First of all, Happy Father’s Day to all Father’s everywhere. I would like to wish my own Dad a Happy Father’s Day as well.

 

 

 

Most of us learn about sports through our fathers, therefore, it is no surprise that many athletes have followed in their fathers into the world of professional sports.

 

 

 

10. The Walton’s: Bill Walton was a great player who is a member of both the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame as well as the Basketball hall of Fame. He won three straight college player of the year awards at UCLA and then went on to have a great NBA Career where he won two Championships. His son, Luke played basketball at the University of Arizona. He was drafted 32nd overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2003 NBA Draft and currently comes off of the bench for the Western Conference Champions.

 

 

 

9. The Boone’s: The Boone’s became the first family in major league baseball history to have players from three generations. Ray Boone was a 12 year infielder in the Major Leagues. Bob Boone was a major league catcher and later a manager for the Royals and the Reds. Bob’s sons Bret and Aaron also made it to the majors. Bret is a retired second baseman, while Aaron is currently a member on the Washington Nationals. Aaron is most known for his game-winning home-run in game 7 of the 2003 ALCS, where coincidentally his brother Bret was a guest broadcaster.

 

 

 

8. The Barry’s: Rick and Brent Barry are one of only two Father-son combinations in NBA history to both win a championship. Rick Barry won his ring in 1975 with the Warriors while his son Brent has received two with San Antonio.

 

7. The Howe’s: Gordie Howe “won six MVP awards and six scoring championships in 25 years with Detroit and left the game with 801 goals, 1,049 assists and 1,850 points – all NHL records. That is, until Wayne Gretzky came along.” His son Mark played in the NHL for 16 seasons and appeared in the Stanley Cup Finals 3 times with Pittsburgh and Detroit.

 

 

 

 

6. The Norton’s: Both father and son are known for giving out hits. However, they went about it in different ways. Ken Sr. was a boxer and won the World Heavyweight Boxing Championship in 1978. Norton Jr. was a linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys where he won two Super Bowls. He then became a San Francisco 49er where he won another ring and became the first player to win three consecutive Super Bowls. He played in the NFL for 13 seasons and is currently the Linebacker Coach for the USC Trojans.

 

    

 

5. The Griffey’s: Griffey Senior was a three time all-star and two time World Series Champion. Griffey Junior has yet to win the rings but proved that he was a much better player than his father. He is number 6 on the all-time #### run list and is one of only 6 members in the 600 home-run club. He is a ten-time gold glove award winner, 13 time all-star, and won the MVP Award in 1997. The Griffey’s became the first father-son duo to play on the same team when they appeared together for the Mariners in 1990. On September 14, 1990 the Griffey’#### back to back home runs, a truly special and memorable moment for the father and son.

 

 

4. The Earnhardt’s: Dale Earnhardt was a true racing legend who had a career that lasted over two decades and amassed 76 wins. He was named one of NASCAR’s 50 greatest drivers. Tragically, “He was killed when his car crashed into the wall on the final lap of the 2001 Daytona 500.” Earnhardt Junior has had early success in his career including a win at the 2004 Daytona 500.

 

 

 

3. The Ali’s: The only father/daughter combination to make the list. Muhammad Ali was voted Sportsman of the Century by Sports Illustrated. He is arguably the most famous athlete and has been called “The Greatest of All-Time.” Despite the enormous shoes to fill, Laila Ali has not disappointed. She is a perfect 24-0, with 21 wins by knockout.

 

 

 

2. The Bonds’: Bobby Bonds played 14 seasons in the MLB, went to three all-star games and became the first player in the history of the sport to hit 300 home runs and steal 400 bases. His son is now the only other player to accomplish this feat. Barry Bonds is a seven time national league MVP and is currently Major League Baseball’s all-time home run leader. (762)

 

 

 

1. The Manning’s: All three Manning’s were Heisman Trophy Finalists. Archie was drafted second overall while both his sons were drafted first overall. This is a family that exemplifies athletics abilities being passed from one generation to the next. Archie had a great career with a horrible New Orleans Saints team. He played 14 seasons and was named NFL MVP in 1978. Peyton is one of the most marketable players in the NFL. He is a two-time league MVP as well as Super Bowl MVP. Eli is the youngest of the Manning trio and still has many good years left in him. Last year he began to break out of his shell and shown the kind of talent that people had witnessed while watching him play at Ole Miss. His 2007-2008 season was capped when he led his New York Giants to a Super Bowl victory over the heavily favored New England Patriots. Eli was named the game’s MVP.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*There was no place for it on the list, but a special Father’s Day moment that deserves to be mentioned came in 2004 when Ken Griffey Junior hit his 500th career home run on Father’s Day with his dad in attendance. He became the 6th youngest player to reach the 500 home run mark and became the first player to hit his 500th career home run in a Cincinnati Uniform. "It was a nice Father's Day present, but it's an easy way to get out of giving me something," Griffey Sr. joked.

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Special Thanks to cbssports.com, askmen.com, espn.com, and usatoday.com for pictures, quotes, and statistics.

 

 

In an era of baseball that has been so heavily tainted with the use of performance enhancing drugs, it is an unfortunate truth that we need to be skeptical of everyone and not only the superstars.

