AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2007 > August > 04 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USLong live the king: Henry Louis Aaron
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Terence Moore
The world hasn’t stopped spinning, but it sure feels like it. After 33 years as the sole owner of 755 home runs, Hank Aaron, the people’s choice, is sharing the most glorious number in sports with Barry Bonds, few of the people’s choice.
Let’s pause for a moment of prayer. Maybe when we open our eyes, this will all go away. Maybe we’ll discover this was only a mirage. Maybe this was created by the baseball demons. Maybe they want us to believe Bonds really wasn’t juiced during the past decade or so while he sprinted to within another blast of becoming the all-time home run king.
To the chagrin of those who love truth, justice and royalty not being attained by athletes through artificially inflated means, Bonds will wear the crown by himself when he slams No. 756.
Well, officially.
Unofficially, the king isn’t dead. Long live the king, and his name is Henry Louis Aaron, the classy icon who used only adrenaline to slay Babe Ruth’s previously magical “714” in 1974 at old Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. Aaron kept ignoring the hate mail and the death threats that were as prevalent during his Ruth chase as the fastballs and the change-ups. His walk with dignity - no matter what - gained even the bigots’ respect. Then Aaron spent his final two seasons ripping enough home runs to make “755” baseball’s new magical number, supposedly for the ages.
So you know what that means? We must be in the final days, because Bonds is threatening to reach the upper 700s in homers and beyond. He is 43, with a slew of aches and pains, but he says retirement isn’t in his immediate vocabulary. He could leave the San Francisco Giants for the American League, where he could become a designated hitter. A relatively healthy Bonds as a DH could reach the lower 800s, but sports psychologist Harry Edwards had it exactly right when he mentioned in May that “755” and its original owner always will remain the standard bearers.
All Bonds will do is become the record-holder. Nothing more, not since he is closer to chilly and indifferent than warm and cuddly. Worse, he is forever tainted in the minds of many as the poster child for baseball’s steroids era.
Aaron prefers not to discuss Bonds’ ongoing milestones beyond a prepared statement, and the standard bearer didn’t return messages Saturday night. Still, Aaron told me several months ago that, even though he isn’t “bosom buddies” with Bonds, he isn’t convinced baseball’s gigantic cloud of suspicion involving steroids should hang over the gigantic head of Bonds. If you believe leaked grand jury testimony from the BALCO investigation, it’s a gigantic head of Bonds that has kept expanding over the years from performance-enhancing drugs - especially since he spent his early years in Pittsburgh as a sleek line-drive hitter with normal dimensions.
“Listen, I’d be wrong as heck to sit back here and point a finger and say whether or not my record or anybody else’s would be tainted by somebody,” Aaron told me back then. “It’s kind of up to Barry to do his own thing, and he hasn’t admitted to anything. If he did something wrong, then he’s the one who is going to have to pay for it. So, really, to be honest, I’m out of it.”
Actually, Aaron is still in it, but in a wonderful way. Whenever those among the public hear Bonds’ name, either positively or negatively, they usually hear Aaron’s name soon afterward. Not only that, when Aaron’s name does surface during conversations involving Bonds, Aaron’s name often is surrounded by implied hugs and kisses. In fact, Bonds once told me with a smile at his locker at San Francisco’s AT&T Park, “I’m helping to keep Hank’s name out there.”
That’s nice of Bonds, but Aaron really doesn’t need his help. For 23 Hall of Fame seasons without the hint of scandal, the eternal king of home-run kings helped himself, thank you.
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By Colorado Bulldog
August 4, 2007 11:30 PM | Link to this
As a young boy, my hero was Aaron. I went to games hoping he would hit on out. I didn’t understand the racism. I was white and he was black but it didn’t matter to me; he was the greatest. Bonds couldn’t hold his jockstrap.
By ernie logman
August 4, 2007 11:35 PM | Link to this
brry bnds is a disgrace to the game of baseball
Bud Selig should have banned him
Let us all now root for Alex Rodriguez to break this TAINTED record. Arod is at 500 and 6-8 seasons this steroid induced record will be GONE
By NASCARfan
August 4, 2007 11:37 PM | Link to this
Moore, I don’t like you.
But we agree on this.
Bonds breaking this wonderful, charitable man’s record, besmirching Aaron’s legacy… is almost enough to make a grown man cry out of frustration and anger.
I hate baseball.
By Jon
August 4, 2007 11:41 PM | Link to this
Hank Aaron is a bum, God bless Bonds.
By David
August 4, 2007 11:43 PM | Link to this
I am so happy that Bonds has broken the record. Hank is an old man who is p** off that his home run record is no more.
By David
August 4, 2007 11:47 PM | Link to this
Sorry about that, I should have put Hank is angry about the record.
By JESSIE
August 4, 2007 11:50 PM | Link to this
Is Barry Bonds the only active player to be suspect of steriods use? He must be because no other name is hardly ever mentioned. So, only if you are breaking records is suspected steriods use wrong ? Enough alredsy BARRY BONDS is the best player ever and the most hated. Ty Cobb must be rolling in his grave.
By David
August 4, 2007 11:56 PM | Link to this
The funny thing about baseball is that NO ONE talks about the cheaters that are already in the hall of fame.
By Grace
August 5, 2007 12:03 AM | Link to this
GO A-ROD!! Whatever B2 does is meaningless. No, we don’t have to like someone to respect their achievements. Their achievements. B2 is a cheater and an oversized brat.
Hank Aaron? Now there’s a hero. His multiple outstanding achievements are something B2 can’t conceive nor achieve.
What a disgrace.
By Terry
August 5, 2007 12:04 AM | Link to this
Congradulations Barry. As for the BS, records are made to be broken. Barry is going to do it. Plain and simple. Aaron should remember that he too was a target durning his run.
By TonyG
August 5, 2007 12:12 AM | Link to this
I agree with Colorado Bulldog. I am a white 49 year old male who was one of Hank’s biggest fans. Hank will always be the best to me no matter what steroid head does. I haven’t watched a pro-baseball game since that bunch of spoiled millionaires went on strike in 1994. Today’s ballplayers wouldn’t make a wart on the ballplayers of the 60’s 70’s or 80’s a—.
By Jedi Falcon
August 5, 2007 12:16 AM | Link to this
Baseball sucks anyway.
By bubba4ball
August 5, 2007 12:22 AM | Link to this
Some people are just stupid. I heard on a radio talk show that people were ashame of Aaron for not supporting Bonds, but Hank said the moment should be for Barry and his family. Because of the turmoil he went through along with his family, Bonds should enjoy that moment. How can someone that loves baseball be ashamed of the Hammer!!!!!!!!!????????
By Samuel
August 5, 2007 12:27 AM | Link to this
Terrance,
You’re the biggest sellout since Clarence Thomas. Just what we need a Black man who perpetuates Bullsh_t so that a man who has been proven guilty of nothing continues to receive slander, hate mail and death threats. You the ultimate Tom. You make Stepin Fetchit look like Malcolm X.
By 2 Can Play That Game
August 5, 2007 12:27 AM | Link to this
I concur with Jessie, is Barry the only one suspected of steroid use? terrence (I purposely printed your name in lower case because you aren’t deserving of capital letters), you’re a punk! Unlike Vick, who’s been indicted, Barry has never even tested positive, let alone indicted! So until there is proof, or the gubment has a case in which to take to trial, shut the hell up and keep your personal feelings to yourself.
By TechWreck
August 5, 2007 12:29 AM | Link to this
If Bonds weren’t a grade-A a-hole with an unwarranted chip on his shoulder, people wouldn’t care as much that his head grew two full hat sizes in one off-season.
By myconju
August 5, 2007 12:45 AM | Link to this
Congrats to Barry Bonds!! Aaron was great, but records are made to be broken. Next in line is A-Rod. Good luck!!!
By Sondra Walker
August 5, 2007 12:45 AM | Link to this
Terence, you need to quit. Maybe it makes you feel good to continue to demonize Barry Bonds but he does a better job at what he does than you do at yours. You act like you’ve seen him do some evil deed when you haven’t and he just keeps on being the best ball player he can be and he ignores all you whiners. Hank Aaron was good and he had his time, now it’s Barry time and just accept it and shut up already.
By myconju
August 5, 2007 1:06 AM | Link to this
I didn’t see the babe except in pics, but Aaron, Bonds, and Rodriguez are the best looking men in baseball.
By Russell Mondy
August 5, 2007 1:06 AM | Link to this
7 time MVP. 755 hrs. 514 stolen bases. .298 batting average. 2912 hits. 8 Gold Gloves. .607 slugging pct. Bonds is the greatest there ever was. He must’ve shined Terence on at some point and he continues to hold it against him. Hank Aaron is a great man. There isn’t any disputing that. But a better career player just tied his home run record.
