Reply #23: Cheating vs. Racism [View All]

Cheating (steroid use, etc.), can be proved. With science, chemical analysis, legal facts, etc. Racisim cannot be "proved" in the same way. Which makes it, in my opinion, EXTRA important that we are careful before we throw around terms like racism with regard to Bonds. I can only use myself as an example: white male, in my 40s, sports fan. Pittsburgh native. My idols and heroes, growing up, were Clemente, Stargell, Mean Joe Green, Franco Harris, Swann, Stallworth, Lambert and Bradshaw. Of those eight, only the last two were white. In later years, my Pirate heroes could be summed up in two names: "Bonds and Bonilla."

Fifteen years later, I believe that Bonds cheated by using performance-enhancing chemicals. I think the evidence is overwhelming. And so I belive that his home-run record is tainted. I count Hammerin' Hank among my top five atletes of all time. I watched it live on TV when he broke Babe Ruth's record. I will never forget that day. I will also never forget that racist abuse Hank endured while reaching and passing Ruth's record.

Hank, Clemente, Jim Thorpe, Jim Brown, Michael Jordan and Ali are the six best atheletes who ever lived, in my opinion. And I think Barry Bonds cheated.

You're calling me a racist? Let's discuss.