[Tournament] 2007 MLB Discussion Thread

Originally Posted by Night Phoenix

It's not what you know or believe, but what you can prove.

Until someone shows incontrovertible proof that Barry Bonds used performance-enhancing drugs that were illegal, then the lot of you screaming foul are just hating.

It's not hating, NP. It's disappointment and a bit of disgust over the circular parade of shame that looms over professional sportsmen these days.

Breaking Hank Aaron's record should be a time for celebration and awe. Records should be broken. People should strive for the glory.

But even if it cannot be proven, and even if the legality of the matter is grandfather claused into mootness, the realistic potential for steroid abuse having been a factor in Bonds' achievement places a heavy damper upon the event. We want these records to be pure, to know that it was a marvel of human nature and perseverence that enabled the dream to come alive. These men become as superhumans, the stuff of legends. We shouldn't have to wonder if it was possible only because of drugs, drugs that could elevate any common man into an athletic behemoth. It takes the majesty out of the man and out of the feat.

And even if it was just one isolated suspicion, we could probably move on, we could tell ourselves it's just the embittered snipings of anti-patriots - after all, tarnishing a living legend of the national pasttime is tantamount to spitting on the American flag, right?

But Bonds is only one of numerous players suspected of using steroids. And steroid abuse is only one of numerous criminal charges looming over professional sportsmen. Sociopathic violence, illegal gambling, animal abuse, domestic abuse, alcoholism, narcotics possessions, weapons possessions, possible attempted murders, these issues have hung like dark clouds over nearly every major American sport. And that's not to mention the legal, yet shameful, primadonna behaviors exhibited by many players.

Our athletes used to be heroes! Now what are they? Thugs, criminals and poor role models for the kids who want to someday play in their shoes.

So when a monumentous occasion like Hank Aaron's record being broken comes along, we want to be overjoyed. We want to herald a victory. We want to embrace a new hero.

But...we can't. Because we know that the victory may have been dishonest. That's upsetting and we have a right to be upset. What the hell happened to our heroes? When did it become all about the money? When did selling your soul become the only path to glory?

No, it's not hate. Don't even mistake it as such. We're just disillusioned, and that looks down a far longer road to recovery.

Most amazing jew boots