Selig might reinstate Aaron as the homerun king?

[missionhockey21]

HANK Aaron could be reinstated over Barry Bonds as the all-time home run king, Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig said.
Selig told USA Today he is considering returning Aaron to the top of the list with one of the greatest sports milestones in American history ahead of Bonds, who faces a trial next month on perjury charges

"This is breaking my heart, I don't mind telling you that," Selig said.

Bonds, the former San Francisco Giants slugger, has been dogged for years by doping allegations. His former trainer was among those convicted in the BALCO steroid scandal.

Bonds is set to go on trial March 2 in San Francisco for lying to a federal grand jury when he said that he did not use performance-enhancing substances.

Selig, a friend of Aaron, is the former owner of the Milwaukee Brewers while Aaron played much of his career for the Atlanta Braves but started his career with the team when they were based in Milwaukee.

Aaron, who turned 75 last week, hit 755 homers in his career but Bonds, 44, surpassed the mark in 2007 and finished with 762 homers. Bonds did not play last season but has hoped to spark interest from clubs in a comeback.

MLB boss Bud Selig reacts over Barry Bonds doping allegations | The Australian

[rockin500]

i doubt it happens. once opened, where does it stop?

[HollywoodLeo]

I think erasing statistics is going too far.

If you want to put an asterisk next to it, then whatever, but outright erasing the stats is dumb.

As rockin said, where do you stop?

[DirtyKash]

I agree. This is yet another example of Bud Selig's incompetence as commissioner. Bonds, Clemens, A-Rod, all these guys make me sick, but by erasing statistics you're opening up a whole new can of worms. It's not anything close to being like stripping a runner from his gold medals (Marion Jones) or erasing his sprint time (Ben Johnson). Just slap the * next to it and that's more than enough.

[catman]

I like the idea of placing records in eras. This is the Steroids Era. Any records will be looked at in that light. Was Aaron completely clean during his career? Amphetamines were used frequently iduring his time in baseball and they definitely assisted players in elevating their play. They help concentration and energy. I am not accusing Aaron of using amphetamines, mind you, but they were used a lot by players in his era. Ruth abused substances during his career, as did Cobb, but those substances certainly did little to enhance their abilities. Ruth often (if stories are to be believed) played hung-over or still drunk. Cobb seems like the sort of guy that would have found things to help his play and used them. Should we eliminate his name from the books?
I do not see any reason for removing records that were achieved on the field, but putting them into perspective would be a good thing, IMO.

[Slyder]

Even Aaron said this was a dumb idea. Bud being Bud. But yes, why stop there? Thats Pandora's Box, you might find youre setting a precedent that would cost baseball history more than you protect.

[cjkalt]

There is always a chance even if you take out A-Rod's steroid seasons that he'll still break the HR record.

[Foster]

I like the * next to the names. Totally leaving a player out of the record books is forgetting history. It would be terrible to think the 1990's didn't happen.

[HollywoodLeo]

If you strip Bonds' and A-Rod's statistics then shouldn't we also have to strip all their bad stats, such as Ks?

If we do this, does this now take Ks away from pitchers who weren't drugged up?

You can't just pretend the past didn't happen.

An asterisk works perfect. You're basically saying "he had these stats, but..."

If you remove the stats then you're trying to pretend nothing happened.

[NYgiantsfan5689]

If you strip Bonds' and A-Rod's statistics then shouldn't we also have to strip all their bad stats, such as Ks?

If we do this, does this now take Ks away from pitchers who weren't drugged up?

You can't just pretend the past didn't happen.

An asterisk works perfect. You're basically saying "he had these stats, but..."

If you remove the stats then you're trying to pretend nothing happened.

THAT is exactly what the case is. I couldn't have said it better myself. Selig is shitting his pants that he will be connected to all this controversy, so he's trying to erase it. Can't erase the past. I agree, the * works just fine.

[love_that_reefer]

Selig needs to step down as does Donald Fehr and Gene Orza. Baseball needs a major change. Bud looks like a complete moron saying things like this.

[rockin500]

THAT is exactly what the case is. I couldn't have said it better myself. Selig is shitting his pants that he will be connected to all this controversy, so he's trying to erase it. Can't erase the past. I agree, the * works just fine.

the thing is, steroid usage in baseball goes back at least into the 80's (canseco), and probably well before that. Bud wasnt the commish back then.

[rockin500]

Selig needs to step down as does Donald Fehr and Gene Orza. Baseball needs a major change. Bud looks like a complete moron saying things like this.

of the three listed, given what we know, orza MUST step down. There are several accounts of him telling players when tests were coming up. Terrible.

[love_that_reefer]

While that may be true rockin, Selig will still be the one linked to steroids. He sat back and reaped the benefits of steroids in the sport.

[HollywoodLeo]

the thing is, steroid usage in baseball goes back at least into the 80's (canseco), and probably well before that. Bud wasnt the commish back then.

What does that matter? Selig is the one trying to say they should erase stats.