By Derrick
August 5, 2007 1:13 AM | Link to this
Atlantans and Terence, quit your whining! For better or worse, whether you like it or not, Barry is the NEW home run king.
These are the facts: 1. Barry has never tested positive for ‘roids.
Barry has not been indicted for ‘roid use.
The most important point: even if he did use ‘roids, it was NOT AGAINST THE RULES. That’s right, although it is banned by baseball now, there was no rule in place a few years ago that said that steroids were illegal. Therefore, he did NOT cheat!
I can hear you argue that others didn’t use roids, and if Barry did, he had an advantage and therefore cheated.
WRONG!
It wasn’t against the rules, period. If others in the majors chose not to juice up, that’s their prerogative, but it would have been fine if they did. People look for an advantage all the time, whether it’s a lighter shoe, a better alloy on the bat, a slicker swimsuit, or tacky receiver gloves. None of those are illegal in their respective sports. Neither were steroids in baseball at the time.
Okay, so the man is a first-class A-hole. Big frickin’ deal. He has always been a great hitter, and has one of the most powerful and fluid swings I’ve ever seen. Besides, injecting ‘roids does not automatically make you a better or stronger hitter. See Canseco, Ozzie. You still need the technique, skill, and talent to drive the ball, and Barry has always had it.
I’m so tired of Atlanta and the AJC saying that the home run record will always be Hank’s, no matter what Barry does. Let it go already! This is exactly why Atlanta is the worst pro sports town in America. You have one record and have to hold on to it for dear life regardless of what happens in the real world.
A pathetic sports town with pathetic franchises and pathetic attendance.
Barry Bonds is the home run king…sorry Hank! Now show some class and acknowledge the record.
By Anjie
August 5, 2007 1:24 AM | Link to this
Everyone makes a great point…you all do , but the bottom line is…What will Bonds be remembered as? He will be remembered by alot of fans as the juiced up guy who broke Hank’s record. Bonds may be a better player but in alot of people’s minds…he is a worse human being. Wait…I take that back…is Bonds really a better player or just a juiced up one? See…the questions will never stop.
By LoveHank
August 5, 2007 1:25 AM | Link to this
Hank Aaron: Rookie of the Year 1954. 1 MVP in an era of the greatest players of all time. 3,298 games. 3,771 hits. 2,174 runs. 2,297 RBI. .305 BA. 1383 SO. 755 HR. WITHOUT PERFORMANCE ENHANCING DRUGS! Barry Bonds is hardly “The Greatest Player Ever.”
By HS Teacher
August 5, 2007 1:30 AM | Link to this
Hank is still King. I watched him hit that magic home run, the day before my birthday. He did it fair and square.
What kind of hero is BB to our youth?
By DavefromChattanooga
August 5, 2007 1:31 AM | Link to this
He’s a classless individual who over the years has been in court several times for failing to pay his child support to women he knocked up. I mean, did he not have the money????? He is on record in a court of law of offering a SITTING JUDGE some signed baseballs for leniency in a child support payment case. What a loser. But the end will not be a pretty one. Henry Aaron will be remembered for generations as a heroic, wonderful human being and one of the greatest hitters that ever lived. Mr. Bonds has a date with destiny. And I don’t mean 756. I mean a date with destiny as did LYLE ALZADO and JOHN MATUSZAK. If he lives to 55 THAT will be a record … Congrats MELONHEAD.
By kevin's sister
August 5, 2007 1:33 AM | Link to this
Congrats Barry, I have deep respect for Hank and yes Barry probably did roids but ultimately you still have had talent to do what Barry has done so I root for him, next up is A-rod!
By Jerome
August 5, 2007 1:34 AM | Link to this
Terrence, I bet you peed on yourself all the time when you were a kid. What a p** poor job of writing in your column. I can always count on your column to be negative and way out in left field. Aaron is a legend in his own time and will always be endeared for his accomplishments. Get over it, go wash one of Aaron’s cars. Your column is all wet. Barry has earned his accomplishemnts and does not need your seal of approval. You have a little peter, does writing about Barry make you a bigger man????
By BudSelig
August 5, 2007 1:39 AM | Link to this
BARRY BONDS = TAINTED RECORD
By Gary Lamb
August 5, 2007 1:43 AM | Link to this
I really wish Hank would come out and congratulate Barry Bonds (even try to be at his record breaking game). Maybe you are too young to remember, but there was a lot of controversy over Hank taking the title from the Babe and not just racial tensions. People wanted an asterix over the ball being more bouncy and some of the fences being closer and the longer schedule and the more at bats etc. etc. Hank stood up to the death threats from racists and came to play. He brought great respect to the game and African-American player. He was a hero. By honoring Barry for his accomplishments (steroid enhanced or not) would to me make Aaron a bigger man than he already is. Who’s to say that if someone said to Hank those many years ago, “I can give you something that will extend your career by years, the game you love, the game you don’t think you can live without, the place your heart lives,” would Hank have made the mistake of taking steroids? In the end, the cloud of suspicion will always be over Bonds, but if the Hammer shows up to be the first to say, “great job.” He will once again do more for the game, for sportmanship and for generations to come then looking like a poor sport, sad to be second.
By john
August 5, 2007 1:49 AM | Link to this
basically, this home run record would have been shattered anyway. it’s just sad that someone as respectable as hank aaron has to watch the record fall to a cheating, arrogant a* hole who only cares about himself. i think it speaks volumes that selig, who felt an obligation to be there, barely stood up when bonds tied aaron. nothing about selig’s body language read anything BUT disgust. and that’s how he should have reacted, because this is downright discutsing.
also, it’s no coincedence that the giants are in last place and can’t win a game because of the 800 lb gorilla that is barry bonds.
sure, he’ll play in the AL next year to pad his record (as did aaron when he went back to milwaukee to close out his career with the brewers), but his record will be broken.
if a-rod doesn’t do it in 8-10 years, someone else will. and they’ll do it performance-enhancing free, because nowadays, you get banned for taking any kind of substance. in fact, i think you can get banned for drinking coca-cola. ask the tigers’ neife perez why he has to forfeit 2.5 million dollars.
By Bobby Douglass 1972 Bears QB
August 5, 2007 1:58 AM | Link to this
You Atlanta folks have a great point…
I don’t care if Michael Vick rushed for 1000 yards in a season and broke my record fair and square. Because he’s a dog fighter and degenerate, the record of 968 rushing yards I set in 1972 will always be mine! All of Chicago agrees with me too! Michael Vick will always be remembered for being a jerk, and I was a better human being, so therefore I am the true record holder!
I know this guy who was there the day I set that magical mark in 1972, which happened to be the day before his birthday. He said I will always be his quarterback rushing king.
By john
August 5, 2007 2:04 AM | Link to this
bobby, your only mistake was that you forgot to play the race card. which is suprising, since this is terrence moore’s blog/column.
By Cheating?
August 5, 2007 2:04 AM | Link to this
I’m sorry, but can someone explain to me how Barry Bonds cheated to get this record? Because if he did take steroids, it wasn’t prohibited by major league baseball, so how exactly did he cheat? Did he throw the ball over the fence 755 times when no one was looking and called them home runs? Can someone please help me understand? I just don’t get how it can be cheating if it wasn’t against the rules.
By Gary from Ohio
August 5, 2007 2:08 AM | Link to this
Hank will always be the King.
I remember watching when he tied the records a long, long time ago. Barry will do it soon and I think he could have done it without the extra help but like most athletes these days who want the fame and the $$$, they mess with chemicals. That’s one of the reasons I don’t like Rete Rose!
It is interesting to see Barry do so well…he is a talented athlete but Hank Arron is the real deal and no one will ever take that away from him.
By Serbok
August 5, 2007 2:17 AM | Link to this
Terrence, nice to be able to write an article where you dont even Have the possibility of your racist slants being an issue???? Couldnt go wrong on this one could ya bud?
By Rich
August 5, 2007 2:17 AM | Link to this
Barry is a much better player than Hank Aaron. Aaron is way black. Bonds is way betters
By Steve F.
August 5, 2007 2:25 AM | Link to this
It’s a shame that Aaron has become so bitter. He should know better than any not to judge.
By john
August 5, 2007 2:36 AM | Link to this
Dear “Cheating ?” you’re totally right. you have enlightened me. bonds did not cheat. he rightfully won the record away from aaron. from this point foward, because of your words, i will assume that aaron’s drive to overcome racism was his equivalent to bonds’ steroid use.
and also, “Cheating ?” is conceding that bonds did steroids, but is arguing that it was legal to do steroids at the time.
