745*

[cleckie]

It will be a dark, dark day in baseball history when he breaks the record. Baseball has been mired with cheating and scandals through out it's history and this is just another point to add to the big book of shame.

While no sport is perfect it seems to me that baseball is especially prevalent to shady activity. If someone could shed some light on this, perhaps they have some insight as to why I would very much like to hear it.

[Brian in Boston]

I'm pulling for Bonds to break the record... and I'm a former sports journalist. Go figure.

[OnWis97]

Can we have a show of fans of people actually rooting for Bonds? I feel like I'm in the vast, vast minority. But I have a fondness for surly ballplayers, I guess.

I am raising my hand to this. Mostly out of spite to all the whiners.

--MLB closed its eyes while the homers of the 1990s brought the game back from the strike. So MLB and Bud flat deserve this and whatever bad press and awkwardness it brings.

--Every storied record is going to have de facto asterisks by them. 61 was done in few games than 60. 755 was done against thinner pitching and with longer seasons than 714.

--We'll never know how many HR came from 'roids. Probably very few warning track shots were "juiced" over the wall, as it's mostly about technique and vision (though it may have helped him recover and saved him from needing a few extra days off).

--Bottom line, he's never been found to have broken an MLB rule. His "I unknowingly used something statement" came as a result of hunting for power hitters (hey pitchers use the stuff too). Perhaps if the same questions were being raised about Cal Ripken's record, I'd have more sympathy for everyone's unhappiness now. Palmeirro cheated and was caught. He deserves what he gets. As far as I am concerned, every MLB player can admit to using steroids before MLB had a rule/testing policy and it's still not cheating.

--I like seeing big records being broken, even if it is not the lovefest that it was in 1998.

(Please do it on June 30th, when I'll be in the building).

I'm also the last Albert Belle fan in the universe.

I certainly hope so.

[Swiss]

Barry Bonds hitting homeruns is good for the San Francisco Giants chances at a pennant, which is okay by me.

Yeaaaah! Go Giants!!!

In a WWE-style move, the day that Barry hits 754, MLB will announce a deal with the Japanese Baseball League and declare Sadaharu Oh the all-time HR king with 868. I don't think Barry's body will hold up for another 114 homers.

How sweet it will be when the two first all-time HRs belong to a pair of Giants.

NY, SF or Tokyo? Who cares, just Giants.

[FiddySicks]

You know, I think its pretty funny how people dont like Bonds because hes such a jerk and a bad person. Hmmm really? So you've sat down with Bonds away from baseball, had a beer and watched a few reruns of Dallas togather or something like that? Or are you acting just like every other mindless drone and just listening to what the media feeds you? Bonds is an ass to the muckrakers looking to make a buck gettig their story published and always has been. If anything ive gotta give him credit for his consistancy.

[Fred T. Jane]

I'm pulling for Bonds to break the record... and I'm a former sports journalist. Go figure.

You're bound for Sports Hell, for sure. Feel free to pass by the kiosk and pick up your Yankees, Chelsea, and Dallas Cowboys paraphernalia on the way down.

But hey, I'll be there with you. I can't wait from him to hit 756.

[See Red]

You know, I think its pretty funny how people dont like Bonds because hes such a jerk and a bad person. Hmmm really? So you've sat down with Bonds away from baseball, had a beer and watched a few reruns of Dallas togather or something like that? Or are you acting just like every other mindless drone and just listening to what the media feeds you? Bonds is an ass to the muckrakers looking to make a buck gettig their story published and always has been. If anything ive gotta give him credit for his consistancy.

You cannot honestly deny the fact that Bonds is an . Why was such a class act and quality guy voted off of his college baseball team 22-2 by his teammates before the coach overruled the decision?

That said... I like the guy. I'm pulling for him to break the record.

[charger77]

Im with gitlin and bucfan, guy hasnt pissed illegal yet so go bonds!

[TNT44]

Im with gitlin and bucfan, guy hasnt pissed illegal yet so go bonds!

Well said.

I'm pulling for Barry. I hope he breaks the record in Atlanta. I live an hour and a half from Atlanta so I would like to be there for the historic event.

