Bonds asterisk

[jesusarenque]

The guys on ESPN (who are generally idiots anyway) are debating whether Bonds's records should have an asterisk. I think this is pretty ridiculous. The argument basically is that players in previous generations didn't use steroids, so they didn't have the advantage Bonds does.

But why use this argument now? They also didn't have weight training, personal nutritionists, or video to break down opponents. These things help more than steroids. Let's put an asterisk for those things. While we are at it, Ruth and Walter Johnson and all the old-timers get asterisks too because they didn't have to play against blacks or hispanics.

Let's just put an asterisk next to every name in the record book.

[jakethebake]

The pitchers didn't have steriods either so they offset. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[Popinjay]

Using steroids in baseball is cheating right?

[Sponger15SB]

[ QUOTE ]
Using steroids in baseball is cheating right?

[/ QUOTE ]

not according to people who don't think rationally

[Patrick del Poker Grande]

Personally, I say there shouldnt' be an asterisk - his name should not be in the record books or on any Major League lineup card at all ever again*. This is on the same scale as Pete Rose in my opinion.

* if it is proven that he has used steroids

[jesusarenque]

There wasn't any penalty for using steroids until last year. Using a spitball is cheating too, but pitchers used to do it all the time. Rollie Fingers is in the Hall of Fame because of it. Does he (and all old-time pitchers) get an asterisk?

[Patrick del Poker Grande]

Proven offenses deserve penalty. In my opinion, a ban from baseball is appropriate in an offense of this magnitude, should it be proven that Bonds is using or has used steroids.

[NoChance]

[ QUOTE ]
Personally, I say there shouldnt' be an asterisk - his name should not be in the record books or on any Major League lineup card at all ever again*. This is on the same scale as Pete Rose in my opinion.

* if it is proven that he has used steroids

[/ QUOTE ]

If you want to go this route, then you may as well erase the entire history of MLB and start over. It has been estimated by some that 40-50% of the players have used steroids. That means NONE of the statistics can be valid because who knows if maybe half the pitchers you faced we using??? Or maybe half the batters some of the pitchers were facing were using??? Or maybe some people made some incredible defensive plays because they were using and took base hits against some people more often.

May as well erase history.

[Patrick del Poker Grande]

Key word: estimates

There is no proof in estimates. Conjecture does not proof make. Frankly, if it does end up to be proven that it's this rampant, I will never watch Major League Baseball again and that's not just coming from some semi-fan. I love baseball.

[jesusarenque]

Exactly. Baseball players in all eras have had some sort of advantage over players of different eras. Right now it happens to be steroids. Fifty years from now it will be something else.