* With an Asterisk


When Barry Bonds hit a record breaking 756th homerun on August 7, 2007 it illuminated in a nutshell the current American culture. Aside from the fact that my hometown Washington Nationals’ Mike Bacsik gave up the milestone pitch that Bonds sent into history, the feeling about this feat was not what you would expect across the country.

In San Francisco, Bonds’ home town fans went nuts. It was as if they were the ones on steroids. Much has been said about Mr. Bonds’ alleged enhancement via banned substances to help him achieve the Home Run King record. According to reports from Associated Press, Bonds response to such suggestions is "This record is not tainted at all. At all. Period" The statement has wound within it all one needs to know about the character of Mr. Bonds, the fans desperate for a piece of history, and a culture that has tossed standards out of the window in favor of artificial markers to highlight tainted achievements. When listening to many athletes and celebrities of privilege these days one sees a smarmy prepubescent attitude flowing from the lips of what should be adult pillars of society. Sacrificing one’s soul is quite a price for the mere return of being able to push out one’s chest for all to see.

There are two basic issues regarding the Bonds affair that are at the forefront. First, the previous mile markers set by Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron were relatively free from controversy. Ruth, a heavy drinking party animal set the standard, and is arguably the greatest player of all time; not merely for his 714 career home runs. He also played in a much less sophisticated era where strength and conditioning were the exception and not the rule. He was multitalented in that he was originally a pitcher too, and a good one. He certainly was a better all around player. Aaron long toiled in his career with sub-par teams and achieved his night of triumph in April 1974 through persistence and hard work. Ruth set the standard and when Aaron broke the record nearly all of America watched, cheered, and ran the bases with him. Like Cal Ripken who was recently inducted into the Baseball hall of fame, Aaron did his stoic duty with class and dignity in the name of what used to be America’s pastime; baseball.

Issue number two is that today a more snot-nosed generation of self-centered athlete has taken hold of the grand ol’ game. That is unfortunately a mirror of the culture. Instead of a gracious, awestruck humbling celebrity elite, most have the morals of slick Madison avenue shysters who achieve not for the country, the fans or the game, but instead are out for the self at all cost.

It is much easier to believe that had the baseball greats of the past such as Mr. Aaron been caught in such controversy as has been heaped upon Mr. Bonds that they would have fallen on their swords honorably. Those sports greats like DiMaggio, Robinson, Gehrig, Mantle, Mays, and Ripken would not likely have perpetrated an indignity upon themselves and baseball as an all out pursuit of a relatively meaningless record simply for the fame, glory and the endorsement contract possibilities that goes with it.

The likes of individuals hitting ridiculous amounts of homeruns in a single season allegedly perpetrated with the assistance of banned substances also, says more about the individual character of players and our culture. It makes for great competition, generates a flitter of interest by fans, and is beneficial to baseball in the short term. However, no self respecting fan should consider themselves honorable that bestows hierarchy in baseball history to players who hedge their bets by giving themselves a “juiced” edge. No honor is due to players, or any to citizens who rig the system instead of marching on a level playing field.

There is no fair way to match achievement for achievement equally without a level playing field. Bonds and many players in general have spit upon the memory of the giants whose shoulders baseball and America once stood. America, take note of the asterisk forever to be placed next to Bonds career crowning achievement; with it goes a never ending black mark upon purity of character and grace. The culture is equally marred as well in many sectors.

When the populace forbids and no longer supports such trite substandard behavior, then the country will regain its moral footing and the glory befitting a pristine cultural pastime. Until then let the celebratory mania, and the asterisk remind us all of what our fathers were, and what we are no longer.