By Morten Andersen
August 5, 2007 2:38 AM | Link to this
Hey, I was an Atlanta Falcon when I became the NFL’s all-time leading scorer! I hope Atlanta embraces my record the way they have embraced Hank’s. When someone breaks my record, I know Falcons fans will always consider me the NFL scoring champ!
As a pro athlete, it is so comforting to know that Atlanta never lets go of a record, no matter who or how it was broken. Plus, I can count on an AJC columnist to write about me even when the record is broken! Long Live the king: Morten Andersen!
By jake
August 5, 2007 2:41 AM | Link to this
if barry bonds was white, and did steroids, as everyone knows he did….
then the ncaap, along with every other black would be crying racism, and cheating, and etc.
but since barry is black, it’s somewhat okay. but again, if barry was white, the crips and bloodz and every hip hop artist would have alread written death threats and rap songs threatening the life of bonds.
By ross
August 5, 2007 2:44 AM | Link to this
A-freakin-MEN!
Hank Aaron is everything that a sports star should be - he gave 100 percent as much as he could, he excelled in all aspects of his game, he was a fierce competitor but a sportsman as well, and he let his performance speak for itself. I always resented the fact that in the late 60s and early 70s, when Aaron was at his peak, it was the loudmouths like Richie-call-me-Dick Allen who got the press from Cosell et. al. while guys like Clemente and Aaron were ignored. Those two names belong together because they are the epitome of baseball. Bond will never be anything but a miserable cheater and an utterly foul human being. It’s funny now, Ruth and Aaron are both in the same place, the real Kings, side by side on that side of the numbers, but on this side of history.
-ross
By Tom in L.A.
August 5, 2007 2:46 AM | Link to this
I was just a kid when Hank broke the Babe’s record, but I remember how special it was. In fact, baseball was a lot more special then. We discussed batting averages and home runs NOT salaries and steroids! Let’s face it, America’s favorite pastime is not baseball anymore. But for those of us who remember the Game it used to be, also remember the man named Aaron and what an incredible feat that was. Barry SUCKS!
By jenn
August 5, 2007 3:07 AM | Link to this
is terrence moore pulling a michael jackson? as he calls for vick to be fired, and as he prays against bonds’ pursuit of aaron, he’s ironcally becoming whiter and whiter with each column!
By GOD
August 5, 2007 3:08 AM | Link to this
this just in: a-rod did steroids too. where’s your god now?
By lol
August 5, 2007 3:14 AM | Link to this
Barry Bonds is a good BB player though not legitimate. Would he have 755 home runs without steroids? Who knows? Who cares? What is worse is that the AJC didn’t allow Terrance Moore to continue his career at Bennigan’s washing dishes. Of the 8 million + Georgians the AJC allows this clown a column??? YOU couldn’t pay ME for a subscription with this box of rocks you call journalist writing garbage in your paper. lol
By lol
August 5, 2007 3:15 AM | Link to this
Barry Bonds is a good BB player though not legitimate. Would he have 755 home runs without steroids? Who knows? Who cares? What is worse is that the AJC didn’t allow Terrance Moore to continue his career at Bennigan’s washing dishes. Of the 8 million + Georgians the AJC allows this clown a column??? YOU couldn’t pay ME for a subscription with this box of rocks you call journalist writing garbage in your paper. lol
By guy martin
August 5, 2007 3:57 AM | Link to this
Aaron and Bonds are like many humans who are angry with the world. Get over it,get real,and get a life. Guy Martin
By Keith
August 5, 2007 5:37 AM | Link to this
He is a cheater. He has taught young kids all over the world that it is ok to cheat. I hope A-Rod smashes his record. Hammering Hank will always be the King. Bonds you were a good player but you have sunk to a doper to break a record.
By James Duffy
August 5, 2007 7:31 AM | Link to this
Get a life fool, the King is Bonds, Hank is sour grapes
By cecile
August 5, 2007 7:33 AM | Link to this
Let me say one thing that I know about my dad Hank Aaron. First, he sincerly appreciates all of the comments that have been made in his favor. He IS NOT bitter, jealous or angry that Barry BOnds is about to break his record. He has gotten out of the record what he can and now he thinks that this is Barry’s time. He is 74 years old and does not talk much about baseball. Believe it or not he does have many other interests. He’s much more interested in his children, grandchildren, reading, golf and football. So, to those of you who think my father is sitting at home whinning about his record being broken he is not. He is very happy with his life and all of his accomplishments.
By TonyG
August 5, 2007 7:49 AM | Link to this
Cecile:
We who watched and rooted for your dad all those years would expect nothing less. Hank was and still is a class act. We knew his record would be broken one day, but we had always hoped it would have been somebody with just as much class and dignity as your dad. AS far as those of us of ALL color who pulled for Hank are concerned, he will ALWAYS be the king.
By D-Cider
August 5, 2007 7:51 AM | Link to this
terence, this sounds a lot like the BS I heard when Aaron broke the record. Babe did it in fewer games, the parks were bigger, blah, blah, blah..The problem is baseball sat back, enjoyed the home run show, did nothing to investigate the use of steriods or put in a drug testing policy until after the fact, and now we have this. Still looking forward to reading your obit
By fayncbrave
August 5, 2007 7:53 AM | Link to this
First of all, I doubt that ANYBODY who submitted a blog loves Bonds more than Aaron. But the truth of the matter is this: Aaron, Selig, AND ESPECIALLY TERRANCE MOORE have no right to diminish the legitimacy of Bonds’ accomplishments. All three are guilty of being silent on steroid-tainted accomplishments in the past (mainly Ken Caminitti’s and Juan Gonzales’ 1996 MVP years, Mark and Sammy in 1998, and Palmero joining the 500/3000 club even after a positive steroid test). For those three men (and countless others) to not express doubt over previous steroid-tainted accomplishments as they were tsking place is at best, disgraceful. I just hope that when hearsay allegations on A-Rod, Clemens, and Schilling come to light (and they will) that Aaron and Moore will cast as strong a doubt on their accomplishments as they did on Bonds’ accomplishments.
By Eleanor
August 5, 2007 8:04 AM | Link to this
Many of us remember Bonds when he started in baseball and see him now and are convinced that he has in fact used substances that were and are banned. Irregardless of whether he breaks the record or not, and even the fact he has tied the record of Hank, Bonds will never be accepted or recognized by us as the top dog. We are not convinced that baseball has in fact checked him like they have other players for whatever reasons; baseball should have banned him long ago because there is too much smoke from too many people that indicates he has abused substances that are banned. Many wonder if Greg Anderson is being paid a hefty sum by Bonds to keep quiet. Otherwise why would someone continually subject themselves to jail terms over and over on behalf of anyone? HANK WILL ALWAYS BE OUR HERO AND WILL ALWAYS BE ACKNOWLEDGED AS THE HOME RUN KING. ALWAYS. HANK HAS MORE INTEGRITY IN HIS LITTLE FINGER THAN BONDS HAS IN HIS WHOLE BODY. I WANT MY GRANDCHILDREN TO LOOK UP TO A MAN WITH INTEGRITY - HANK - NOT TO A MAN WHOSE INTEGRITY IS ZILCH - BONDS.
By gre
August 5, 2007 8:07 AM | Link to this
I have all the respect for Hank Aaron and everything he has accomplished. But give Barry Bonds the credit that he deserves. He will be the owner of the new home run record, so get over it and move on.
By Mike Langan
August 5, 2007 8:31 AM | Link to this
We are not bitter because some villian is holding our beloved record. The record is no longer beloved. It will never have signifigance again, even when A-rod breaks it. Its just such a cloudy issue. Thats what is sad. Oh yeah, the juiced ball is a factor too.
By Brent Laney
August 5, 2007 8:42 AM | Link to this
This article puts into words what every baseball fan in Atlanta, and outside of of San Fransico feels. Bonds hit number 755, and will probably hit more. Yet, his numbers will not and does not stand in the hearts and minds of true fans of the game. Hank Aaron will for ever be the Homerun King. Long Live the King, Long Live Henry Louis (The Hammer) Aaron. Amen.
By Bruin Fan
August 5, 2007 8:47 AM | Link to this
Right on, Tech Wreck. Steroids or not, if Bonds were at all likeable as a person, someone outside of San Francisco might actually be rooting for him.
