Steroid Use in Baseball

I'd like to see McGuire's and Bonds' HR records stricken from the books, and Bonds kicked out of the game starting now. If, after an investigation, the evidence supports guilt, both should be banned from the HOF as well (I think Pete Rose should go in before them). This steroid thing is as bad or worse than the Black Sox scandal ... the integrity of the game has been seriously damaged. In my mind, the HR king is still Maris. Thoughts?

Well, I think the problem is that Andro, while the FDA is cracking down on it now, wasn't illegal back when McGwire broke the single season record. And Bonds I believe has admitted to using human growth hormones, which may or may not contain steroids. But let's say they ban those substances now. They weren't illegal when the records were broken so I don't think you can go back and change the records. Would you change Ruth's records because no Blacks or Latins were allowed to play in the majors then, or are Mays' records tainted because the Polo Grounds was less than 280 to the left field foul pole, and 260 to right? Besides, just because you're big doesn't necessarily give you the hand-eye coordination, or bat speed to hit over 650 home runs in your career as Bonds had.

All that being said, something needs to be done. I'm a huge baseball fan and I'm not naive to the fact that there is a prevailing sense of overall guilt by the court of public opinion, perhaps the most important court of all. Until, the fans can begin to trust the players, baseball will continue to be a second rate sport

I'd like to see McGuire's and Bonds' HR records stricken from the books, and Bonds kicked out of the game starting now. If, after an investigation, the evidence supports guilt, both should be banned from the HOF as well (I think Pete Rose should go in before them). This steroid thing is as bad or worse than the Black Sox scandal ... the integrity of the game has been seriously damaged. In my mind, the HR king is still Maris. Thoughts?


The problem is unless you actually have video or pictures of them shooting up with the steriod, there will be no way to prove 100% for sure that they took them....Do you think Bonds will be on them rigth now and risk failing a test if ordered to take one? No way! and he will deny taking them until hell freezes over...everybody knows they are on steriods, but in our justice system, you need proof beyond a reasonable doubt.

You're right ... at the very least there would have to be a paper trail, witnesses, or maybe you could get them to confess. It'll be interesting to see how quickly Bonds' skills deteriorate now that he's off the juice ... Hank Aaron might be safe, assuming Bonds hasn't already switched to a newer "undetectable" steroid. Regardless I think it's possible that the whole stigma associated with Bonds and McGuire will have HOF voters passing on them every year. I feel they have damaged the game in ways comparable only to the Black Sox and Pete Rose. If you're a marginal player who's barely getting by, I can see the temptation to use roids ... it's still cheating, but I can understand it. But when you're one of the game's premier players on pure talent alone, and then you hit the juice toward the end of your career so that you can break a few hallowed records, then you are an absolute disgrace to the game and shouldn't even be allowed on the field.

I'm going to start off by saying I hate baseball. It's fine to play, but watching it I just can't stand. I'm starting to think you need more physical grit in Nascar than you do for Baseball. It seems like a lot of overpaid guys (they don't exactly sell much in the way of seats or merchandise, except the Yankees and Redsox) who for a majority of the game won't touch the ball or have it near them. The difference in football is the guys not on the ball are doing something.

I think all sports should make a standard for every substance they want banned and work together. Baseball always seems to lag way behind the other sports when it comes to banning things. Took till the Orioles pitcher died to ban Ephedra.

Anyhow, just my two cents.