Write On Sports LLC - "Biggest record in sports history falls" by Tyler Clifton

Biggest record in sports history falls

2007-08-08 21:23:52 | By: Tyler Clifton

The most hallowed record in Major League Baseball and all of sports as we know it was broken close to 11 p.m. Central Time Tuesday night, when Barry Bonds broke Henry Aaron’s career home run record. It was a bittersweet moment to say the least, and it should be enjoyed. We must let the grand jury testimony come to the forefront before judging Bonds. If Aaron’s videoboard message didn’t strike a chord with Bonds himself, then there’s nothing anyone else can do. There must be concrete evidence for this record to be tainted.

Some have already implicated Mr. Bonds (including myself to some degree), but it’s wrong. Even though he admitted to unknowingly using a cream, he has yet to be officially proven guilty.

Greg Anderson is in jail for refusing to testify to a grand jury about his dealings with Bonds. Let’s hope he had a television in his cell so he didn’t miss history.

What bothers me is Bonds’ relationship with the media, and it’s a big reason why more people (especially in my profession) don’t give him the benefit of the doubt.

Athletes don’t have to or shouldn’t be our best friends, but Bonds’ total lack of respect for the game and those around it is a shame. It’s a big reason I personally would have enjoyed someone such as Ken Griffey Jr. breaking the record. It’s a shame he missed so many games. That said, I would vote Bonds for the Hall of Fame unless it is proven beyond a doubt he cheated. He was such a fine player in the beginning with MVP awards. His head might be bigger (literally and figuratively), but Bonds still had to hit the ball. That said, 73 home runs in a single season does throw up a red flag, as did 70 and 66 in the Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa chase of 1998.

That was the time many feel Bonds began his personal “regimen”, because he didn’t get the “respect” he felt he deserved. McGwire and Sosa were stealing the limelight from Barry’s world, and they could be guilty too. Only time will tell.

One bright spot was the absence of commissioner Bud Selig, who should be blamed for the entire steroid situation.

The man didn’t do one thing when the steroid issue first came to light in the 1990s. He allowed the All-Star game to be tied, allowed the winning league to gain homefield advantage in the World Series and continues to overkill interleague play among other things.

Mr. Selig, after your reaction when Bonds tied Aaron’s record, I wondered why you were there in the first place. The man looked like someone had just punched him in the stomach and stole his lunch money. It’s obvious where he stands on this issue, and I hope he can sleep at night knowing he let things go when any doubts could possibly have been erased if he simply policed the game better.

As far as Bonds is concerned, let him enjoy his moment and soak it all in, because the truth will come out sooner or later. Bonds will carry this to his grave whether he is guilty or not of any wrongdoing. We all must let nature take its course.