Ed and I started having a discussion after my last post through the comments. I compared Barry Bonds and his steroid enhanced body (I think they use his batting helmet as a hot tub in the clubhouse) to Richard Petty and his superior equipment. I used Richard Petty as a metaphor for motorsports in general. It's no secret in motorsports that the competitive advantage goes to the team that cheats the best. I also want to establish for the record that Barry Bonds doesn't belong in the same category with Hank Aaron but baseball is what it is. If we put an asterisk next to Barry Bonds' records, then we should suspect Mark McGwire, Jose Canseco and even George Brett (pine tar). I think history is going to remember Barry Bonds as a chemically enhanced monster without the asterisk. Let me also add that it's foolish to argue any point concerning baseball with Ed but it's been a long time and I could use a good ass kicking.
Where do you draw the line? How much cheating is acceptable? Is stretching your gas tank different than juiced up B-12 shots? How about vaseline balls? Black and Decker Sutton? Rosie Ruiz taking the subway to win the New York Marathon? (OK that one was blatant)
1 comment:
I still say that stretching the rules on equipment has always been part of the game in baseball and NASCAR. In baseball a good pitcher will doctor the ball in any way possible. It's harder to do now that they change balls everytime one gets a bit of dust on it. I believe Whitey Ford lasted a couple of extra years because his catcher used to scrub the ball on his belt buckle. Back in the early 1900's runners would not even touch third base when the one umpire on the field was looking the other way. When everyone does it, it's not cheating, it's part of the game. The game evolved its rules to eventually rid itself of these mild infractions.
Augmenting your body artificially is different because not everyone is doing it and it's dangerous and Barry Bonds can lick my balls.
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