If it is conclusively proven that barry bonds used steriods, should all of his awards and records be voided?

Question

if indeed, after all of these congressional hearings and all had been heard and it is proven that barry bonds did use steroids *knowingly* , should the records he set be stricken off the record books, and should all of his awards be taken back?

for example: resetting the HR record back to 755 of hank aaron

Answer 1

As much as I don't like the guy, I don't think you can do that. He wasn't the only one doing steroids, unfortunately.

No need for an asterisk, either. People will know and remember what he did without it.

Answer 2

Your logic is reasonable. The problem is the records are kept by Major League Baseball, and Commissioner Bud Selig has stated he is opposed to changing the records once they are in the books. He said this as Bonds was chasing the record last year.

The second part of your question is the word "should." Many fans, myself included, would say yes, the records should be adjusted, MVP throphies should be returned, and asterisks should be placed next to his name in all stat books. Unfortunately, Selig has no interest in adjusting the records and is content with allowing a black cloud to hover over the home run record until it is broken.

Answer 3

it has never been proven that he used them at all, it has been implied and there is evidence, but to actually be proven a jury must decide based upon evidence.

IMO if it was in proven then I believe he should be stripped, but consider this, steroids do nothing to help you actually hit the ball

Answer 4

Of course they should, how is it fair that he gets to keep those distinctions after cheating?

Answer 5

i do see your point in the question, but the answer should be no. The ethical answer would be yes, however if he was using, it ws not illegal in baseball at the time.

Beside, there were obviously others using, including pitchers, and you cant go back and take away any records that they may have set.

Besides if a pitcher was juicing, and if bonds ws juicing, wouldn't it kinda equal out???

Answer 6

Let me start off by saying I can't stand Barry Bonds. That being said though, he did something that hundreds of other players did too.  The only thing he's really guilty of is lying. I just wish all these guys (Bonds, McGwire, Clemens) would just admit what they did and move on.

Answer 7

What's there to prove that Barry Bonds "didn't" use?  He used steroids and HGH when prescribed by a doctor for recovery from his surgeries and also "knowlingly used" those PED's in a recreational manner before the HR races, but in a legal manner because Bud Selig did not outlaw them officially until 2003.  Any "true baseball fan", kindergarten student or chimpanzee can tell you that.....

Fake fans, haters, jealous people and bandwagoners all spew the same hatred and jealousy here by claiming he's a "bad person", has "cancer" (looks healthy to me.....), is a "distraction" (what celebrity or athlete does not have media types following them????), "ruined" baseball (seats still filled and SRO's still in effect in baseball.....), is a "disgrace", has "baggage" (of course he does because he travels.....) and other childish stuff that belongs on playgrounds.....

I had the pleasure of meeting both Barry Bonds and Henry Aaron together at the All Star Game festivities and after parties in San Francisco last year, and Henry did not even look like he was disgusted with Barry and Barry was not acting like he was God.  They both enjoyed the atmosphere, were talking civilly and enjoyed each other's company.  

I also met Barry Bonds at work (EA Sports) and in my neighborhood (San Mateo/Foster City, CA) occasionally and he was courteous, shook everyone's hand (media types say he does not.....), signed autographs freely (contrary to what they say that he's not a signer.....), takes the time to chat with you (media says he's very short and impatient.....) and does not walk around like he's in need of attention.  In my years working at EA, Tom Brady, Vince Carter and Terrell Owens had worse attitudes than Barry is reported to have.  Even Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods were very casual and friendly with us!!!!!

I believe that since he did use steroids "legally", his records will definitely stand and awards will remain in his possession!  I also loved that Marc Ecko stamped the baseball with a five pronged "star" and not a six pronged "asterisk"!  Now, the #756 ball will be easier to find in the HOF display!

Answer 8

Baseball has no answer to the Barry Bonds question.  

Let's face it, nothing has been proven conclusively yet, but anyone who believes he wasn't on some kind of performance enhancing drug probably still believes in the tooth fairy.  You don't get that big that fast without help.

That being said, there are a couple of problems with stripping his numbers...

1)   He was not the only juiced player in the 90s and early 2000s.  There were a lot of players on 'roids and HGH.  If you strip his numbers, you should strip everybody's numbers - whether they were league records or not.

2)   The players carry the guilt of using the drugs, but the league and owners knew full well that the guys were doping.  It wouldn't surprise me to find out that at least some of the teams helped their players obtain or use drugs.  You can't willingly turn an blind eye to something, then come back and point fingers.  If owners knew that their players were juicing and didn't do anything about it, one could argue that the owners of the World Series Championship teams should have their championships taken back.  They knowingly cheated too.

   As far as I'm concerned, baseball has to acknowledge Bonds' numbers.  The most that they can do is put an asterisk beside his stats and point out that players - many players - were using performance enhancing drugs at the time these numbers were achieved.  

   Lying to the grand jury is another thing altogether.  If he is found guilty, he needs to go to jail.

Answer 9

no becasue you still have to hit the ball just right and have your timeing down to hit homeruns no matter how much steroids you take.

Answer 10

No. If he did them he did them at a time that they wern't illegal in baseball. He is only guilty of lying to a Grand Jury.

Answer 11

YES

I think

SO

Barry

Stinks

And is

the worst

player

in

baseball