by Michael Shepard

Created on: November 16, 2008   Last Updated: June 13, 2009

The integrity of the fairness concept is compromised when home run and stolen base statistics are compared. The (assumed) steroid-free Hank Aaron batting record being broken by a steroid user brings a breakdown of credibility to Major League Baseball. Non-judgmentally speaking; the difficulty of comparison can be likened to a significant change in baseball (or bat) size, weight, and manufacture standards. Validity of the achievement becomes nefariously ambiguous in its merit.

Motivation of the player is an important consideration deserving validation. Achievement recognition dilution happens when a non-drug using player pursues the same goal.. For Bonds to look to an illegal substance instead of continued work on pitcher-read and other already heightened skills; begs the question, "What were you thinking?!" The drive for father and godfather approval was stronger than Bond's integrity and ability to resist fraudulent "road to fame" temptation. Mr. Bonds and everyone involved (even casual observers of the sport) are worse off by his bad choice.

This choice was made by none other than Mr. Bonds. The fact that he could only think of himself and his own need for fulfilled fame (no matter what outer perceived pressure was placed upon him) decries punishment. The issue becomes, then, nothing more than how much and what kind of Court adjudicated punishment administration ensues. Perfect justice would demand something like equal restitution to the sport from which was extorted achievement. For example, a medical expert may testify to Bond's drug-induced performance improvement at twenty percent above non-drug ability. Then, administration of justice would be easy. Simply remove from record 154.2 home runs, 102.4 stolen bases, and on down the line with all other stats; and especially including life pay. Twenty percent of his total career time spent taking honor from the game needs to be spent in jail with a suggestion of contemplation over what he took from the game. This will send a much needed message to potential baseball steroid users of the need for good choices.

This may seem harsh judgment to the compassionate observer. However, when taking into account life opportunities availed to Bonds in the form of genetics and historic family sports successes providing vital groundwork for Major League Baseball future achievement potential, the crime of ingratitude and petulant, rebellious, illegal, drug-induced performance enhancement; demands action more on the order of complete name removal from the game.

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