 

 

Many people have said that although Bonds' record is more than likely tarnished it does not matter because A-Rod will break that record soon enough. Although I believe that he is clean and I hope he is because I want him to hold the record, how do we know that Alex isn't juicing?

 

 

Jose Canseco recently said that in his upcoming book he has information regarding Alex Rodriguez. Although we do not know the extent of this information we have to be weary of our opinions on A-Rod. Many people are dismissing this statement because they don't trust Canseco. However, in his first book "Juiced" Canseco was right about the steroids that were used by Giambi, Palmeiro, Juan Gonzalez and others. He has been right before and it is possible to believe he will be right again.

 

 

It has been said that possibly as many as 85 percent of players are using or have used steroids. Although this may be an exaggeration it shows that many players are cheating the game. It saddens me to say that we must question all records, milestones, and breakout seasons that occur during this era.

 

 

Baseball's steroid testing policy is easily beaten and baseball records will continue to lose credibility until this is solved. Baseball needs to begin testing for human growth hormone (HGH) or else it will continue to be shadowed by steroids.

 

The passing of the torch from Hank Aaron to Barry Bonds was supposed to be celebrated and respected. Instead we got a night full of controversy and although everyone is talking about the new career home run leader, we are also talking about the shadows under which that record was broken. A night that was supposed to be truly historic and memorable will be memorable, but for entirely different reasons than planned. It will be remembered as the tainted record, the crown achievement in the steroid era.

 

Everything about last night seemed staged or even fake, from Hank Aaron’s message, to Bud Selig’s phone call to Bonds, and even the record itself based upon the numerous allegations.

 

 

Although I never felt that Bud Selig had to be there for the record I was disappointed that once he committed he gave up. I feel as if it is his personal choice to go or no to go and that he was not obligated to go just because he is the commissioner. The commissioner was not in attendance when Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth’s all time record. I respect Bud for going to the games he did attend for the sake of Bonds and the public, but I feel as if once he started attending games he should have gone to all of them. He needed to continue what he started and complete his “Herculean effort.” I do not understand going to some, but not all of the games. Yes it is a lot of travel, but then again he traveling first class on private jets and watching baseball from luxury suites. That sounds pretty good to me. I am glad that Selig at least acknowledged Bonds by giving him the phone call afterwards. We all know Selig was torn between Bonds and Aaron, but he did at least make an effort even though it was weak.

 

 

Although it was a class act and it was necessary for him to withhold his legacy and avoid public scrutiny I did not like the video message from Hank Aaron. Yes, it was a nice touch and added a lot to an already remarkable moment. However, I have heard that Selig forced Aaron to record this message and Hank was against it, but went forward with it anyway. This is the part I have a problem with. Hank Aaron should not be forced to do anything that he does not want to do. The message was not heartfelt, but it was necessary. Aaron has said that he does not respect the way in which this record was broken and he is entitled to his opinion. It was good to see that he was able to #### his pride for long enough to record the message, but I do not really see the point in saying something that is not meant, especially when Aaron has someone write the message for him. Hank just read a prepared statement in order to make everyone happy and in a way I guess it worked. I just feel that doing it in this way took away most of the meaning from the statement.

 

 

The record itself will always be debated, or at least until it is broken (hopefully A-Rod). Although Bonds was a great player before steroids and still possibly would have hit around 600 home runs you can not ignore the facts. Performance enhancing drugs were taken by Bonds and there should be something to reflect that in the history books. I understand that he is technically innocent until proven guilty. But we all know that he did take steroids and he is just able to get away with it for now.

 

You can also take the approach that Bonds was not the only one taking steroids. Okay somewhat valid point, but if you do not put an asterisk next to this record just because the pitchers were juicing too you take away from what Hank Aaron accomplished during his career. 756 and 756* are so vastly different. Without that asterisk it appears as if Barry Bonds honestly and legitimately passed Henry Aaron.

 

There will always be those who are ignorant enough to say there should not be an asterisk because Bonds has not been proven of anything. While the majority of us want an asterisk for the good of baseball and the legacy and the legend that is Hank Aaron, baseball’s home run king.

In terms of numbers yes, as far as baseball stature and lure it is not even close. Although he will finish his career with more home runs than Hank, Bonds will not be remembered and revered in nearly the same way as Aaron. Regardless of who hit more long balls in their day Hank Aaron is still Major League Baseball's Home Run King.

Society tends to look for the negative aspect in the majority of things we do and it is very easy to find a little bit of negative in everything. Maybe someone has a good fastball, but no change-up. Maybe they were a home-run hitter, but were fat and drank to much (Babe Ruth). Or maybe they are a good hitter, but they used steroids.

When people think of Barry Bonds and his 755 home runs we reflect on the steroids, the selfishness, and the egotistical jerk who loves to blame stuff on others and hates the media. This is remarkably different from the way people view Hank Aaron's achievement. Aaron is highly respected and his record will never be tarnished the way Bonds' is.

While Bonds has to deal with the pressure of being arguably one of the most hated men in sports. It is nothing compared to the death threats and racial remarks that Aaron dealt with.

As Bonds will be remembered as the poster boy of baseball steroid era, Aaron will continue to be remembered as the true Home Run King.

One final thought further supporting the legacy of Hank Aaron is that every year Major league baseball hands out the Hank Aaron Award to the top hitter in each league. I can not imagine that there will be a Barry Bonds Award ever.