Should we celebrate A-Rod's 600th homerun?

[justnzane]

Steroids schmeroids. You still have to dig in, face a 95+ mph fastball and put the bat on it. It's not like hgh is a magic potion. This whole issue is way overblown. If someone wants to knowingly risk minor health issues to enhance their career, then let them. Do we ban cigarettes? Do we tell the iron worker that he shouldn't be walking a 4" beam 200 feet in the air? Do we tell the firefighter not to rush into a burning building? The media has made a mountain out of a molehill on this issue.

 

 

while i agree with you that he still has to hit the ball, it is unfair to compare him to a henry aaron for a few reasons:

1. Being on steroids increases bat speed, in turn allows for longer hits. Thus, more homers.
   
2. Aaron played in the golden era of pitching with bigger fields. Surely, his numbers would have been better if he cleanly played the game from 90-present as opposed to the ~20 years he did play.
   
3. I'm sure there are other reason, but these two are the most prevalent in my mind.
   

[BLZFAN4LIFE]

while i agree with you that he still has to hit the ball, it is unfair to compare him to a henry aaron for a few reasons:

1. Being on steroids increases bat speed, in turn allows for longer hits. Thus, more homers.
   
2. Aaron played in the golden era of pitching with bigger fields. Surely, his numbers would have been better if he cleanly played the game from 90-present as opposed to the ~20 years he did play.
   
3. I'm sure there are other reason, but these two are the most prevalent in my mind.
   

 

I think it's great that the dangers and negative effects of steroids are well publicised and athletes right down to the high school level are aware of them. I just think it's a non-issue if an adult wants to take a risk by using a substance that will generate short-term benefits but may yield long-term side effects. Bigger, faster, stronger, that's what it's all about. Look at all of the destructive behaviors that people indulge in from smoking to drug abuse to alcoholism to gambling to overeating. You can't save people from themselves, just give them the freedom to decide.

 

It will always be difficult to compare era's. Technology, nutrition, education, and rules change from year to year and decade to decade. In golf, the equipment (balls and clubs) are light years ahead of what Nicolaus used in his prime. 20 years ago in football you could maul a receiver until the ball was in the air and decimate a qb after the ball left his hand. You just have to take things like that into consideration. A-Rod, Barry, and McGuire are supreme athletes whether they doped up or not. To me it's not an issue. Caveat emptor.

[CowgirlsFan]

Holding off till he hits #1,000.

 

 

It will be a LONG wait and over Hank Aarons's ( not Barry Bonds ) future dead body!!