My response to a racist comment at PJStar.com:
With all due respect, Eric…that’s a bunch of baloney. There were indeed a few morons who tried to and in cases did disrespect Hank Aaron, but they were VASTLY outnumbered by white fans who were happy for him in his chase and eventual overtaking of Babe Ruth.
What Barry Bonds has done has NOTHING to do with race, in my eyes and the eyes of millions of my fellow baseball fans who happen to be white, it’s about the steroids, it’s about the CHEATING. I feel the same way about Mark McGwire, Jose Canseco, Sammy Sosa, Ken Caminiti, and Jason Giambi. And if you’ll check, I think you’ll see several “colors” there on that little list.
Steroids means EVERYTHING regarding power in baseball. If you have talent, then you add 40 pounds of muscle, you get that much stronger, that much quicker, that much more successful. And the SAME goes for pitching. Get bigger, get stronger, throw harder, get people out easier. Steroids has ruined a once-great game, and it has NOTHING to do with race. So stop playing the race card, you’re way out of bounds with this one.
BTW, and for the record, after seeing and reading the evidence that Sports Illustrated put forth several years ago, there is plenty of doubt about whether or not Babe Ruth was white. He may very well have been black, or of a mixed heritage. And you know what? I could care less. He was still a great baseball player. So was Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Harmon Killebrew, Ted Williams, Stan Musial, Bob Gibson, Tony Oliva, Nolan Ryan, Walter Johnson, Roy Campenella, etc. etc. etc. All great, and I don’t give two s%*^s about what “color” they were.
The original story and comments are here.
3 responses so far ↓
1
Anon E. Mouse
// Jul 18, 2007 at 1:10 am
Should Barry Bonds record have an asterisk?
I wish I could remember who said it, but they suggested that all records before 1948 should have an asterisk. You know, before integration.
2
bjstone
// Jul 18, 2007 at 3:11 am
To answer your question: Yes. Without a doubt. Actually, it would be better if his records were stricken, which could happen if he’s convicted after he retires (which is a strong possibility).
I also heard that comment about pre-1948, except it’s got one flaw: Jackie Robinson was NOT the first black major leaguer. On May 1, 1884, Moses Fleetwood Walker became the first black major leaguer. Several blacks played before the turn of the 20th century, as a matter of fact. Plus, there is (as I mentioned above) some doubt now cast on the background of one George Herman “Babe” Ruth.
Jackie Robinson was part of a great thing. But it was the RE-integration of baseball, NOT the integration of baseball. A common misconception that is part of what some would call a “revisionist history”.
3
Wednesday morning linkage | Peoria Pundits
// Jul 18, 2007 at 8:23 am
[...] B.J. Stone knows as much about baseball as he does about particle physics. But this post about Barry Bonds makes [...]
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