to ruth and aaron (and aaron to ruth, for that matter)

smaller parks, juiced ball, juiced barry, juiced bat, watered down pitching, tons more at bats....

and what in the world is this continual harping about ruth not having to play against black players????? how does that mean anything?

ruth pitching for five years, thus getting even less at bats, took away a ton more homers from him, in that dead ball era as well....

[Arrowhead1952]

This record is as tainted as the imported food from China.

[bikerman]

Right! and OJ is innocent.

[Just another Joe]

Say what you will about the performance enhancing drugs, it still takes skill and an eye to hit a 95 MPH fastball or make the change to blast a change up.

[wagglebee]

I agree. Rose has been punished for his crime, but his crime did not affect his record. I think part of the problem with Rose is that he is a complete jerk, but that was the case thirty years ago when he was in his glory days. I think Selig should lift Rose’s ban on the condition that Rose sign a statement agreeing to never work in baseball.

[TheBattman]

That is my opinion as well... Pete earned his records - and was a truly great player. He should be acknowledged for that. As has been said, his records are not in any way improved or given the steroid treatment by his crime.

[Gay State Conservative]

Aaron came by his record honestly.Bonds almost certainly didn’t.AFAIK,the record still belongs to Aaron.

[Northern Yankee]

What is this guy drinking?

I guess cheating doesn't count anymore.

This writer ought to talk to Hank Aaron, who refused to associate with Bonds.

Aaron has integrity. Bonds can't even spell it.