I wish it would have been the same intensity to stop the Iraq war, prosecuting Oliver North, and finding the $8 billion lost in Iraq as in smearing Barry Bonds. It just goes to show that some people (uh.. red head slugger) that get caught up slip through the cracks. When a JUDGE and not people who get rich from vandalizing a man says otherwise Barry Bonds is #1 in baseball!! Stop hating on a man who is INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY, not the other way around. He's not O.J.,and his brother is right for suporting him even though the majority doesn't like him because he's not "reporter friendly". Thank you for letting woice my opinion, God Bless.

Why would Barry's name come up if he wasnt associated in some fashion with steroids? If you look at Barry over the years, as well as a few other sluggers, its obvious they had some help. Not to say they didnt work hard. I just find it hard to believe that 2 or 3 guys, for some reason, found their homerun swing over one offseason. You cant honestly tell me that those 2 or 3 guys worked that hard at bp. But how bad would it be, to step up, be a man, and admit to any wrong doing? And if there was no wrong doing, why not go after every interview, every court session, every avenue possible to claim your innocence? At least, in the public eye, you would be viewed as someone honest; whichever side you fall one, the tainted or not tainted.

the message I get is that Henry Aaron should be there because he is black and Barry is black. Sounds like racism to me. Bob - I guess you didn't get the memo - us white folks done lost the monopoly on raciswm long ago.

Poor Barry Bonds, poor Barry Bonds. He grew up the privileged son of a professsional athletic, went to school on an athletic scholarship and then became an overpaid professional athletic. Then felt he had to cheat because he wasn't getting his due. 
Henry Aaron faced real racism during his career and overcame it. A total class act from day one. He owes Barry Bonds nothing.  

Amen to those who feel that Hank Aaron owes Barry Bonds nothing, including his presence at the game where Mr.Bonds will break the home run record. Being a black man myself, I feel it is unfortunate that segments of the African-American population feel that there should be no individuality among us. Each of us should be able to think for ourselves, decide for ourselves, and act on those thoughts and decisions. Whatever Mr. Aaron decides to do with his time is his business. (By the way, I wonder if, someone breaks Mr. Bonds' home run record in his lifetime, would HE be in attendance at the ballpark to cheer this individual on? Something tells he he wouldn't, regardless of that new home run king's ethnic background.)

I totally understand Hank Aaron's position. And as a black American I couldn't be more proud of him.  No one regardless of ethnicity should condone cheating. I sincerely believe that the vast majority of the people that are not on the Bonds bandwagon (including myself) isn't becuase of the color of his skin but because he cheated.  There will forever be at least a mental asterik by Bonds' name in the record books.

Has Barry Bonds been proving guilty yet. Until he is convicted of using steroids or other illegal growth hormonesm, the media and everyone else needs to leave him alone. I wish they accused Mark Mcguire like this.

How do you know that Hank Aaron believes that Barry Bonds Cheated? Where have Mr. Aaron ever written or say that Barry bond cheated. The only thing I am hearing from Mr Aaron is that he do not want to travel. Are you not being disingenuious in assuming that Mr. Aaron believes that Barry cheated. Most people who do not want to see him break the record are you white reporters. You all have the power of the media to write and say as you feel to do. When you write it comes as if God is speaking because that is the way it is. I will say that the majority of blacks do not mind if Barry breaks Hank Aaron record.

Bonds has and I believe still is taking steroids. The thing that bothers me is Baseball is doing nothing about it.The Mitchell investigation is a farce.

It doesnt matter that bonds will break record or that he is black...records are meant to be broken like his will be in the next 10-15years A-Rod, Albert Pujols neither appear to be black and one day should exceed Bonds total...

Mike Celizic's article is just about as racist as the comments of Don Imus. He has the audacity to sarcastically compliment African Americans for supporting Barry Bonds. As blacks in this country we are constantly otracized by main stream media. As a people when we see the media constantly criticizing another black we are constantly reminded of all the hatred perpetuated by white America on a daily basis. As blacks we must unite behind Barry Bonds, because whites are supporting George Bush and he has caused lives to be lost.