By jeanie anderson
August 5, 2007 8:50 AM | Link to this
I am happy for Barry Bonds. Yes, I am female that follows the sport. The truth of it is many are upset because Bonds is his own man, not an a*-kisser, and can speak and act for himself. We teach or kids to follow your heart, yet he is demonized because he doesn’t talk to the press (then they write favorable articles) or sign autographs until his arms are about to fall off. Hank Aaron should be the first to congratulate him. A real man would willing to speak up for a man who hasn’t been proven guilty. But instead, he’s bought into the hype about his “greatness”. He does appear to act more like an individual who is jealous than anything else. Records are broken every day. Aaron has certainly benefitted - now let someone else enjoy the ride. The commissioner is also setting a poor example for executive leadership as well - in a society that talks “innocent until proven guilty”. By the way, why has it taken the Feds and three grand jurys to attempt to bring this man down - and why did this all only begin once the 755 record seemed to be in jeopardy. Steroid use was going on all throughout the MLB world before any of this — and the use is still going on — good luck to A-Rod. Get rid of the asterisk. The man is legitimate! Go Barry and congratulations. I hope Hank Aaron is man enough to extend his congrats as well. See you when you come to Atlanta. I’m sure the baseball parks aren’t complaining about you selling out the parks for them!
By RSN573
August 5, 2007 9:07 AM | Link to this
Thank you Hank, for continuing to be a class act. What you have earned will never be taken away. Also, thanks for the autographed 1994 World Series baseball for my son. It will be passed down for generations.
By al
August 5, 2007 9:12 AM | Link to this
Another excellent write up on a difficult issue. Keep up the good work.
By Sam Jam
August 5, 2007 9:20 AM | Link to this
So TM, now you’re insinuating that our beloved Hank Aaron was jacking hizself up with adrenalin during his long illustrious career. TM, will you never stop with the bashing?
By LB
August 5, 2007 9:20 AM | Link to this
I think it’s great that anyone can hit a homerun period… I personally can’t bat a baseball that hard so any man that has ever had just one HR has my highest compliments. Aaron, Bonds or who else has a lot of HRs is a hero. So what if one man has a few more than another. It doesn’t matter.
Here’s what matters to me more than that. A child sends a fan letter to Bonds with a returned envelope stamped. Does Bonds even read it? A child sends a fan letter to Aaron with a returned envelope stamped and receives a price list from a daughter wanting the child to send money for a trinket. On this side of the coin, neither man deserves the time of day.
By Chico Escuela
August 5, 2007 9:26 AM | Link to this
Funny how everybody loves Hank now, but when he broke the record he was just as despised as Barry And if TM was writing then he would have talked about Babe being the true champ and Hank played more games etc… Besides the hr record bonds has other records that elevates him to greatness like on base %, walks etc… Barry has been around the game since birth so he has seen alot, esp from the media. they like to state that only Blacks and Sf fans like Barry..this is not true but a small cadre of loser a* writers who never played the game like to keep spreading hate..Go Barry Go hahahahaha
By chipdip
August 5, 2007 9:26 AM | Link to this
hank aaron is god…….barry bonds=cleveland steamer.
By Parker Jones
August 5, 2007 9:39 AM | Link to this
Barry Bonds, the Giants, Bud Selig, the fans and MLB are co-conspirators in this shameful mess and deserve each other. In his quest for the record, whether he “knew” or “realized” he had taken steroids or not, Barry Bonds became a joyless, surly, disgraceful man who could not stand up to public scrutiny, so he ignored the press, alienated the public and even his own teammates. If he didn’t “know” he had taken steroids, he sure did all in his power to keep anyone from getting close enough to him to find out. His SF Giant team owner “dispises” the destructive press the home run chase brought on the club, but in order to keep the turnstiles rolling, keeps a combative, non-team oriented player under contract even when even the most casual baseball observer would think based on his appearance that Bonds was on something. Most negatively, MLB did nothing during the mid to late 90’s during the “Summer of Love” to get rid of McGwire, Bonds or Sosa. In their efforts to sell tickets, they embraced all three of them. The fact of the matter is that Bonds, the Giants and MLB deserve each other. Selig is a fraudulent co-conspirator too, because as commissioner, HE DID NOTHING to change my opinion that as long as big money is involved, MLB players and owners turn a blind eye to what is right and do what is expedient and profitable to them, even at the expense of the fans, their own integrity or the integrity of their game. Unlike the newly appointed NFL commissioner, who has called out and suspended players who have set a questionable example, Selig was just another gutless man stuffing his pockets at the public’s expense while doing nothing to clean up the public perception of baseball. Even now that the record was tied, Selig followed public opinion, not his own convictions and attended the game. He is ruling as a commissioner by holding his finget up an seeing which way the wind of opinion is blowing, not taking bold action. You know why? Because he stands for and believes in nothing other than making money! I guess on one hand there is nothing wrong with that if you admit it up front, but stop trying to be so sanctimonius if you are part of the problem!
Unfortunately, as co-conspirators, we are all are setting a poor example for our children and showing the world our true values. What we are all saying is as long as you win, cheating doesn’t matter if you don’t get caught or no one can prove anything, and that breaking records and selling tickets is more important than doing the right thing. This situation has become sort of a US version of the Tour de France- if more American fans would vote with their feet, instead of attending the games, MLB would get the message and get rid of these clowns. But instead, by attending the games, buying the tickets and merchandise, we fans have become co-conspirators too. What a mess!
Barry Bonds has tied, and will break the record, but he hasn’t done it with joy, grace, class or dignity. I haven’t heard anyone excited about it- most people are either angry or JUST DON’T CARE. That is too bad. Barry will always be remembered as an extremely talented man who was distant with his team mates, surly with fans and the media and will be suspected of cheating. What a legacy! What good does it do to have a record if everyone observing thinks you destroyed your character to get it? There is no joy in that for anyone! How unfortunate!
By Dirk Diggler
August 5, 2007 9:42 AM | Link to this
Ok…give 100 people steroids….for a year…the only person that will be able to hit a homerun out of the 100….the person that could hit a homerun before the juice. Steroids may build strenght, but timing seems to be more important in hitting a homerun than power.
By Clyde
August 5, 2007 9:48 AM | Link to this
I pray every night that Bonds drops dead of a heart attack at any second!!! He is a cheater and the rest of you cheaters can try and justify what he has done by trying to deflect attention and pointing fingers. The pathetic being is a cheater and a disgrace to Baseball and African-Americans. Oh yea, before you go spouting off, I’m an African-American!!!
By DirkDawggler
August 5, 2007 9:53 AM | Link to this
The tragedy in all of this will be when Bonds, his body riddled with some form of cancer from all of his steroid use, dies a horrbly painful, premature death. That record won’t mean a thing, will it?
By Derrick
August 5, 2007 10:20 AM | Link to this
Dirk Diggler, you have a great point. People here keep spouting off about how they think steroids makes one a home run hitter.
I challenge anyone here to face major league pitching without juicing and see how they do. Then juice up, bulk up, and try again. In both instances, it will be just as difficult to hit home runs.
Bunch of whiners this city has.
By BnB
August 5, 2007 10:35 AM | Link to this
I guess Ty Cobb’s stats should also have an asterik because he was a jerk? Aaron was my childhood idol growing up in ATL so, yeah, in a perfect world he would be the all time HR King…and I’d marry a millionaire who owned a liquor store. Get over it, Terrence, and instead of re-writing the same ten columns over and over move on to something new and insightful. We get it. You know Hank Aaron. I’m so glad that the American sense of justice is now public opinion as judge, jury and executioner and every public person has to take an ethical acid bath by people who could not stand up to it themselves. Selig’s pettiness in “letting go” of his buddy Aaron’s record is just another feather in his cap of incompetence along with the tie score All Star game and the runaway roid scandal to begin with. I guess that is to be expected when the owner’s install a stooge to run the show. Get over it guys. There is a new HR King and all your crying won’t change that.
By greys
August 5, 2007 10:37 AM | Link to this
I’ll have to agree that there is no cheating here. All of you that are accusing Bonds of cheating need to get over it. It’s not like Bonds or Selig doctored the record books. He hit it over the fence 755 times in fair territory during regular-season baseball games. Bat wasn’t corked either, unlike Sosa.
Speaking objectively, I don’t like Bonds but give the man his due. He did something only one other person in history could do. How come Sosa, McGwire, Caminiti, Canseco, or Palmeiro couldn’t hit more than 700 home runs? Because Bonds is a superior player.
By Dave
August 5, 2007 10:48 AM | Link to this
So Derrick, if he’d didn’t break any laws, why are the fed’s about to put him away?
