So Barry Bonds is a cheater

and so is Jason Giambi. They both testified in front of a grand jury and admitted taking steroids. Bonds said he didn't know what he was using contained steroids, but the prosecutors have documents that show otherwise.

no wonder i quit caring about baseball.

discuss.

 

I think the pay scale should reflect their attitude on and off field. Why do they reward criminals, drug addicts, thugs and cheaters with million dollar contracts?

It makes players think they can do anything and get away with it, which is bad for any game or sport.

 

So will Bonds be kicked out of the league, or are ratings more important than ethics?

 

no, but he may be suspended, his contract dropped, his stats removed, and his legacy tarnished. but i doubt any of those will happen, except the asterisk next to his name forever.

 

boycott it all.
No football, baseball, basketball.. it's all corrupt. Don't watch the games, don't go to the games, don't buy tickets for friends..nothing. Let them work regular jobs and see what happens.

 

About what I figured. I don't ever want to hear anybody use "role models" and "sports" in the same sentence again until ALL the pro sports implement zero tolerance rules for their players. No drugs, no felony convictions, no beating on the fans, nothing. If it's worth over a million bucks a year to you, you can keep your nose clean until you retire. Or you can retire right now and learn to say "Want fries with that?". Most of these overage juvenile delinquents aren't fit for ANY real job.

 

Thats awesome. I totally agree.

 

Well, so is government, entertainment, and law-enforcement. Are you going to boycott all these as well?

I agree with the first part. Your last sentence, however, is not entirely true. While there are plenty of bully-type thugs in sports, it is not the majority that are so, and most, especially in baseball, are smart, thinking, caring, family men. Some examples of these types, both currently and in the past are Roberto Clemente, (who the humanitarian award is named after) Jamie Moyer, John Olerud, Jorge Posada, Edgar Martinez, Scott Brosius (retired a few years back because he wanted to spend more time with his family, he still had plenty of baseball left in him) Shawn Green, Orel Hershiser, John Smoltz, Andy Pettitte, Roger Clemens, Cal Ripken Jr., Tony Gwynn (he rejected higher pay from other ball clubs because he felt a loyalty to the Padres) Roger Maris, Lou Gehrig, and many others. The reason you hear about people like Bonds is because of his extraordinary performance, which is due to performance enhancing drugs. Sosa is probably in the same boat, as well as McGwire, Giambi, and others. But there are many sluggers who do not use these things, and don't forget that there is more to baseball then hitting: The pitchers have gotten better. Maybe alot of them use steroids as well. I don't know. The list of jerks, bullys, and losers in baseball is also a long list, and it's also not a new thing: Almost the entire 1919 White Sox team, Ty Cobb, Pete Rose, Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams, Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa, Daryl Strawberry, Jose Canseco, Carl Mays (who had little remorse for the beaning and subsequent death of Indians shortstop Ray Chapman in 1920) John Rocker, Billy Martin, and others.
At any rate, I don't agree with the use of any type of steroid or drug, and I think those found guilty should be banned from baseball. It's worse then throwing a World Series, in my opinion. Fines and shorts suspensions are meaningless.

 

The only role models we should have are the ones that raised us. The rest of em can suck an egg. I don't watch sports and I never will. Not until they lose the ego. If Olympians can do it, so can the rest of the sports world.

Government is corrupt but c'mon eric, asking a question like that is kind of a reach since there is no feasible way to boycott it. Law enforcement is part of the government. Entertainment is a whole other issue. Watching sports can be included in that. I have definately reduced my intake of movies and other entertainment items/events.

I have come to truly despise a certain section of people.

 

I wouldn't recommend a boycott, of sports, or government, or law enforcement (even if we could). Sports don't really care, since most of their revenue is from broadcast, and it's impossible to boycott a government agency. What I recommend, in ALL those categories is a strong public demand for accountability and proper penalties that are consistently enforced.

As far as good examples of sports personalities, yes, they've always been there too. But ex-gang-bangers, druggies, and felons aren't in that category... and THOSE guys generally don't know anything but their game. Getting rid of them may not improve "the game" any, but it would improve their image, and would encourage the kids that want to grow up & be IN the game to stay out of trouble.

 

The most important thing to someone with a lot of money, it seems, is more money.

Why is that? How come Bonds and Giambi will probably get away with it, to prevent baseball taking a costly black eye? If it were up to me, both would be gone forever. What they have done has brought the game into disrepute far more than Pete Rose ever did.

Hockey players are in the process of doing their game a similar amount of damage. I agree with Kodo. To the depths of hell with them all. Watch little league.

 

'Prolly one third to a one half of parent aint any good as role models either, unfortunately. I guess we could always boycott parenthood, at least the over-populaton problem would be solved.

Tell me about it, you're not alone there - Welcome to the real world!

 

Yeah, I know, I was reaching, but I guess my point is that all people are corrupt. If we only look to participate in a group of perfect people, we won't be participating in anything at all.
But, I hear you, and I do understand what you mean, and even if you don't like baseball, I still think you're cool!

 

Yes, that is true, and is not limited to sports figures. In fact, since there are only around 800 professional baseball players, I think that businessmen are far more greedy, since they make alot more, and there are alot more of them. They are oftentimes even more cruel, ruthless, and selfish with what they have and what they want, and what they do to other people to get what they want.

It's called Greed. Common to all mankind. Some in smaller doses, some in larger doses.

I actually think Bud Selig will try to make them pay in a big way. He wants integrity in the game, and is working towards that goal. I agree with you too. They, and all users, should be banned forever. That would actually be a greater preventive to the costly black eye, in my opinion. They have indeed done more damage then Rose did. But he should remain banned as well, I'm sorry to say.

Well, they can't play hockey in Hell, I guess! Yes, little league is still fairly pure, but then ya gotta put up with the silly over zealous parents! Boycott them, like Phantom said!

I just watch baseball to appreciate the incredible skill, dedication, hard work, and consistancy that it takes to perform on such a scale. The "less skilled" players in MLB are still absolutely incredible athletes, and have made it to the Big Leagues with only 700 or 800 players in the League. They are indeed an elite group. They have reason to feel egotistical. But the humble players, they stand out even more, knowing that the talents they possess were given to them by their Creator, and though they have worked hard to develop them, the ultimate glory should go to God. And there are players out there like that, that realize they were dealt a nice hand. Those players see their talent as a gift to be stewarded, honed, and develped, not paraded around as if they had something to do with getting it. Players with big egos may as well brag that they have brown hair, or are 6'2". It's silly. I focus on and applaud the humble players. The players who realize they have an opportunity, not a right, to play baseball. It's because of great players like that that I enjoy the game.

 

I for one, have to give Barry the benefit of the doubt. I do believe his trainer said "Apply some of this creame for you aches and pains". It wasn't as though he was sticking a three or four inch needle into his thigh. Barry is also a great humanitarian, but this is often overlooked, because the sportswriters have already labeled him a bad boy. Just because he dosen't like to talk to the press. Since when, is being humble a bad thing? I hope he beats this rap. He is a giant in baseball and in life. Best of luck Barry!

 

Mrs Bonds, how nice of you to post. How are you today?

 

Good evening Mr.Pewty,
Doing great thank you. Now, your mission, should you decide to accept it,(I know, different movie) is to defend Barry Bonds at all costs. There is a smear campaign currently circulating within the sports world. Primarily in baseball. The commissioner of baseball,coaches, and owners, have had their heads in the sand for so many years, now all of a sudden this is supposed to be earth shattering news? Yes Mr.Pewty, something has run amok in baseball.

$$$$$$$$$$$. Sincerely, Me

aka Mrs.Bonds