If Barry Bonds had ever been convicted of illegal drug or substance use, he may rightfully deserve the ill will being cast upon him. If memory serves me correctly though, he has never been convicted of any drug use. Mark Maguire has never been convicted of any drug use. Did they use performance enhancing drugs? Who knows. They are both innocent in the eyes of the law until they are charged, prosecuted and found guilty. Since that is not going to happen, celebrations and congratulations are in order for both. Drug use and performance enhancing drugs have been in baseball since crosstops could be purchased in jar form. It did not become illegal or violate policy until baseball passed the rules. There is no grandfather clause in these rules. What happened; happened. Let's move on and give credit where credit is due. Besides, you could bulk up like the Incredibel Hulk but you would still have to put the bat on the ball and steroids do nothing to enhance that part of baseball. Hank Arron will forever be remembered for his career and the obstacle he overcame and Barry Bonds and Mark Maguire deserve the same.

Hold on,folks - Mr. Aaron has said repeatedly that his only issue with Mr.Bonds' record chase is the fact that he (Mr.Aaron) is tired of traveling.He is in his 70's and no longer even goes to most Braves games here in Atlanta.Shouldn't be a controversy....

This Dexter Anderson must have rocks in his head!!! This is the most racist thing I have read in a while.All white people do not support the war, and all white people do not hate Barry Bonds. Get your head on straight!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If Barry Bonds really wanted to defend his "no steroid use" statements, then he would show what type of physical regiment he does in offseason and his current workout ethics. Whoops did I say ethics(not in Mr.Bonds vocabulary). I believe Websters list the following words Class: Henry Aaron a true legend. Cheater:Barry Bonds no class a disgrace to baseball.

The greatest justice to the home-run saga is that the Baseball Hall of Fame should never allow Barry Bonds the opportunity to be a member. Didn't they do that to the all time hit king that "didn't bet on baseball". I am sure though the same idiot that didn't vote for Cal Ripken will vote for barry bonds.

Who gives a (bleep) what Aaron does, he is yesterday’s news and irrelevant.  Bonds will break his record and I think he is the greatest baseball player of all time. If he had people hitting around him he would walk less and hit even more home runs.  Go Barry, rock the world and keep hitting them into the cove’s water.

I got a question does anyone remember the commercial featuring Hank AND Barry?It is a spoof of Hank as the VOICE saying Barry you should retire while Barry is doing batting please say you have seen this.I bring it up because this is just wrong by Hank and very out of character for him to do such a FLIP FLOP if you will.If its ok to make a commercial a few years back why the issues now could it be jealousy and if you never playyed sports you want understand how precious these things are to the athlete ask Dan Marino.I am just saying Hank you aren't being the man you should be in this and your great strength could make this a positive for baseball!

BRILLIANT piece, Mr. Celzic. Bobby Bonds, Jr.'s "just because we're both black" rationale is gut-busting humor. It's also ignorant, primitive, and very sad.

Let the Haters keep Hating! Barry will be the Homerun King soon, and theres not a dang thing Haters can do about that! Go Barry!!!

I am a Hank Arron and Barry Bonds fan and I understand that Barry Bonds has always been his own man. When he was upset he voiced his opinnion. When he didnt want to talk to the media he didnt. Hank Arron is his own man and anyone that criticise the current home run king which is Mr. Arron on what events or milestones he attends should reconsider the issue. My feeling is as long as Barry Bonds is there his brother Bobby jr. should be happy for Barry and not further taint his brothers name and accomplishments. If someone breaks Barry Bonds home run record hopefully he will be around to decide for himself whether or not he will attend that record breaking event. They used to say Babe Ruth's record couldn't be broken, well Mr. Bobby Bonds jr. it's only a matter of time before your bother is faced with a simular decision as the Great Hammering Hank Arron. What does race have to do with who attends shame on you Bobby Bonds Jr.

you dont have to be proven guilty for everyone to know...remmember O.J. cowering down in the bronco?? look at bonds size when he entered the majors and how thick he is now its not rocket science

Right now Hank Aaron is angry because a steroid,drug-enhancing cheater is STEALING his legitimate home run title.Black,white,yellow or blue...it's wrong!Too bad the commish didn't stop this years ago and Bonds wouldn't even be close or break it...We all loved watching juiced up McGuire and Sosa break Maris's record,so this isn't any different.Interesting how McGuire immediately went into retirement and out of the public eye so quietly afterwards to avoid public scrutiny..quick trip before congressional hearing and back to the beach...hope Bonds does too.He has no moral fiber...he needs an asterisk next to his name in the record books-***Used performance enhancing drugs to do this and the fans and Hank Aaron know it!

