By SoupNo credible record book for any mojor sports actually include aterisks. New York sportswriter Dick Young intrduced the idea to trivialize Maris's 61st homer in a `62 game season. The Babe, of course, his 60 in only 154 games.
Though few can spell asterisk (without the help of spell-check) it has become an important part of the sports lexicon reguarding record-holders and hall-of-famers. The most recent example is Barry Bonds and his well documented by officially unproven steroid use.
Okay, So Barry is a big fatheaded cheater. But, it certainly appears that there is a double standard for the general opinion of the cheaters more likeable than Bonds.
We have recently discovered that the New England Patriots are cheaters. Asterisks all three of their Super Bowl victories! If you want to think that Bonds is not the "true homerun king" because he is a cheater you have to apply the same logic to the "true Super Bowl champion" Patriots. It makes no difference that Bonds did something illegal and the Patriots did something immoral. Both are cheaters. The Patriots, however,
are much more likeable because they "Do things the right way."
If you don't think that Bonds belongs in the Hall of Fame you should equally be against the HOF's acceptance of Whitey Ford, Gaylord Perry, Don Sutton, and other well know cheaters.
Sports are subjective. Statistics are not. According to hard facts Barry Bonds is better than anyone else in the history of America at hitting homeruns. You can definitely argue Bond's ranking in all time greats. You cannot, however, rationally argue that he is not the "rightful owner" of the all-time homerun record. He has 762 home runs to prove you
wrong.
9 comments:
This reminds me of a quote attributed to Willie Mays. When asked why he was so good at baseball, he said "When they throw the ball, I hit it. When they hit the ball, I catch it."
It's performance that matters. Barry hit the ball.
If Pete Rose is banned from the hall of fame because of betting on games as a coach (which has nothing to do whatsoever with his stats as a player) then there is no reason why the patriots shouldn't have a huge astericks next to their name. Although its 2 different sports, its the principal.
And by the way, why did Michael Vick get suspended before he was proven guilty for off the field issues, while Belichick won't face any suspension at all?
did i spell asterick right?
morals matter too dad
Biz,no you did not spell asterisk correctly.
Also, what I think is so messed up is the Patriots are thought to be a team that has dominated in the last few years. How much do you think knowing even a little bit about the opposing teams strategy (offensive schemes, defensive formations)? Certainly not a two or three touchdown advantage, but a field goal worth of advantage? I think so.
And the Pats won their last 3 superbowls by a total of 3 points in each game. I think it would be safe to say IF they were getting signals in those games, that it probably made enough of a difference to give them the wins.
if they knew every play before it happened, it would be a joke.
Bonds is the BEST. hands down.
this is all fairly simple and clear stuff. Soup is absolutely correct. the only truly objective way to judge a player is thru statistics.
you can't argue with numbers.
but you can argue (albeit subjectively) with the means and circumstances to achieve those numbers.
Sadahuru Oh - 868 homers
Barry Bonds - 762 homers
the objective evidence says Oh is better than Bonds. but...
Barry Bonds - 762
Hank Aaron - 755
the objective evidence says that bonds is better than aaron. but...
see what i'm getting at?
Based on subjective evidence (which is what makes baseball great) my opinion is that Bonds is NOT better than anyone else in America. And it pisses me off way more than it should when I see Holm sticking up for an asshole like bonds just because he can hit a baseball.
Is Irving 'Irv' Blitzer known as one of the best bobsledder's in the world? No, because he cheated. He put weights in the front of his sled.
Granted, he then inspired the first Jamacian Bob Sled team but that doesn't change the fact that he cheated.
Billy Martin was a drunk and a brawler. Ty Cobb was a mean bastard. Amphetamines were widely used by players in the 1950s and 60's. Mickey Mantle was an alcoholic. Plenty of pitchers throughout the history of the game have used various substances on the ball. Batters have corked bats, managers have stolen signs.
Yes, morals and character matter, but not in the record books. The Hall of Fame selection committee should consider character; the Commissioner when he disciplines players is of course concerned with morals and character. Fans when they boo or cheer (Boo Barry; yeah Johan) are considering character as well as performance.
Just leave it out of the record books because there is no way to fairly assign asterisks.
I like the record books but I also like footnotes. The footnote of the record is WAY more interesting, WAY more telling of the history of the situation and the history of the time period etc etc etc. As most historians say, and just about every history professor, "when in doubt, footnote." The question of fairness of footnotes/asterisks is superfluous--The purpose of the footnote in this case is to attempt to clarify the fairness of the record itself. Objectivity is impossible in the record books and in the footnotes.
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