How will Bonds be remembered?
I was asked this question on a Dodger forum, and wanted to share my answer here.
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How do I think Bonds will be remembered? I think better than most people are saying now. It also depends on whether or not he gets passed by A-Rod or anyone else any time soon.
The main reason is that the big number (career homers) is the most memorable number in sports. It's a number so important, that it wrongly transcends time... everyone who's been in MLB gets measured against that number regardless of the homer-friendliness of the era. (I should admit that I have predicted before that fans will start to gravitate towards era-adjusted numbers, which is kind of an argument against what I'm saying here.) If Barry's still #1 in 20 years, I expect that the natural inclinations of fans will return, which is number first, circumstances second.
In the long run, I don't see any reason why the steroid era will be viewed any differently than the dead ball era, or a live ball era, or any other pocket. Barry will always be a part of that, maybe even the first example, but he'll be tied to the era, not set apart the way it's happening now. People forget to hate assholes... look at how Ted Williams is revered today. (Ty Cobb is an exception because racism was a big part of it, and that's still a sensitive issue for the world, unfortunately.)
In fact, if the steroid era is viewed differently, I predict it will be even less anomalous. That is, it's entirely possible that performance enhancers are here to stay... that technology will always be one step ahead of Johnny Law, and in fact Bonds' transgressions will stand out even less, being reduced to an early adopter of a permanent change, rather than the King of a limited aberration.
I don't think this is a Giants fan talking, I think this is rational. How does it sound to you guys?
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Re: How will Bonds be remembered?
by Lyle on
Aug 1, 2007 12:36 PM PDT
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Re: How will Bonds be remembered?
by Roger on
Aug 1, 2007 12:47 PM PDT
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Re: How will Bonds be remembered?
by Lyle on
Aug 2, 2007 12:07 PM PDT
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Re: How will Bonds be remembered?
by howtheyscored on
Aug 2, 2007 1:01 PM PDT
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Re: How will Bonds be remembered?
Not that this claim would ever make consensus, but the case will peak when he's #1.
by achiappanza on
Aug 1, 2007 2:36 PM PDT
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Re: How will Bonds be remembered?
by groug on
Aug 1, 2007 12:54 PM PDT
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Re: How will Bonds be remembered?
by Natto on
Aug 1, 2007 12:58 PM PDT
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Re: How will Bonds be remembered?
The home run record will fall eventually, but I'll be shocked if anyone ever manages a .600 OBP again. As the years go by, and newer and better PEDs come and go, it will become clear that no one has ever been better at hitting a baseball than Barry Bonds.
by Evan on
Aug 1, 2007 12:58 PM PDT
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Re: How will Bonds be remembered?
by Roger on
Aug 1, 2007 1:06 PM PDT
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Re: How will Bonds be remembered?
"Awww, but that's not soon enough."
by howtheyscored on
Aug 1, 2007 9:07 PM PDT
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Re: How will Bonds be remembered?
by zenbitz on
Aug 2, 2007 12:44 PM PDT
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Re: How will Bonds be remembered?
by ololo3 on
Aug 1, 2007 1:13 PM PDT
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Re: How will Bonds be remembered?
- An indictment
- A conviction
- An admission and "mea culpa"
- Whether he continues to play even when his skills are gone
- His post-retirement persona
- How hot his mistress looks in the upcoming Playboy spread
by Goofus on
Aug 1, 2007 3:30 PM PDT
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Re: How will Bonds be remembered?
by El Person on
Aug 2, 2007 1:20 PM PDT
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on a Dodger forum?
by Jakespaar on
Aug 1, 2007 3:58 PM PDT
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Re: on a Dodger forum?
The group has hopped a couple boards since, but it's a nice, respectful little community most of the time and I like getting to make points that might be redundant around Giant boards but not so much there. I've actually gone to a few Giants-Dodgers games with these guys here in SF.
by achiappanza on
Aug 1, 2007 5:34 PM PDT
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as a talented 5 tool player who took roids to
by Zitogas84 on
Aug 2, 2007 12:38 PM PDT
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