Sports Columnists

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.

1. Barry has not been indicted for ‘roid use.

2. 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.