By mathusala
August 5, 2007 10:54 AM | Link to this
your the bigot TM
glad bonds is not caucasion
By Clyde is an idiot
August 5, 2007 10:56 AM | Link to this
Clyde, for you to pray that another human being drops dead speaks volumes about the kind of thug you are. I pray that my children or the rest of Atlanta’s children never meet you. BB is not the only steroid-using A-hole in the world, so do you pray all of them die too?
It’s just a game, and BB didn’t do anything to your or your family personally, so get the F over it, loser! Get your priorities straight and get a dang life.
By Bob
August 5, 2007 10:59 AM | Link to this
Bonds is a great hitter. Although Bonds may have used steroids, steroid use was a common in the game at the time, and Bonds did not break any baseball rules. It is hard to compare athletic performances from different eras because the equipment, rules, ballparks, training methods, and on-the-field tactics change over time. As an example, how can someone compare Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods? Comparing pitchers who threw spit balls on a higher pitching mound against today’s specialized hurlers as starters, set-up-men, and relivers is just as irrelevant. Certainly the best hitters in the game today benefit from the distribution of pitching talent across the now 30 MLB teams, and therefore the best hitters see some weaker pitchers more often than would occur if there were less MLB teams. Barry Bonds competed in his era and has hit 755 HRs and counting.
By Derrick
August 5, 2007 11:04 AM | Link to this
Dave, I never said he didn’t break any laws IF he used them. Steroids are illegal in the United States, and if he did use them, he should go to jail.
I’m saying they weren’t against the RULES of baseball. There’s a difference.
Going 180 MPH is against the law in the United States. Yet it happens all the time in NASCAR. Put them all in jail? Are they cheaters? Asterisk on all records?
Get my point? I’m not talking about the law, I’m talking about the realm of sports.
By Don
August 5, 2007 11:09 AM | Link to this
Hank Aaron: The most under-rated, under-appreciated baseball player of all time. If he had played in New York, Boston or Chicago, he would have been afforded super-legendary status long ago. I salute The Hammer for boycotting Bonds home run farce.
By knowing the game
August 5, 2007 11:10 AM | Link to this
Moore all you do is hate. Every body is Is no good. The Devil job to kill steal and destroy and moore you and AJC sports do it well!
By Bob
August 5, 2007 11:15 AM | Link to this
With regard to public and press relations, Ty Cobb, Ted Williams, and Steve Carlton hated to deal with the press. They just wanted to play ball, and they were great players. I have nothing against Barry Bonds for his decision to not cozy up to the press as a PR magnet. Such a decision may not win affection from fans and may cost Bonds some product endorsement opportunities, but it does not detract from his on-the-field accomplishments any more than Cobb’s, Williams’, and Carlton’s lack of press interaction detract from their on-the-field accomplishments.
By Bob
August 5, 2007 11:16 AM | Link to this
With regard to public and press relations, Ty Cobb, Ted Williams, and Steve Carlton hated to deal with the press. They just wanted to play ball, and they were great players. I have nothing against Barry Bonds for his decision to not cozy up to the press as a PR magnet. Such a decision may not win affection from fans and may cost Bonds some product endorsement opportunities, but it does not detract from his on-the-field accomplishments any more than Cobb’s, Williams’, and Carlton’s lack of press interaction detract from their on-the-field accomplishments.
By David
August 5, 2007 11:17 AM | Link to this
Hank Aaron: the most overrated player in MLB history. His home run ration was like 1 every 16 at bat, Babe Ruth was like 1 out of every 12. Hank just hit more because he stayed in the game as long as he did.
By Gene
August 5, 2007 11:22 AM | Link to this
You are right on this one, Terrence. I went to many Braves’ games in ‘66 through ‘68 when general admission was a dollar and you could carry a jug of draft beer. One of my all time baseball memories remains Hank flicking his wrists and hitting line drives off the left-field wall. His homeruns were effortless—particularly compared to those godzilla-like whacks from Bonds. Aaron was and remains a class guy. In players I have seen, Willy Mays may have been better all around in his prime, but not by much. Both Mays and Aaron were little guys by today’s standards. It will be nice when Barry and these steroid-juiced freaks go away and leave the sport to the real players.
By Derrick
August 5, 2007 11:23 AM | Link to this
Bob, spoken like a true baseball fan. You obviously know the game and are educated in its nuances. Well done, sir!
By chipdip
August 5, 2007 11:26 AM | Link to this
Put Barry Bonds…Michael Vick and Terrell Owens in a gas chamber.
By KW
August 5, 2007 11:35 AM | Link to this
No matter what the Bonds supporters say… You can’t change the hearts and minds of the people. If they say that Bonds cheated, whether or not it was in the rules at the time, then he cheated. Period.
Really Babe Ruth was the greatest there ever was. Name one player who could have been a hall of fame pitcher as well as a hall of fame batter and proved both at the major league level. If Ruth didn’t start out as a pitcher it’s possible he could have hit another 200 homeruns. But we’ll never know…
By Don
August 5, 2007 11:35 AM | Link to this
Because Bonds played his entire career in a hitter-friendly era that featured a lowered pitching mound, shorter fences and perhaps even a juiced-up baseball (in addition to performance enhancing drugs), it is necessary to compare both hitters to their times and their contemporaries. The best way to analyze this (without writing an entire thesis) is to look at the number of times each player led his league in the major hitting categories.
Batting Titles: Aaron and Bonds are tied at 2 Home Run Titles: Aaron beats Bonds 4 to 2 RBI Titles: Aaron beats Bonds 4 to 1 30 Home Run Seasons: Aaron beats Bonds 15 to 14 Total Bases Titles: Aaron beats Bonds 8 to 1 Extra Bases Titles: Aaron beats Bonds 5 to 3 Slugging % Titles: Bonds beats Aaron 7 to 5 Class: Aaron beats bonds hands down
By Haters =evil
August 5, 2007 11:35 AM | Link to this
Bonds Will have the record. Hank is a great man and good baseball player. Bond is a better player top to bottom. AJC sports writers classless haters most of them are! GO Vick! Hateing Bonds only hurts you . Hank you know better. Have you forgot how they did you hate mail and all now it Bonds time to get hated . Hate mail, hateing sports writers and bias too,and player hateing fans. The top ten hated players in sports are black wonder why? The media has a lot to do with that! ESPN, FOX sports, SI,yahoo sport and our home town haters AJC sports, all are bias and hateful!
By Chris
August 5, 2007 11:39 AM | Link to this
Best article I’ve ever read by you, Terence.
There is one good thing about this nonsense: an entire generation who never knew how good a player AND person Hank Aaron was/is are, I believe, now aware of his greatness.
You see stories about Hank daily on TV. Kids who look up his career numbers on the Internet are surprised at what a great all-around player he was.
Long live the King.
By Carroll (NOT Ms. Rogers)
August 5, 2007 11:44 AM | Link to this
Why does everyone always say that Aaron is underrated, underappreciated, etc? I have never heard anything but eternal praise for the man and his baseball playing prowess. Perhaps the ONLY player from his era that gets a little more hype is Mays.
But what more can we do for him to show appreciation for his playing a game? We paid his salary and made it possible for him to live like a king…is that not enough?
By Chris
August 5, 2007 11:46 AM | Link to this
You people who want proof, take a look at Barry in the 90s and look at him in the 2000s. There’s your proof.
People always talk about “innocent until proved guilty.” The people who speak like that are probably people who spend a lot of time in a courtroom. And I don’t mean as a judge or attorney.
By chipdip is also an idiot
August 5, 2007 11:49 AM | Link to this
Boy, you people are really ugly.
TO has never done anything illegal. He’s not a thug like Randy Moss. Crybaby, yes, but not a criminal.
BB may or may not have juiced up. He’s a jerk. So what? Did he do anything to you?
These people have big personalities, for better or worse, and is magnified because of their celebrity. We all know people in our own lives who are just as jerky and whiny as these two. Do they deserve the gas chamber too?
Vick is a different story. If the indictment is true, he does deserve plenty of jail time. He is worse than the animals he killed, for the animals didn’t know any better when they were fighting. Does MV deserve the gas chamber? Maybe, maybe not, but you people and your lynch mob mentality need to move your butts over to another country where such behavior is the norm. There is no room for you here.
These guys are athletes who play thousands of miles away from here. If they personally came to your house, spit on your wife, and kicked your children, then we’ll talk. But until then, you can’t pass judgment. Only their teammates, friends, acquaintances, and family members can.
By Chris
August 5, 2007 11:53 AM | Link to this
Haters, you said, “AJC sports writers classless haters most of them are.”
You been watching Empire Strikes Back? You sound a little like Yoda.
