Recently, I was just thinking about sports in general and I started to think about some of the weird things involved with sports such as mascots, fan behavior, team names, etc.

Will someone please explain to me why the Seattle Mariners have a moose as a mascot? Mariners have to do with people of the sea because Seattle is towards the coast. That part makes sense, but what does a moose have to do with the ocean? Fill me in?

Another mascot that bothers me is the Philly Phanatic. I have no clue as to how the big green guy relates to baseball or to the Phillies in any way. It is just some random guy in a fat green suit that appears to be more fit for Sesame Street than a Major League Baseball Mascot.

I have never understood why fans need to be quiet at golf tournaments. Golfers are professional athletes and should be able to hit the ball despite the noise from the crowd. When Tiger goes to putt, it is dead silent. We can only imagine what it would be like if the arena was expected to be silent when Kobe Bryant stepped to the free throw line. Golf is one of the few sports where you are only allowed to cheer at select times and I disagree.

Although it may arguably be one of the best rivalries in college football, how intimidating is a game between the Ducks and the Beavers. When people think of football they think of tough guys playing a mean and physical game. The brutality and masculinity of it is something that we all love, but the Ducks and the Beavers? Those aren’t exactly the most intimidating team names out there.

Why is soccer the most popular sport in the world, but in one of the best sports countries of the world it is hardly relevant? The most popular sport in the world is probably the fifth most popular sport in the United States. Soccer follows the NFL, MLB, NBA, and the NHL.

Why are there sausage races at Miller Park in Milwaukee? It is just a stupid idea to begin with. I don’t want to watch some guy dressed up like a bratwurst, running around the field. But, maybe some people find that amusing?

Shaq has now decided that he can rap. Good for him. Some people will say that his rap was horrible and it was, but I don’t think that Shaq cares about public humiliation. Just look at his free throw stats or his acting “career”…

Where did Barry Zito go? The former CY Young award winner is currently 3-12 with an era just under 6.What has happened to him? $126 million bust. I guess I do have a little sympathy for Giants fans as they have to watch that debacle every fifth day as well as realize that they can’t sign free agents because Zito has taken up all of their money. I’m glad that I don’t have to deal with that.

Will Brett Favre really make a return? Would returning really be a good idea if he is unable to play for the Packers? It is also important to note that Brett was on the Madden cover. The “Madden Curse” could hit Brett and nobody would want Brett to go out in a bad way. However, he is already going out with his last pass being intercepted…

As much as I love being a part of it, the “Black Hole” and the Raider Nation are a bit over the top. Passionate fans are great, but it can only take you so far. The intimidation caused by the rowdy fans is lost when the visiting team realizes who they are actually playing against. When the fans are more intimidating than the team itself, you have a problem. No doubt about it, the Raiders have a problem…..or two……

Barrel Man is a Denver Broncos fan that attends every home game dressed in nothing but a barrel. What is the point of this? Are there people that actually enjoy seeing a fat half naked man run around in a barrel?

How can a team lose when throwing a no-hitter? Wow, at a baseball game it is truly possible to see something new each and every day. I would hate to be a member of that Angels team and realize that you lost a game without giving up a hit. This is even worse because it was a rivalry game. If I was an Angels fan, I would hate to go to school or work and listen to Dodger fans say, “Wow we didn’t even get a hit, but were still able to beat your team.”

Why do the Arizona Diamondbacks have a bobcat as their mascot? Please correct me if I’m wrong, but the last time I checked a Diamondback was a type of snake. Snakes and bobcats are nowhere near related so why is there a wildcat? The other problem I have with the stupid cat is that it is nicknamed Baxter. Baxter!!!!! Who in their right mind is going to be intimidated by Baxter? And what fans are going to be pumped up by some stupid cat named Baxter?

Maybe it is because I dislike the Angels, but the rally #### annoys me. What is the point of some dumb #### jumping up and down on the jumbotron? #### have nothing to do with Angels and the rally #### is simply annoying.

Warren Sapp is going to participate in Dancing with the Stars. Although he may have good footwork, I need to see this to believe it. Can anyone imagine a 6-2 300 pound man doing the tango with a small skinny dancer? Try picturing this without laughing…..

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.