714

Barry Bonds tied Babe Ruth's career homerun mark of 714 yesterday. Bonds has been a contentious figure within the world of sports, because of his supposed "bad attitude" and his alleged use of steroids.

Bonds currently holds the single season homerun record, with 73 bombs in 2001. His accomplishment wasn't heralded in the same way as when Mark McGwire broke the record three years prior. Both had clearly "bulked" up quite a bit when they broke the records.

Now Bonds' latest achievement isn't getting the same accolades as perhaps he deserves. Perhaps, he doesn't. But he doesn't deserve any more or any less relative respect than McGwire or any other slugger suspected of steroid use during the era.

He may not smile when the media wants him to. He may make excuses. He may not be an enjoyable superstar to be around. But he is a great baseball player. He was the best player I had ever seen even before the moment he is accused to have started taking steroids.

Bonds' 714th homerun isn't as impressive as Babe Ruth's, whether Bonds took steroids or not. Ruth lapped the field in career homeruns; Bonds is now tied for second behind Hank Aaron. Bonds has had numerous other advantages. Ruth certainly had advantages that Bonds wasn't afforded, but Bonds faces weaker pitching, is paid a lot more, and may have taken steroids.

Basically, I'm unsure how to react to Bonds' success. I want to cheer for him (regardless of his personality). I want to tell my grandchildren about how great Bonds was. He changed the game of baseball with the number of times he was intentionally walked. His slugging percentage some years was unbelievable. He hit homeruns and stole bases. He was MVP 3 times before he allegedly took steroids. But that fact that it is more than likely that he cheated doesn't sit well with me. For now, I think I'm satisfied with him tying (and eventually passing Babe Ruth), but I haven't accepted that he may hit number 756 and pass Hank Aaron to become the greatest homerun hitter of all time.