By greys
August 5, 2007 12:03 PM | Link to this
KW, I completely agree with you about Babe Ruth. He lost a good 5-6 years being a pitcher, and if he averaged 20 HRs for those seasons, he’d have an additional 100 HRs at worst. Babe is the true king, and guess what? He wasn’t the greatest human being either.
I’ll have to disagree about your first point however. Cheating is not a subjective thing. It’s black and white — either he cheated or he didn’t. People who believe he cheated when it wasn’t against the rules are delusional.
For example, spitballs were legal before 1920. Using the spitball today would be cheating, but before 1920, it was the norm. People can set their hearts and minds all they want about spitball cheaters, but the fact is that it wasn’t cheating back in the day.
Maybe that’s why Babe Ruth was such a great pitcher before 1919? Hmmm…
By Gwynn Rocks
August 5, 2007 12:09 PM | Link to this
Chris
Look at Tony Gwynn in the early 80s and look at him in the 2000s. There’s your proof that Gwynn was a juicer…I’m thinking apple, orange, tomato, carrot, ribeye, fried chicken, and waffle juice.
By Chris
August 5, 2007 12:10 PM | Link to this
Um, wasn’t it leaked earlier this year that Bonds failed an amphetamine test? It wasn’t made public because it was his first positive, but the information was leaked.
He also testified that he took “the clear” and other steroids, but he didn’t know that they were steroids when he was taking them.
Didn’t break any rules? Try again.
By Chris
August 5, 2007 12:11 PM | Link to this
Gwynn got fat. Bonds’s bones grew. There is a big difference.
By J
August 5, 2007 12:24 PM | Link to this
Long Live the KING HANK AARON. U da man HANK. BARRY is a FERRY.
By ted
August 5, 2007 12:34 PM | Link to this
To all the opinions blogged. Barry PUBLICLY respects Hanks decision to let Barry have his moment alone. Hank had his own distractions and hatred to deal with ALONE.Whether he climbed the HR Everest, or got to the summit aided by an alternative fueled helicopter, he now stands with Hank on summit. Only Barry ALONE, will know if his flag is worthy to replace Hanks.
By Gwynn Rocks
August 5, 2007 12:49 PM | Link to this
Chris, I know. I was joking.
I’m with greys on this, although BB was juiced, point out the exact rule prior to 2002 that says steroids were not legal in baseball?
What’s that? No rule existed? Therefore, no cheating.
Regarding amphetamines, that rule didn’t go into effect until 2006, so if you want to put an asterisk there, then fine. But people aren’t up in arms about speed use, and you’re smoking crack if you think it helped him get an extra home run or two. We’re talking about the home run record, not whether he stayed awake for a doubleheader.
By Bob
August 5, 2007 12:49 PM | Link to this
Question: When Aaron went to the Brewers to finish his career, how often did he DH because the Brewers were an AL team at the time?
The DH “position” certainly has the potential to extend the career of good hitters.
Looking at Babe Ruth’s physique and build, he probably could have played the game longer if he had access to modern exercise methods, training table diet foods, and the ability to just get up to bat at the plate without playing the field.
However, all these factors have changed over time.
By Coach (Hank Aaron Is The Real HR Champion)
August 5, 2007 12:50 PM | Link to this
barriod steriod , BOOOOOOOOOOOO ! BOOOOOOOOOOOO ! BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO ! BOOOOOOOOOOOOO ! BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO ! BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO ! BOOOOOOOOOOOOOO ! What a disgraceful day in the history of baseball ! BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO !
By anthonyG
August 5, 2007 12:52 PM | Link to this
“A guy can take steroids, drugs, whatever. He still has to be able to hit that Roger Clemens 96-mile-an-hour fastball. Steroids don’t help you hit that fastball.” — Hank Aaron to the Los Angeles Times.
By MYCHAL
August 5, 2007 12:59 PM | Link to this
IN THIS COUNTRY YOU ARE SUPPOSE TO BE INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY. MOORE YOUR BLACK (COUNTRY) A* SHOULD KNOW THIS. HANK AARON WAS A YES MAN, IS A YES MAN AND WILL ALWAYS BE A YES MAN. CONGRATULATIONS NEW HOME RUN CHAMP, “BARRY BONDS”. AND CONGRATULATIONS TERRANCE MOORE FOR REMINDING US CALIFORNIANS THAT BLACK PEOPLE IN THE SOUTH ARE STILL CRABS IN A BUCKET (HOUSE N****)
By BnB
August 5, 2007 1:04 PM | Link to this
To the guy who even suggested that Mike Vick might deserve the gas chamber….what color is the air on the planet you come from?
By MYCHAL
August 5, 2007 1:08 PM | Link to this
HEY TERRANCE, HANK AARON WAS A GOOD BOY (N**) .THANKS FOR PACIFYING WHITE PEOPLE. YOU’LL GET PLENTY OF BROWNNY POINTS. BLACK COUNTRY SCUM!
By Bob
August 5, 2007 1:10 PM | Link to this
To Mychal:
If A-Rod surpasses Bonds in the future, will you not celebrate his accomplishments as a human being because of the color of his skin?
I celebrate Bonds for his on-the-field accomplishments during this era in baseball, and his race is irrelevant to those accomplishments.
Aaron deserves some extra credit as a human being for accomplishing his feats on-the-field in the face of death threats because of Aaron’s race.
By Tom
August 5, 2007 1:19 PM | Link to this
The Asterisk Party Our Creed
We make no attempt to single out Barry Bonds. Barry just happens to be carrying the steroid banner presently. McGwire, Sosa, Fehr, Selig etc… all of them, in our opinion are guilty of drinking from the steroid trough.
We protest the “steroid era” and like good custodians we do not accept the “everybody did it” excuse… the integrity of the game is at stake.
Future baseball fans will certainly look back on this time… the steroid era… and they will wonder why no one took a stand and called foul.
So this year, we stand up for the past, to show the future, that the now matters. And we will make our stand… in the stands… at the ballpark… for all to see. We knew what was going on and we did not stand by and ignore it.
Our little piece of foam does not attempt to change the record book or right a wrong. That would certainly be beyond our ability and would only add to an already convoluted tangle of words and facts. This little foam asterisk simply allows the fans to demonstrate, in a peaceful simple way, that we were not blind. We were not fooled. And we did not stand by and look the other way while the integrity of the game was hijacked by greed.
The Asterisk Party - Get on Board http://www.FansLoveBaseball.com
By TomPaul
August 5, 2007 1:21 PM | Link to this
Show Barry how you feel when he visits Atlanta…
http://www.FansLoveBaseball.com
The Asterisk Rolls On! What the press says about the Foam Steroid/Asterisk
Los Angeles Times April 2007 “The closer Barry Bonds gets to Hank Aaron’s all-time record, the better for Wilson’s business…wave your asterisk and take a stand!”
Sporting News April 2007 “Get it before it’s hot!”
Tim Brosnan - MLB: Executive Vice President for Business April 2007 “Baseball is not going to be making a comment on this”
Globe and Mail - (Canada’s National Newspaper) May 23, 2007 “…baseball has no funny bone when it comes to steroids… baseball must be on to him.”
Aurora Beacon News June, 2007 “…stores that sell MLB merchandise won’t sell the asterisks because the stores have licensing agreements with MLB.”
SportsChix, 1010 Sports June 2007 Tampa, Fla “Tom Wilson is a genius! We love the foam asterisk”
Boston Herald June, 2007 “Why boo Bonds when you can show your asterisk?”
Cleveland Plain Dealer June 2007 “…a silent, satirical, asterisk-shaped rebuke to baseball’s fallen star.”
San Francisco Chronicle June 2007 “… give voice to fans troubled by Bonds’ pursuit of the game’s most hallowed record”
St. Louis Post-Dispatch July 2007 “The best possible message to deliver to Bonds…”
Bradenton Herald (Fla.) July 2007 “Fighting back against Bonds with foam…”
By Val
August 5, 2007 1:23 PM | Link to this
Steroids don’t help!! Players only take them because they taste good.
By MYCHAL
August 5, 2007 1:40 PM | Link to this
I’M NOT COMPLIMENTING AARON ON SOMETHING I AS A BLACK MAN HAD TO GO THRU ALSO. BECAUSE HE PLAYED BASEBALL? IM OUT HERE IN THE STREETS EVERYDAY WITH RACIST A* COPS TRYING TO TAKE MY LIFE. DO I GET ANY POINTS FOR SURVIVING? HELL NALL! PLEASE EXPLAIN YOUR POINT!