I e-mailed you prior and did not see it. I do not like Barry Bonds because I believe he was jealous of Mark McGuire getting the attention and also he was white. In my estimation Barrry Bonds is racial and go for the home runs after Mark McGuire hit #70. The greatest record to break was that of Roger Maris. Home runs are hit everyday. And I am glad that Barry Bonds was not the one to break that great record.

Leave Barry alone let me tell you something back in babe ruths days there off seasons workouts consited on drinkig beer. Today they make so much money they can stay home in the off seasons and workout and jog thats why they are bigger and stronger. Records are made to be broken end of story.

do steriods give you keen eyes help your timing its a fact that size whether you are 170 or 200 lbs you can hit homers so will someone explain that to all of us the real reason is barry will not grin for reporters kiss butt or care what they say is the biggest reason and yes racism plays a part its amerika aint it

First off Bonds Jr. is totally off center suggesting that Hank Aaron should be in attendance based solely on the fact that he is African American. I think Mr. Aaron has grown up to the point where he can think and act for himself as to whether or not he wants to attend a ball game. I am a White American myself and I will say this, if Big Barry wanted to deal with real problems then he should have played in Hank's era. Now he's just called a cheater, back then cheater would have been just the tip of the iceberg. With that being said, Mr. Aaron percevered to get where he's at, all the while doing it with class. I'm not sure Barry has shown a shred of class in his whole career. I see a lot of responces referencing Mark McGwire, let us not forget that he did own up to using Andro, which by baseball standards was legal at the time. Was he using other stuff, probably, but I don't have inside knowledge of that so I couldn't say. I give Barry credit for putting the bat on the ball the way he does, it's the toughest thing in sports to do. Most people hear steriods and they instantly think that means hitting the ball further, that's not necessarily true. More than anything the steriods help their body recover quicker from the rigors of a 162 game schedule. If you can take something that will help keep you on the field day in and day out, while other guys are ailing or on the DL, then advantage you. One day the truth will come out about Barry, where there is smoke there is fire, and there is an awful lot of smoke around him. The only unfortunate thing is that MLB has probably let this go too far to seriously discipline Barry, unless of course they keep him out of the Hall.

I am an African-American that believes that African-American should stick together for the greater cause of advancement and improving our quality of life here and abroad. But wrong is wrong, and if an individual violates the best interest of the group because of his or her own selfish act then they themselves are outsiders. Hank Aaron and the African-Americans that played the game before him played the game the right way because they knew that not only were they change a people they were changing a nation. So before Bobby Bonds begins to tell Mr. Aaron what he should be doing because he is black he needs to question what his brother has done to tear down what Mr. Aaron built through hard work and integrity. I would say to Bobby Bonds that if you believe that blacks should support blacks at all cost then when was the last time he or his brother Barry stood up for, supported, or took a position on a real issue involving African-American? If Barry Bonds violated the honest work ethic and sacrifice of Mr. Aaron and those of any color who played the game the right way by cheating then he and his brother are both outsiders and should be treated accordingly. The next time Al Sharpton calls for a march or protest then I know who should be the first two to pick up signs for the cause and be loud and heard.

I keep seeing the same arguments over and over but what I don't see is a discussion of why there is so much scrutiny on this record when others before him (including McGuire) used steroids and those after him will too. There is too much money to not look for an edge. Who knows what Hank Aaron might have used during his time? Greenies? Perhaps he was Mr. Clean after all but MLB has long had a "look the other way" policy on drugs - including steroids until just the last couple of years. Even now there a lot of suspiciously big players hitting huge numbers of HRs year after year that nobody talks about because it is so easy to focus all the scrutiny and hate on Bonds. For those who laud Maris' achievement (and it was one, to be sure) - don't forget that there was an asterisk next to his record all during his lifetime because he needed more games to reach and beat Babe Ruth's record. The asterisk was dropped there and will be in this case as well. This is a tempest in a teapot. I remember when Aaron got his record and there was a lot of press about the easy park where he hit most of his dingers. Nobody talks about that anymore. This, too, shall pass.

