Why is Bonds still allowed to get after the record?

[jsarno]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

There's not only the double standard within the sport of baseball, but how about in sports in general. Nobody really cares about steroids in football... seriously did anyone blink an eye about Merriman getting in trouble last year? He still made the Pro Bowl, and outside of a few guys like Jason Taylor nobody really cared, especially amongst the fans.

I have to disagree with you here. There was a lot of talk and upset people when he was voted as an all pro. People just have more faith that it was indeed an accident with him, and he publicly came out and apologized, something Bonds has no intentions of doing. That tends to soften people...also, Merriman didn't get the all time sack record, or the all time single season sack record, or any record for that matter.

I will absolutely agree that I think it's wrong that Baseball ignored it. They ignored it cause they almost killed baseball with all that strike crap, then when McGwire got the single season record, that rebounded the entire sport. I'm not saying it's right, but they saw a sizable increase in fan base and revenue. Hard to point out flaws when that happens. Again, 100% wrong...you shouldn't use band aids to close a gaping wounds...they tried it with interleague play as well. If we know it's wrong, shouldn't it be stopped?

[MTK]

Originally Posted by jsarno

I have to disagree with you here. There was a lot of talk and upset people when he was voted as an all pro. People just have more faith that it was indeed an accident with him, and he publicly came out and apologized, something Bonds has no intentions of doing. That tends to soften people...also, Merriman didn't get the all time sack record, or the all time single season sack record, or any record for that matter.

It blew over pretty damn quick. Other than Jason Taylor I really don't recall anyone making a big stink over it.

Steroids are much more accepted when it comes to football vs. baseball.

[KLHJ2]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

It blew over pretty damn quick. Other than Jason Taylor I really don't recall anyone making a big stink over it.

Steroids are much more accepted when it comes to football vs. baseball.

I believe that it is because the steroid policies were not as strict in baseball for a very long time. Either that or use was getting overlooked. In the NFL steroid use has been closely observed. The federal government had to get involved in MLB's business, while Paul Tagliabue was able to keep the fed out of NFL business for the most part. This was due to the fact that the NFL had always handled illegal use of steroids with swift and severe punishment as opposed to MLB.

NFL's Steroid Policy Gets Kudos on Capitol Hill (washingtonpost.com)

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

It blew over pretty damn quick. Other than Jason Taylor I really don't recall anyone making a big stink over it.

Steroids are much more accepted when it comes to football vs. baseball.

It's not so much about steroid use as it is about records. Baseball has long been about numbers. Everyone knows 56 game hit streak, 755 homeruns, 511 wins, 4,1256 hits, etc.

You may know that Emmitt Smith is the all-time leading rusher, or Jerry Rice has the most receptions all time but off the top of your head do you know the numbers? That's what separates baseball. People make a big deal not because of the steroids so much as numbers that mean something to them suddenly are irrelevant

[jsarno]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

It's not so much about steroid use as it is about records. Baseball has long been about numbers. Everyone knows 56 game hit streak, 755 homeruns, 511 wins, 4,1256 hits, etc.

You may know that Emmitt Smith is the all-time leading rusher, or Jerry Rice has the most receptions all time but off the top of your head do you know the numbers? That's what separates baseball. People make a big deal not because of the steroids so much as numbers that mean something to them suddenly are irrelevant

Beleive it or not, you said that perfectly.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by jsarno

Beleive it or not, you said that perfectly.

Um...thanks I guess

[KLHJ2]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

It's not so much about steroid use as it is about records. Baseball has long been about numbers. Everyone knows 56 game hit streak, 755 homeruns, 511 wins, 4,1256 hits, etc.

You may know that Emmitt Smith is the all-time leading rusher, or Jerry Rice has the most receptions all time but off the top of your head do you know the numbers? That's what separates baseball. People make a big deal not because of the steroids so much as numbers that mean something to them suddenly are irrelevant

What made these numbers so important? Was it something like a family heirloom that was passed down from generation to generation or is it something else. I do not know baseball so I didn't know the numbers until you just rattled them off. Ironically I do not know the numbers for football either.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by angryssg

What made these numbers so important? Was it something like a family heirloom that was passed down from generation to generation or is it something else. I do not know baseball so I didn't know the numbers until you just rattled them off. Ironically I do not know the numbers for football either.

It's just the way the sport has always been, with stats and numbers being so dominant