BASEBALL OPINION: Achievements by Griffey and Thomas not clouded by st

[rangercal]

Article is a week old, but its a good one.

 

http://www.newsenterpriseonline.com/articl...ts/sports01.txt

 

 

Sports BASEBALL OPINION: Achievements by Griffey and Thomas not clouded by steroids

 

 

By CHUCK JONES

Saturday, June 30, 2007 9:50 PM CDT

Baseball fans have different views of certain players in the so-called steroid era. There are the players who get a pass because their name has never been linked to any wrongdoing and those who have been branded with the humiliating scarlet letter, which could be an “S” for steroids or a “C” for cheater.

 

All one has to do is take a deeper look at the different reactions from baseball fans when milestones are achieved. When Sammy Sosa reached a milestone with his 600th home run against ironically the Chicago Cubs, his former team, on June 20, there was no huge celebration even though he was only the fifth player in the Major Leagues to do so.

 

When Frank Thomas blasted his 500th home run of his career to become the 21st player in Major League history to reach that plateau, his accomplishment was met with no hesitation. The moment was treated like it should have been when a player reaches a milestone.

 

Why the difference in opinions?

 

Sosa is linked to the steroid controversy. It was funny to hear Sosa speak after hitting his 600th homer. He spoke English once again when it was only a couple of years before he needed an interpreter when he went in front of Congress to talk about steroids.

 

Thomas, on the other hand, has never been brought up in the steroid accusations. The 39-year-old slugger was cast aside by the Chicago White Sox, a team he carried for years, revived his career in Oakland last season and has enjoyed success this year in Toronto. Thomas has never been caught with a corked bat n although Sosa claims he just used it for batting practice.

 

Unlike some of his predecessors in the 500 club, Thomas seems to be worthy to join such select company, while players like Mark McGwire, Rafael Palmeiro and Sosa aren’t because of the black cloud they’ve cast over baseball with the suspicion of steroids.

 

The same can be said when it comes to comparing Barry Bonds and Ken Griffey Jr.

 

Bonds, of course, is closing in on one of baseball’s most storied accomplishments as he nears Hank Aaron’s record of 755 home runs. Bonds hit his 750th homer Friday night to inch a little closer to Aaron’s sacred mark.

 

Griffey continues to move his way up the home run list. He sits in seventh place with 584 and needs only two to tie Frank Robinson. After he passes Robinson, his next milestone will be joining the 600 club.

 

When one looks at Bonds, most don’t see one of the greatest baseball players of all time, but one that has admitted to “unknowingly” using the clear and the cream, two types of steroids. The admissions place his achievements in question because one wonders how much steroids helped him.

 

On the other hand, Griffey was well on his way to catching Aaron, hitting 438 homers in his first 12 years. But injuries cost him a chance to challenge Aaron’s mark and cast Griffey aside while Bonds took center stage with his home run heroics.

 

Like Thomas, Griffey, who has battled through the injuries to continue his pursuit of such milestones, has never even been mentioned in the same breath as steroid use. It seems you can’t mention Bonds without uttering the word steroid. One can only wonder what Griffey would have accomplished if it weren’t for the injuries. It doesn’t hurt that Griffey is a likable character and Bonds, well, is not.

 

Baseball fans can appreciate guys like Thomas and Griffey, who had steroids all around them and didn’t fall victim to it. In an era when steroids dominated the headlines, Thomas and Griffey did it the right way.

 

That’s why they will forever be judged differently.

 

After all, shouldn’t they be?

[ZoomSlowik]

I missed the early to mid 90's back when those two were the biggest stars out there (well, pre-steroids Bonds too I guess, but I don't remember him being talked about as much), back before Sosa and McGwire went on their little run...

[greasywheels121]