Despite all his reservations regarding Barry Bonds, Henry Aaron should be there. Swallow his pride, ignore the circumstantial evidence and opinions, and be there. What bothers me about this, more so than just Aaron not supporting another African American baseball player, and there is a lineage that is there from one generation of players to the next, is the obvious and glaring lack of relationship between Aaron and Bonds' Godfather, Willie Mays. Mays and Aaron were contemporaries; both played in the Negro League, moved into the majors, became superstars of their time, and undoubtedly had a rivalry. However, think of the powerful and positive vision it would be, Mays and Aaron sitting down the 3rd base line acknowledging Bonds' achievement and Aaron supporting Bonds and Mays. So while you would want Aaron to support Bonds’ in part because they are both African American superstar baseball players, that’s not the most important part of it. Let’s also not forget Bonds’ other achievements. His winning the batting title in 2002 and 2004 could not be a result of any performance enhancing drug. Only hard work over his stellar career, doggedly studying the science of hitting, could have helped him achieve that. How would the Maris family been perceived if when Mark McGwire was chasing and passing Roger Maris record, they turned a cold shoulder to his achievement? Mr. Aaron, swallow your pride. If you don't want to do it for Barry, do it for Willie.

If you recall the steroid that barry suppose to have taken was before MLB banned it so,if your trying to say he use it since it was banned you all are wrong,because he has tested clean and no one is saying anything about that. Hank should be there for baseball sake if not anything else.

I completely disaggree with Mike Celzic's comments regarding Barry Bonds and his brother supporting him. First of all I don't think anyone who is not African American can or should ever say anything about us supporting each other. Unless you are of african descent, you don't understand anything about it and shouldn't say anything. Second of all, Mr. Celzic began to make sublte comparisons between Barry Bonds and Stalin, Milosevic and Paris Hilton. Now I say..."Are YOU serious?" How in the world can someone compare Bonds to those characters? Stalin mass murdered his own countrymen and Celzic is comparing him to Bonds? That analogy was completely absurd. Furthermore, he goes on to say that Bonds was "cheating". All I know is this: Mike Celzic DID NOT personally witness Barry Bonds taking steroids. So to write a national sports column and say that he was cheating is a direct attack to Barry, it is dead wrong and it borders on libel and slander. I am so sick and tired of everyone coming down on Barry as if they have NEVER done anything wrong in their entire life. No one saw the man use steroids and no one can prove it. Period. Now regarding Hank Aaron...I think that it is his choice to go to the game or not. But for Hank to say that he's not going to the game because he thinks Barry is cheating is also absurd. How does Hank know? Did he physically witness Barry Bonds using steroids? No. Furthermore, who's to say that Hank Aaron or anyone else who played baseball back in the 60's and 70's weren't using substances or practicing methods that would be considered cheating or bending the rules today. It's very possible that Hank could have used steroids back then. Who knows? No one. Also, everyone knows that Babe Ruth was a very heavy drinker of alcohol and a womanizer. Maybe that's why he's one of the MLB history leaders in strikeouts. The hangovers and tiredness from the booze and the women prevented him from seeing the ball clearly. Now was that a good way to help out his team? Also, let us remember that steroids ONLY make a person stronger. That's it. Steroids have no effect on hand-eye coordination. So even if Barry did use steroids, he still has to possess the wherewithall to place the bat on the ball in order to hit homers. That's skill. Not the influence of a drug. Remember, unless all of you baseball fans forgot, that the strongest man on the field doesn't necessarily hit the most home runs. Look at Hank Aaron. He was around 5 foot 9 inches tall and probably about 170 - 180 pounds during his playing days. Clearly not the strongest man in the game at that time and even compared to today's athlete's. Yet he has hit more home runs than anyone EVER. So please...someone tell me how a drug that's supposed to make you stronger is such a "huge" advamtage over the folk who aren't using it? Look at former pitcher Jason Gruber. He admitted that he used steroids and then got kicked out of the league. However, before he used them, during his use, and after he used them his pitching stats have been the same across the board: HORRIBLE. He was a bad pitcher his entire career. It's not like he began taking the drugs and all of a sudden was throwing 115mph fastballs or something. So in that case, the steroids strength giving capabilites didn't seem to transfer over to his baseball playing skills. Basically, to Celzic and everyone else who wants to throw the first stone because they think they have no flaws...I say that whoever you folk are, really need to only examine the hard facts first and not deal with suppositions, opinions and implications. You don't know if he used the drugs, you didn't see him use the drugs and all types of tests for the drugs came up negative. Leave the man alone. Period.