[whalersjets]

HE'S ON PACE TO BREAK THE RECORD IN BOSTON!!!!! I MUST GET TICKETS NOW SO I CAN STONE HIM!!!

kidding obviously. I do want tickets so I and the remainder of Friendly Fenway can boo him.

I want tickets, so if I get the ball it's going to be worth some coin

[FiddySicks]

Theres no way Bonds breaks the record away from San Fran.

[Bronxmet]

I would like to see Bonds break the record in the city that screwed him

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Also, for those who think Bonds is not worthy, just think of Sadaharu Oh as HR Champion of the World.

[zoneranger]

Congratulations to Bonds when he finally does it. He's taken a lot of heat, some deserved, some not.

But Barry, what it boils down to in the long run is....how many of these do you have?

Isn't that what you're playing the game for?

....or not?

[Seadragon76]

He hasn't been caught yet with steroids as far as I know, so even if people here say the record will be tainted, as far I as know, it won't be tainted.

Personally, I want to see this happen. Imagine one of the greatest records in baseball history... No, sports history, falling to the wayside with one mighty blow from Bonds. You may not like the guy, but what he is doing could make him one of the best offensive players in baseball history.

[maz]

Originally I was going to make this a long post in which I go off on bonds...

But im not.

I could ramble on for hours about how him getting the HR record will both "discrace" baseball... yet not affect it at all. After all its just a homerun record, right?

I will not celebrate when he gets it, but I wont blast anyone who does. I just wont care. Because, its just a HR record. A HR record made by a man who "allegedly" cheated to get there. A HR record made by a man known for not having the sunniest additude out there. But its still just a HR record. As far as im concerned, winning a game is more important than any HR record.

But, im just 14... so what do I know?

[GottaDeal]

I think it would be great if whoever catches the ball (assuming it goes in the stands and not the bullpen or something) offers to give it back to Barry only if he admits to cheating to get the record

[Telemundo219]

You know, I think its pretty funny how people dont like Bonds because hes such a jerk and a bad person. Hmmm really? So you've sat down with Bonds away from baseball, had a beer and watched a few reruns of Dallas togather or something like that? Or are you acting just like every other mindless drone and just listening to what the media feeds you? Bonds is an ass to the muckrakers looking to make a buck gettig their story published and always has been. If anything ive gotta give him credit for his consistancy.

Agreed. It funny how the media always attacks Bonds calling him coward and stuff and media sources like ESPN just brainwash some fans who aren't smart enough to think for themselves and trust every word ESPN "experts" say yet they sit there ask the dumbest questions and hide behind a lawsuit if they tick someone the wrong way. What role models.

June 15. Record broken.

[fiasco!]

Can we have a show of fans of people actually rooting for Bonds? I feel like I'm in the vast, vast minority. But I have a fondness for surly ballplayers, I guess. I'm also the last Albert Belle fan in the universe.

Wrong on both accounts. Belle was a great ballplayer.

I would like to see Bonds break the record in the city that screwed him

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Also, for those who think Bonds is not worthy, just think of Sadaharu Oh as HR Champion of the World.

Or Josh Gibson.

[illwauk]

Can we have a show of fans of people actually rooting for Bonds? I feel like I'm in the vast, vast minority. But I have a fondness for surly ballplayers, I guess. I'm also the last Albert Belle fan in the universe.

The only reason I don't want Bonds to break the record is because he'll be taking a record away from a Brave.

I don't care if he's been a jerk to the media. As long as he hasn't cheated his way to the record (which, so far, he hasn't), I'm fine with him breaking the record. It's going to fall eventually.

Same goes for me. The only reason I don't want him to have it is he'd be taking it from the only guy who played for BOTH Milwaukee clubs.

The burden of proof that he took steroids is on MLB. And until they can prove he's guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, Bonds has every right to that record.

[WJMorris3]

Same goes for me. The only reason I don't want him to have it is he'd be taking it from the only guy who played for BOTH Milwaukee clubs.

Not exactly. I'll give you he's the only person to play significantly for both franchises though. But Felipe Alou spent two years as a Milwaukee Braves before playing three games with the Brewers in '74, and Phil Roof played a couple years with the Brewers after playing two games with the Milwaukee Braves.