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 swallow 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.