I find it funny that people are crying racism, but dont seem to remember who Barry Bonds doesn't sign autographs for(unless the cameras are around). I also find it interesting that a black man holds the record, and everybody wants him to keep it. He did it in much harder times and without the help of steroids. Bonds will break the record, but so will Pujols and Arod, and the latter will be a much more glorious day in baseball.

Aaron is most likely sour about his record being broken whether he admits it or not, the fact that he declines comment on Barry when asked proves it a sore spot. He and everyone else who don't want it to happen might as well get ready, Barry is going to break the HR record and then keep going 'til he's had enough. Selig not attending the potential record-breaking game, however, is a mystery. Why he would outright pass on the opportunity to do his job as commissioner of baseball and be an ambassador of the game is beyond me. Says alot about him really, and everybody else who is down on Barry. I cannot believe Bonds is practically standing alone in all of this, he has almost zero support in the press and nothing but negative feedback and commentary from anyone and everyone... as if people ENJOY hating him, and for what? Something they have no real proof of? Mark McGuire confesses to steroids and Sammy Sosa has a corked bat break open during batting practice (and says it was "only for BP") but everybody wants to pounce on Barry Bonds? I, for one, cannot wait until he shuts the entire country up by hitting the record-breaker... dear God let's hope that's the end of it.

Who cares about Barry Bonds and drugs. We have soldiers dying every day and our concerns is about Bonds and DRUGS. People we need help.

Without Bonds chasing Aaron's record, many people today would not know who is Hank Aaron. The fact that the record chase is noted in the press daily, keeps Aaron's name in the media. Also, while Aaron endured negative media and death threats, Bonds has endured far worst because there is significant more media and types of media today, eg. internet, 24 hour sports networks, more broadcast media and sportswriters.

You know what, no one has been convicted of steroid use in MLB. Because they never checked for it. I hate to say it but you know what some times circumstantial evidense is all that an intelligent person needs to realize that someone did actually do something. Barry Bonds cheated the game of baseball and its fans. The one thing about baseball is that we all love it for its records. Records that stand the test of time. They get broken if your lucky once in a lifetime. The fact that Barry did use STEROIDS should make everyone irate and pissed off. I feel the same way about Mark Mcguire, Sammy Sosa, Rafael Palmeiro and Jason Giambi. Their days of making money from their baseball careers should be ended now. Not tomorrow or the next day but NOW. None of them deserve the right to be associated with the likes of Hank Aaron. Mentioning theirs names in the smae sentence of Aaron should be against the law. So as for Barry Bonds, please trip and fall, crack your knee again and limp away from the sport I love and leave Aarons record for someone worthy of carrying the legacy.

to Harold Walker, all i can say is wow. Henry Aaron had to worry about losing his life because of baseball, but you say Bonds has it worse because of the media attention he gets? Everybody would still know who Aaron is today with or without Bonds. It's the most precious record in ALL of sports and Bonds is about to break it and has admitted to using steroids, and he has admitted it.

Someone said steroids don't help you see the ball or swing better and that is probably true. However, they can surely help you hit the ball farther. Barry bonds was a doubles hitter when Big Mac went on his streak. Over the next off season he gained something like 25 pounds of muscle and started hitting the ball over the fence instead of against the fence. If you are stronger and posess the ability to strike the ball like Barry does, guess what, you'll hit more home runs. So true the steroids don;t help your ability to hit the ball but they sure as hell help you hit it farther. No one I know, with the exception of steroid taking body builders, gain that much pure nuscle in one year. Barry has built his own little kingdom and he now has to live in it.