By Brian
August 5, 2007 1:42 PM | Link to this
Hank will ALWAYS be the king. He did it on his own, no drugs. You also have to take into account the equipment deviations as well. The balls were not wound as tight as back when Hank did the impossible. I would like to see how many homers the juice freak would hit with the old school equipment, and no juice. I think Hank will always be the king, and juice boy will always be just that, a cheater……
By MYCHAL
August 5, 2007 1:48 PM | Link to this
WHITE PEOPLE LOOK FOR ANYTHING NEGATIVE IN ANY ACCOMPLISHMENT BLACK PEOPLE MAKE. UNLESS THEY ARE A GOOD N*. BLACKS SHOULDN’T LET WHITE PEOPLE BE THE JUDGE OF ANY THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS. (WHO ARE THEY, GOD) THERE GONNA BE BIAS ANYWAY UNLESS OF COURSE, YOUR A GOOD N*.
By MYCHAL
August 5, 2007 1:55 PM | Link to this
HOW MANY OF YOU PEOPLE SEEN BONDS DO DRUGS? YOU WORKED AT HIS HOUSE, HELPED HIM TRAIN, WAS HIS ROOMMATE, BABY SITTED HIS KIDS, MOWED HIS LAWN, WASHED HIS CARS, CAME OVER AND WATCHED TV WITH HIM AND HIS FAMILY AND ETC. SICK JEALOUS F*s
By R Crump
August 5, 2007 2:02 PM | Link to this
I think Aaron was classless in not at least giving Bond’s a call to comgratulate him.I live on the west coast and naturally a Giants fan.Aaron was a great hitter but played in ballparks that were launching pads for home runs.If Mays,McCovey and Bonds played in the parks that Aaron did Aaron would be 4th on the all time home run list now.
By Joe G.
August 5, 2007 2:03 PM | Link to this
A sad day for baseball. The HR titans of baseball remain Aaron, Ruth and Mays. I am partial to Mays as I grew up watching him (and his head never grew to gigantic proportions literally or figuratively). Aaron was the king and still is in my book. Who knows what Ruth could’ve done without the performance-dehancing life style he lived. Mays could’ve done over 700 if he had not played in such a pathetic stadium as Candlestick. Aaron and Mays brought dignity to the game; Bonds? But that is the way it turned out and none of the Great-Three will have a bottle of their favorite performance enhancing drug next to the bat that hit their milestone hr at the HOF.
By Wink from Lithonia
August 5, 2007 2:03 PM | Link to this
CONGRADULATIONS TO BARRY BONDS. Records are meant to be broken and this Home Run record will fall soon.
I remember walking from Parson St in Atlanta, across the street from Walter Bank, the usher in the owner’s box, to Atlanta Fulton County stadium to watch Hank Aaron play. Sold cokes at the games and been an Atlanta fan every sense I was a kid. So he will always be Hammerin Hank to me.
I applaud Barry’s accomplishment, with no * beside #755, because Barry Bonds has not been found guilty of anything, suspicion aside. We will crown a new Home Run King soon and it does not diminish the accomplishments of either man.
Go Braves!
By Chris
August 5, 2007 2:05 PM | Link to this
Anthony, no one says steroids help you hit a fastball. But if steroids added even only 3% distance to a hit, a ball that might go 350 feet instead goes 360.5 feet, which could be the difference between a home run and a flyout.
By Chris
August 5, 2007 2:13 PM | Link to this
MYCHAL, how can you say that? White people who celebrate Aaron’s accomplishments (he is black, you know) but boo Bonds for being artificial are somehow racist?
I bet it was a white cop and judge who sent you to jail the first time, right?
By Liz
August 5, 2007 2:17 PM | Link to this
No matter how many home runs Bonds hits Hank Aaron will always be the King!
By Balco CEO
August 5, 2007 2:29 PM | Link to this
The only names people hear about in regards to steroids are the big name guys Bonds,Macguire,Sosa, Palmerio, Giambi, etc..a few marginal guys like Jason Grimsley.. But what about that avg player who will never break a record or go to an allstar game. he will not be scrutinized because he did not do anything notable, but I beleive there are alot of guys doing it, and we just dont suspect them because they are avg even though they cheat as well..
By Kerry
August 5, 2007 2:38 PM | Link to this
I have something to say to these blind idiots that keep defending Barry Bonds saying that it has not been proven that he took anything. Wise up and go search for pictures of him over the last ten years and compare the difference each year. You’ll see that he did start to change around 1998 after the Sosa and McGuire homerun chase. His girlfriend at the time said that when this happened he was jealous that they were getting all the attention when he knew what they were doing. His ego would’nt allow him to let them get the better of him and he was going to do something about it whatever it took. I saw an interview recently on TV with his godfather Willie Mays. When they asked him about the steroid thing he would not give a straight answer and you could tell be his body language that he believed that he used it. He certainly did’nt try to defend him.
By Marvin
August 5, 2007 2:53 PM | Link to this
As we sit debating endlessly as to whether Barry used steroids, let’s not forget that he himself proclaimed that he did in fact use the clear and the cream, ostensibly believing them to be other substances, i.e., flaxseed oil, etc. So on the surface, that seems to marginally settle the use/did not use issue, excluding the period of time he actually did use the substances. And I do agree with Barry, that steroids dont help him him a baseball, not a whit. But I think it indubitably allows him, when he does hit the baseball, to hit it farther with greater bat speed, not to mention the fact that with an apparently steady diet of corticosteroids, he was not slowed by the nicks and aches most players are during the course of what is a physical grind. Unfair advantage?, how can any sane and logical person reach a contradictory conclusion?
By MYCHAL
August 5, 2007 2:53 PM | Link to this
CHRIS, YOU IDIOT! WHITE PEOPLE IDENTIFY WITH BLACKS WHO SUCK UP TO THEY A*, LIKE HANK DID. BARRY FATHER (BOBBY) TAUGHT HIM NOT BE A UNCLE TOM LIKE AARON. BY THE WAY I HAVEN’T BEEN TO JAIL. SO I GUESS THAT MAKES ME A CANDIDATE FOR THE GOOD O’BOY AWARD.
By MYCHAL
August 5, 2007 3:01 PM | Link to this
KERRY, FIRST OFF IM 43YEARS OLD. I PLAYED COLLEGE FOOTBALL AT 185 POUNDS. I 230 POUNDS AND I WORK OUT WEEKLY. BLACKMEN EAT VERY DIFFERENT THAN WHITES (BAGELS & CREAM AND DIET SODAS AND S**). AND SECOND, I GUESS YOU NEVER READ THE BIBLE ABOUT A SCORN WOMAN. (MR.NAIVE)
By ted
August 5, 2007 3:02 PM | Link to this
Liz, I’m with you about Hank being the King; but I also believe most of the next Greats of the Game are probably playing Little League right now.More than likely,20 years will pass before those who truely love the game will believe again in the accomplishments made by those who play.Deserved or not that is the legacy of the Roid Era.A Team Sport with Individual Records,every stat recorded,with all of the controversey,and blogs,All For The Good Of The Game.I hope I live to see the day when everyone can smile again, when they hear,”Let’s Play Two” borrowing from The Great Ernie Banks.
By Kerry
August 5, 2007 3:03 PM | Link to this
Hey Mychal, it’s 2007 please get out of the time warp of the 1960’s. People who call people uncle Tom’s in this day and age are just simple minded people.
By MYCHAL
August 5, 2007 3:07 PM | Link to this
MARVIN, STOP HATING. IF HE WAS WHITE YOUR COMMENTS WOULD BE PRO-STEROIDS. YOU WOULD GIVE A POSITIVE REVIEW FOR THE SAKE OF WHITE RIGHTS!
By MYCHAL
August 5, 2007 3:11 PM | Link to this
BOTTOM LINE MOST BLACKS DO GIVE A S** WHAT WHITE PEOPLE THINK ABOUT THEM ANYWAY. GO JUDGE PHIL SPECTOR, MARK MCGWIRE AND YOUR NARCISSTIC RETARDED (BIPOLAR) PRESIDENT. AND STOP JUDGING US BLACKS.
By Kerry
August 5, 2007 3:13 PM | Link to this
Hey Mychal, I read your last comments and all I have to say is “what the heck are you talking about?” Your rambling like some dillusional person.
By MYCHAL
August 5, 2007 3:20 PM | Link to this
KERRY, YOU ARE MORE NAIVE THEN I ORIGINALLY THOUGHT IF YOU THINK THAT UNCLE TOMS DON’T EXIST ANYMORE. THE WORD IS JUST DOWN PLAYED. PLUS, BEING THE MAIN POINT, IT IS A WORD USED STRICKLY BY BLACKS AGAINST BLACKS WHO DON’T KNOW THEIR IDENITY. ITS NOT A WORD FOR YOU TO UNDERSTAND OR COMMENT ON.
