Maris's record for home runs in a season stood with an asterisk for years. Why? Because he hit 61 home runs in a 162-game season, and Babe Ruth hit 60 in only 154 games. So, who hit the most home runs in a season?
If you even started to calculate, you're a dumbshit! One only needs the ability to count to answer the question. 61 is more than 60. Maris held the record, even if it was just an odd season for a mediocre player. And that, more than anything, was the reason for the asterisk. Fans could have embraced Mantle breaking the Babe's record, but Maris? No way.
Enter the steroid era. In one season, Maris's record is shattered by not one, but two players. A couple of years later, Bonds beats that record with 73. It turns out, though, that he was on steroids when he did it. Many fans claim he cheated, and it shouldn't count. They're dumbshits, I tell you!
First of all, it wasn't cheating because there was no rule against it. Maybe there should have been, but there wasn't. It was no more cheating when Bonds did it than was taking extra batting practice. Both are done to gain a competitive advantage, and both were legal according to the rules.
But Bonds is an asshole, some say. So what? If you asterisk Bonds' record, you'd have to asterisk McGwire's too. So that makes Sosa the record holder because he hasn't been caught, or admitted to, taking steroids?
It gets to the point of just being stupid, like the people who suggest such nonsense. 73 is the most balls hit out of the stadium by one player from the start of one season to the end of that season. Bonds did it. Any commentary past that is just sour grapes being turned into bad whine.
That's my take.
Enter the steroid era. In one season, Maris's record is shattered by not one, but two players. A couple of years later, Bonds beats that record with 73. It turns out, though, that he was on steroids when he did it. Many fans claim he cheated, and it shouldn't count. They're dumbshits, I tell you!
First of all, it wasn't cheating because there was no rule against it. Maybe there should have been, but there wasn't. It was no more cheating when Bonds did it than was taking extra batting practice. Both are done to gain a competitive advantage, and both were legal according to the rules.
But Bonds is an asshole, some say. So what? If you asterisk Bonds' record, you'd have to asterisk McGwire's too. So that makes Sosa the record holder because he hasn't been caught, or admitted to, taking steroids?
It gets to the point of just being stupid, like the people who suggest such nonsense. 73 is the most balls hit out of the stadium by one player from the start of one season to the end of that season. Bonds did it. Any commentary past that is just sour grapes being turned into bad whine.
That's my take.
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