Curt Schilling/Barry Bonds

[owl]

Can someone explain to me why Curt Schilling apologized to Barry Bonds?

 

Is it because Schilling is equally guilty of using steroids, because he said "black, orgreen, or purple, or yellow, or whatever," because Bonds does deserve to legitimately break the record...or what??

 

Or is this a case of "If you're asking, you won't get it anyway."

[Lammycat]

Because Schilling made some comments to WEEI in essence stating that Bond's admitted to spousal cheating, steroid use, etc. He stated it as fact, not speculation like everyone else.

 

Short end of it: What Schilling calls being candid is again a simple case of having a big mouth.

 

ed. for inaccuracies.

[owl]

Okay, I get it.

 

So it's popularly accepted-- just not confirmed-- that Bonds did those things, then?

[Lammycat]

It's generally accepted that he's taken both steroids and HGH, yes.

[owl]

And it's generally assumed that Bonds cheated his way to this record. It just remains slander to publicly say so.

 

Alright. I get it. Thanks for your help.

[cryptique]

Didn't he acknowledge that he'd probably taken steroids, but claim that he was unaware what the substances were?

 

I don't believe for a second that he was unaware. True, nothing's been definitively proven yet, but the physical evidence alone is pretty damning.

 

Honestly, I keep hoping for an indictment and suspension to come down before he catches Aaron. I won't mind when someone breaks that record -- I just don't want it to be Bonds.

[owl]

I don't think that any sensible person would disagree with you.

[Lammycat]

owl, I feel you were maybe looking for a different answer?

[owl]

Nope, I think that pretty much covers it.

 

Basically, Schilling had to apologize for being a dick, even though what he said is technically true.

 

The only other question I have is- is it popularly accepted that Schilling used steroids, too?

[Lammycat]

I don't think he's ever been accused nor has there been any evidence presented that he did. I don't recall reading first-hand accounts of him doing steroids, either. I don't recall a lengthy investigative book detailing his history with steroids through receipts, first-hand accounts, etc.

 

So no, I would say it's not generally accepted that Schilling has used steroids.

[darkstar]

There was also talk about what Schilling said could have been libel and he was afraid of getting sued. Regarding B*nds cheating on taxes, his wife, etc. Either way fuck B*nds. If that guy was even slightly decent I don't think there would be as much rancor about this record. The fact is he is not a very likeable guy and that has hurt his image. Throw in the assumption he has cheated and you get a lot of negativity for the guy.

 

There was a post on some Boston blog and a guy said that whomever catches the 756 ball needs to write in big letters "BALCO" on it then throw it back on the field. Of course that won't happen because surely whomever catches said ball will cash in on it, but I thought it was pretty funny.

[owl]

Okay, I just wasn't sure if Schilling got mentioned in that Canseco book(?), too. Either way, I don't understand why MLB can't get control of doping.

[darkstar]

Okay, I just wasn't sure if Schilling got mentioned in that Canseco book(?), too. Either way, I don't understand why MLB can't get control of doping.

 

 

They are trying to now, but back in the day 80's-90's when it was going on big time they turned a blind eye to it. Let's face it lots of big home runs= putting fans in seats. Anytime there has been scandal or hints of it baseball tends to hope it just goes away. Like the Black Sox scandal of 1919, the owners were horrified that if fans thought games were crooked they would stop showing up. They covered up all the evidence and testimony. Then commisioner Landis eventually banned all involved I think a year later or something.

[yankhotelfox]

As far as I know, Schilling has never been on the juice. He's too much of a baseball purist. He does seem like a dickhead though.

 

Is there a bigger cheater in sports history than Barry Bonds? When/If (I can be hopeful) he breaks Hank's record, it will be the most tarnished event in MLB history. I hate Bonds. He is a total douche and is the poster man for poor role models. Oh well, they can't all be like Mr. Jeter.

[ms. yvon]

Is there a more successful cheater in sports history than Barry Bonds?

barry isn't the first man to "cheat," just the one who's gotten the farthest.

[yankhotelfox]

barry isn't the first man to "cheat," just the one who's gotten the farthest.

 

I'm not saying he's the first cheater, just the biggest cheater considering which sports record is jeopardized by his steroid use. It's such an incredible shame. Hammerin' Hank was an icon and a great role model. He never even hit 50 HR in a season, his most was 47 (1971). And, he was clean.

[mountain bed]

Honestly, I keep hoping for an indictment and suspension to come down before he catches Aaron. I won't mind when someone breaks that record -- I just don't want it to be Bonds.

I agree. I was talking with a good friend of mine about this stuff last week (Aaron was his childhood hero). What would happen if nobody decided to pitch to Bonds from now on? I mean, just walk him every time he comes up? As far as I know, there's no rules that specifically say that you can't do that.

 

Imo it will be a sad day if/when the record is broken by BB.

[bobbob1313]

Ugh.

 

It doesn't mean he's the greatest hitter. It doesn't mean he was the greatest home run hitter. It means he hit the most home runs. Thats it. He played in a very high home run era. So his achievements are much less impressive when viewed in context, but for some reason people tend to look at stuff like this in a vacuum. It is a number.

[myboyblue]

Ugh.

 

It doesn't mean he's the greatest hitter. It doesn't mean he was the greatest home run hitter. It means he hit the most home runs. Thats it. He played in a very high home run era. So his achievements are much less impressive when viewed in context, but for some reason people tend to look at stuff like this in a vacuum. It is a number.

 

It's probably the most important record in sports. Bonds is a great hitter but he cheated and shouldn't break the record of a legend like Aaron. I'm with Mountain Bed, walk him until he and his huge head retire.

[Lammycat]

Earl:

"It doesn't mean he was the greatest home run hitter. It means he hit the most home runs. Thats it."

 

What?

 

I know your an apologist for Bonds, but c'mon.

 

There are a remarkable amount of baseball, the sport, fans who simply do not dig Bonds cheating his way to the coveted pot of gold. It's really that simple. Justify it anyway you want, but it's still not jibing with a lot of baseball fans.

[bjorn_skurj]

Unless he goes on a tear, he probably won't get the record when the Giants play at Shea at the end of the month. It would be awesome if he did, though, as he would be so loudly booed REALITY ITSELF would split apart and shadow-demons from an alternate dimension would arise from the rift and carry him off to Gehenna.

[bobbob1313]

Earl:

"It doesn't mean he was the greatest home run hitter. It means he hit the most home runs. Thats it."

 

What?

 

I know your an apologist for Bonds, but c'mon.

 

There are a remarkable amount of baseball, the sport, fans who simply do not dig Bonds cheating his way to the coveted pot of gold. It's really that simple. Justify it anyway you want, but it's still not jibing with a lot of baseball fans.

 

If people don't want to accept him as the record holder, they don't have to, but really the record doesn't mean anything. It doesn't tarnish Aaron's legacy, or make him any less of a player (though I would argue Bonds was a better player than Aaron before the roids). All it means is that Bonds literally hit more home runs than him. I'm not defending Bonds here, I'm saying that him breaking the record isn't the worst thing in the world. We get too caught up in the raw numbers sometimes. Aaron played in a pitcher's era (1960's). Bonds played in a hitter's (or steroid era). Take the numbers with a grain of salt and put them in context. He hit a massive amount of home runs, but he played in a much easier time to hit home runs.

[myboyblue]

Again, biggest record in sports. It means something to most baseball fans.