By kerry
August 5, 2007 3:22 PM | Link to this
Hey Mychal. Earlier you said you were out there in the street with the racist cops trying to take your life. You must be a drug dealer on the street corner or a thief. Maybe even a burglar.
By THE MAN
August 5, 2007 3:24 PM | Link to this
Hey mychal. Iv’e been on the street corner looking for you selling drugs again.
By MYCHAL
August 5, 2007 3:25 PM | Link to this
KERRY, I MEANT BLACKS DON’T GIVE A S** WHAT WHITES THINK ABOUT THEM.THE EDITOR PROBABLY OMITED THE NT IN DONT PURPOSELY. (MR NAIVE)
By MYCHAL
August 5, 2007 3:30 PM | Link to this
TO THE IDIOTS, IM A AIRCRAFT MECHANIC, I DON’T HAVE TO SELL DRUGS. YOU JUST PROVE MY POINT ALSO, THAT THATS ALL YOU WHITES THINK OF US BLACKS. THANKS FOR PROVING ALL THAT IVE EXPLAINED.
By Kerry
August 5, 2007 3:32 PM | Link to this
Guys like you will never understand the type of racism that men like Hank Aaron and even Bobby Bonds went through in the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s. I’m the same age that you are and I went to school alongside people of all races and yes in the deep south. I saw them get the same kind of educational opportunities that I did. I also saw many of them drop out of school and end up on government assistance because it was easier to say that you were the eternal victim and everyone is against me because of who I am and not because of the kind of person I am. You are probably one of these people that grew up in an apartment provided by the taxpayers, and fed by government taxpayers. You have never know racism like these men did and will never know. You have always been taken care of.
By cc
August 5, 2007 3:39 PM | Link to this
If the average man can get away with passing drug test to apply for jobs(using others urine or drinking that tea which cleans your system) etc just imagine what someone with a lot of money can do to get by when being tested,,,,anyway Henry Aaron will still be the RBI leader which is what baseball is about-driving in runs eh?
By Kerry
August 5, 2007 3:42 PM | Link to this
Mychal, this is the last time you will see me post to you because I have better things to do than argue with a simpleton. You have proved the point that I always tell people. There are just as many black racist as there are white racist. Thank you.
By bigsherm
August 5, 2007 3:44 PM | Link to this
Good article on BB . The problem that I have is this . If we put an asterisk next to BB’s 756, we’ll also have to put one next to Babe Ruth’s 714, because he hit his when large segments of the population were banned under threat of gruesome death from playing MLB.We would also have to put an asterisk next to God knows how many pitches that were thrown to BB during the “steroid era,” catches made against him, etc. It would quickly become a regrettable domino effect.
By the way, why isn’t anyone speaking about Roger Clemens drastic change of body size? Hmmmmm.
By beki
August 5, 2007 3:51 PM | Link to this
As a white kid in 1957, I had several baseball cards: Aaron’s,Billy Williams’s ( of the Cubs )and several others. I never thought of their color then nor when Aaron tied Babe’s record. I thought it was inconceivable that anyone would besmirch Aaron with racist taunts. I think it’s an immature,insecure person who uses racist,expletive-laden,threatening language;perhaps, that makes me a naive person ( even at 61 )but I accept the charge and wear it gladly. I just wonder how BB will feel when Arod passes 755 and at a younger age.
By Marvin
August 5, 2007 3:52 PM | Link to this
Hey Mychal, lest we forget, the debate was centered on Mr. Terrence Moore’s column, Barry Bonds, or did I jump the track somewhere. Frankly, you seem infinitely more racist-minded than any other contributor here today, but I digress into your territory of slander and name calling. As to any Causasian offenders, I am thrilled to the point of tears to have seen McGwire and Palmiero, both non-blacks, slink off into the sunset with their bluster of innocence gone and their respective tails tucked between their legs, as should Sosa and Giambi. Let us keep this conversation on track and not degrade it into a racist shouting match, as you sir have repeatedly and relentlessly done here today.
By J
August 5, 2007 4:36 PM | Link to this
I’ll leave it at this. I wouldn’t spit on Barry Bonds if he was on fire.
By LB
August 5, 2007 5:12 PM | Link to this
Mychal,
I am a first time reader to this column. Because of you it will be the last time I read or post here.
Both Aaron and Bonds are heros and obviously black. Their fans are of all colors. I admire both these men because of their achievements in baseball and not their personal lives.
On the other hand, I have had first hand experience with both men and their non treatment of fans. When a kid takes the time to write a nice letter that takes time, spend mommy’s money to get a couple of stamps then address an envelope back to themselves they should see it as a compliment. They meant something special to that child. When one baseball great never responds at all the the other sends a form price list from a daughter wanting the child to pay for something then I cut my ties with both. I am no longer their fan because of this but I still wish both of them the best of luck and admire their talent.
It does not matter to me what color a person’s skin is, but what matters is how the present themselves to their fans.
The steriod thing, I don’t know. I don’t care. The race of the players doesn’t matter. They are both men. Great talented men who mean a lot to baseball. My highest compliments to them both. I’m just not their fan anymore because of their treatment to fans. Kids are reading this column. What are they supposed to think about the white bashing. I thought the blog was about Aaron and Bonds.
Good Bye all. Most of the posts are great but the offensive remarks about the white race has made me to never come here again to blog. Once is enough for me.
By MAC
August 5, 2007 6:00 PM | Link to this
Who cares if Aaron is the “peoples choice” and Bonds isn’t. Bonds will hold the record and he never flunked a drug test. End of story.
T Moore forgets that Aaron was NOT the peoples choice when he broke the record. Babe Ruth was then, and those who rooted against Aaron were automatically deemed to be haters then. I see no difference in the haters now, except there’s no race card to be played on one vs. the other.
Good for Barry Bonds. And too bad for the small minded hypocrite haters.
By vcole
August 5, 2007 6:07 PM | Link to this
I have been living in Atlanta since 1978 moving from Los Angeles and from what I have seen and heared from Hank is nothing but a bitter and racist man. I will be happy when Bonds breaks the record.
By Mischa
August 5, 2007 6:10 PM | Link to this
For all you morons who think you take steroids simply to get bigger, most players took them to heal faster from injury or to maintain their conditioning over the long season. You can’t simply look at someone and decide they are on steroids. Pitchers used them at the same or greater rate than power hitters. Wise up. This was MUCH more prevalent than the few the media has chosen to crucify.
By Scrode
August 5, 2007 6:16 PM | Link to this
ok Terrance, why don’t we just erase all records and Hall of Fame elections of every player who played in the 90’s and early 2000’s or give lie detectors to them all first? This selective outrage over one guy who happens to give the finger to you media folks is transparent. Look at some of the elite players (pitchers and hitters) whose production has dropped since testing started. Looks more guilty to me than a guy who continues to perform and break records and passes his tests.
By Ann Bemis
August 5, 2007 6:18 PM | Link to this
Barry Bonds will never be the record holder of Hank Aaron’s 755 home run holder, no matter if the record says he is. It really is a shame that there can’t be a separate place for Bond’s record to be placed. I will feel so very sad when the record is broken knowing that Bond’s didn’t make it on his own as Hank Aaron did. Thank you. Ann
By Larnov
August 5, 2007 6:25 PM | Link to this
Bonds will have the record, but Hank Aaron will always be the “Home Run KING”.
By Dave Alan
August 5, 2007 11:13 PM | Link to this
I wish Hank Aaron a long life, But Barry Bonds is the new Homerun King. Get over it. As an African American Man growing up in Huntsville, Alabama I too saw elements of Jim Crow, but It’s the 21 century and all things are equal. So enough about Aaron’s hard time. Hank paved the so praise the new King… BARRY BONDS
By chris
August 6, 2007 2:58 AM | Link to this
What disgusts me the most is that so many people are saying he’s guilty simply based on what they have read or heard in the media. How many times has the media portrayed a story in a certain light only to find out that they were wrong???? If he used steroid creme prior to it being made illegal, I seriously doubt it helped him hit 755 homeruns. Let’s be real about this. Since the steroid controversy, I am sure that if he was using them prior too he would not be now, and guess what….he’s still hitting homeruns. He had never tested positive for steroid use. There are many viable medical uses for steriods when a person had been injured.
Regardless, the man in innocent until proven guilty. I don’t even like baseball but he is still one of the greatest players to ever play the game. Stop judging him. None of us have the right to do that.