I. like millions of baseball fans, just want Bonds to go ahead, break the record and have the world stop talking about it and him. I am sick of it all. I'm sick of Barry and sick of the way the sport has handled the entire steriods issue. I understand why Hank Aaron is doing what he is. Barry, just do it and go away! Like Hammering Hank, I won't be cheering. PS. Yes I am from StL. I cheered McQuire in '98. Now I'm ashamed I did.We didn't know then what we know now.

Hasn't Hank Aaron been a baseball executive of sorts for a while now? Wouldn't one think that he was likely privy to the knowledge that players were doping? Yet he said nothing until his record was threatened? And he's to be taken seriously? He's the same as Selig. Also, if I'm not mistaken, haven'tthe guilty parties in more then half of the failed steroid tests in baseball been PITCHERS? The same pitchers that Bonds hits against? Put an asterisk over the era, but not Bonds himself.

The man is innocent until proven guilty. Hank Aaron is simply jealous or something. For him to NOT support Barry is all the evidence of this. What if Hank was accused of doing the same thing, never been proven guilty and had the record under such scrutiny. Barry is chasing (and will break) the record, has been accused and never been proven guilty. Whether I am black or white, I should support Barry as a player of the game who broke an awesome record. Hank Aaron and the haters are just missing the point.

You can't tell me Barry didn't take anything. Look at him in his rookie year. SKINNY. Then he grew like a mad man 3 to 4 years. Not possible with out roids. He is jerk, pretty boy is what he is. Another fact is all of a sudden he starts to fall apart. Steriods cause damage to ligments and bones. All because he wanted to be remembered by the fans, Ill remember him for * that should be behind 756 if he makes that far. Hopefully the guy never hits another home run. If he does break it A-ROD will break again so then Barry can cry again. Also you can hit all the home runs you want a World Series ring is what counts. Hank is right. For those of you that think this is about race you are wrong. I would feel the same way if it was a white guy.  

In response to a few comments here, no one has witenessed Barry Bonds taking steroids... so what. EVERYONE has witnessed his 'miraculous' bulking up over the years. His name IS involved in the Balco investigation. It's also not because he's black. There are plenty of black players who've managed to keep their names away from federal indictments.

Even the implication that he didn't take 'roids is laughable. THAT'S why Hank Aaaron isn't attending. No one sees drug lords selling bags of dope on the street, either. And yes, I DID purposefully make the comparison. If we glorify Bonds' numbers under the cloud of drug use, why aren't we also glorifying the drug lords that are just as guilty of dishonesty and out-right lying?
A lot of people have brought up the fact that steroids make no difference in baseball... if that's the case, (and your uninformed argument), then why are they ILLEGAL? Chocolate chip cookies have no impact on the game, either, but they're not banned. Perhaps if you tell the baseball commish that it's an unfair rule because steroids have no impact on a player's performance, they'll take you seriously.

Someone commented that 'we've all done something wrong' and that we 'shouldn't be quick to judge Barry Bonds.' Yes, we have ALL done things we shouldn't have; we all most likely will again but NONE of us are CHEATING and demanding recognition as perhaps the greatest hitter in the national pastime of baseball! BIG difference, there.

Someone mentioned that if a person is white, they have no right, (no RIGHT?), to say whether Bonds' brother was revealing a large streak of ignorance when he said Hank Aaron should've been there to support Barry because of his skin color... hey, ignorance and racism are the same regardless of your skin color, buddy. You don't have to be a rocket scientist of ANY color to recognize ignorance, either. And last I heard, we ALL still have the 'RIGHT' to any opinion we're of a mind to share.

Common sense... remember that? If we did, no one would have a need for this discussion. Barry Bonds would be called out as the cheater he is and his numbers taken away. He'd be sent packin' back to the sandlot league where he belongs. End of story.

Am I crazy but was not Mark Mcguire accused of using steroids and did we have all this hoopla?
If I am wrong, I stand corrected

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