Show Let e B Bonds on s celebrate W i I Vir M c and seems Jeff Dixon Opinion Editor Id I'd first like to praise Barry Bonds for his recent achievements achievements achievements achieve achieve- ments of tying and surpassing Babe Ruth for career home runs Though a team sport individual accomplishments such as this enrich the story and perpetuate the greatness that is Major League Baseball Even though he hit his against my Oakland As A's I watched in awe and would have joined the standing ovation ovation ovation ova ova- tion had I been there I laud success success sometimes sometimes grudging- grudging ly iy Many of my fellow baseball fans however wish for some of Bonds' Bonds and other roid roil users statistics to be marked with an asterisk his alleged v steroid use may mayor or may not have helped him do this Yes Bonds and the rest of the shattering record-shattering steroid users deceptive men of average talent talent talent tal tal- tal- tal ent who needed to cheat for their success cheats who cheated all the dead drunk playboys out of their legitimately legitimately legitimately earned glory Oh how dare they Couldn't and wouldn't would would- nt have been done without the juice right As they say in the ward- ward house The writing is on the wall Bonds has been put on trial by sports media an institution known for its use of flawed logic and unsubstantiated rumors to make their case and most of the public has lapped it all up Do you as Americans not believe in m or respect our justice sy system l t where h. h e ont one J js As innocent sh until proven guilty and is given due process in a court of law to find out the truth What's wrong here If he were on your team You'd defend him Not only would you defend him you'd love him Why Because a player with his talent and production production production pro pro- is forgivable because production and talent are ALL that matter in sport Hes He's a ballplayer ballplayer ballplayer ball ball- player his off-field off personality is not relevant Because of my allegiances Ive I've supported quite the cast of fan non- non favorites As a Lakers fan I support Kobe Bryant As an As A's fan I support Jose Jost Canseco As Asa a Raiders fan I well I support support support sup sup- port the Raiders To be a fan is isto isto isto to often be an apologist for whomever dons your colors Where is your character Extroverted outgoing and friendly personality and a willingness willingness willingness will will- to put up with sports media hacks many of whom are aid t do- do Un s P Blood od hounds that thrive on hearsay and speculation are traits some fans seek in these heroes These are pro athletes athletes athletes ath ath- ath- ath letes people They're flawed just as the rest of us The only reason we care about their actions is because of their prominence prominence and and their prominent prominent prominent nent achievements in in one area To expect a person we can identify with behind their talent is to set oneself up for disappointment If a player is anice a anice anice nice guy great But their only obligation is to help the team win That all of you Bonds- Bonds haters would consistently cuddle cuddle cuddle cud cud- dle up to the media and sign every autograph requested of you and share your screen big-screen TV with your teammates is self deception Ego It seems the main determinant determinant determinant nant for whether a player is loved or loathed ego Heres Here's the real problem people have with B dY u resent ent anyone n v vv v. v n selfish These arc are virtues If Bonds were the opposite hed he'd be a dishrag not an Nonetheless you want a wholesome pie apple-pie aw shucks sort of guy you can relate to Bonds may have a superiority complex which isn't all delusion and because his actions may be justified you hate him Just as people hate the Yankees because they win too much you hate B Barry rry Bonds because he too is confident selfish and has had phenomenal success Ruth was and is adored de despite pite his alcoholism violent temper and infidelity traits and habits Bonds doesn't have trumps all from the White House to the dugout One more thing Has anyone noticed that Bonds hasn't shrunk since the implementation of steroid policy His home runs haven't reduced in distance either Dingers and went back as they say For those of you with a selective memory this is further further fur fur- further ther proof that Bonds is a great power hitter with or without the juice just as he was before his growth the phase-the growth phase which led many to foolishly foolishly foolishly fool fool- attribute his increased size to his many home runs For people who never got past t-ball t it takes much more than big muscles to hit a ball far Technique is key and Bonds has always had the ability to go yard So get over your useless hatred and acknowledge that Barry Bonds is one of the greatest of all time He has rightfully earned his success ao 1 0 01 juice I. I I l. l |