Should Barry Bonds have "SE" after his name?

Question

Since Bonds admitted to taking steroids (clear and cream), should he have "SE" after his name? (SE means "steroid era").

Since Bonds and many others take steroids, aren't they all playing on a level field? So maybe Bonds should have the record for the SE (steroid era) and Aaron should hold the record for NS (non-steroid) era.

What do you think?

Answer 1

First of all he doesn't have to actually test positive for steroids to be proven guilty of using a substance that he knew would give him an unfair advantage over his competitors.It's called circumstantial evidence and contrary to what the TV shows would like to suggest it can & does convict people of crimes. There are guys sitting on Death Row who were convicted on the basis of circumstansial evidence alone.
Secondly if one were to take some pencils of various colors, designate a color per ballplayer ,
Get a piece of graph paper ,
Use the x- axis for the 1986-2007 seasons
Use the y-axis for the number of home runs
Plot the number of each players home runs using their individual pencil colors ,an interesting pattern will emerge;
All the members of the Barry and the Steroid Boy's band will have spikes on the graph in the same places.
Hmmm. Just a coincidence ? I think not

Answer 2

I don't think it's necessary.
Bonds, while playing with some enhancements, whether he knew it or not, has achieved the most home runs, in this era of higher home run numbers.

Sidebar: for the people that spew "he didn't admit to anything, or he has never tested positive" give me a break.
1) He admited it used some cream & clear (although he said he didn't know it was steroids)
2) his balco buddy is in jail NOT because he said Bonds is innocent, but because he refused to answer. If Bonds was innocent, he would have said "Bonds is innocent" and would not be in jail. But he doesn't want to say "Bonds is innocent" if it's going to put him in jail longer for perjury.
3) When Bonds tried to squash the article and book, he did so on the grounds that it used grand jury testimony, NOT on the grounds of libel (printing false claims)
4) players, even Bonds are given a lot of notice before drug tests are conducted. Why do you think there are so few people found with drugs in the system. All they are finding are the really stupid ones who don't clear their system

Enough of my rant.

Bonds has hit home runs simply at a great pace for longer than people in this era. But, as I said in another post, home runs are being hit at 22% greater frequency during Bonds year than in Aaron's time and Aaron's present day home run total is actually 928. (Ruth's total is 1912 by the way)

Everyone is talking about this record like Bonds achievement is greater than that of Aaron's and it just isn't so.


To D7602002, no, I wasn't referring to you specifically. All the people that don't like to bring steroids into the argument typically use one of the above 4 reasons.

Personally, I think Steroids probably has only given Bonds about 75 more home runs in his career, so I am fine with him going to the hall of fame.

Answer 3

Though the taking of steroids does enhance an individual physical performance it is all ways detrimental to ones body. I do not think though that it helps with hitting home runs. Maybe the ball will go slightly farther, but you have to have the know how and physical talents to hit home runs. I believe Jason Giambi just recently said in a news conference this same fact. Though Barry Bonds is somewhat of an enigma personality wise, we should celebrate his achievements. He is a talent that comes only once a generation, he belongs in this year’s All-Star game and in everyone in the future as long as he is in the league. I vote NO "SE"

Answer 4

Regardless of what happens, the record will be the center of controversy for years to come. Remember, the same thing happened when Roger Maris broke the single season home run record in 1961. He had that asterisk by his name in the record books until Fay Vincent officially made him the single season home run leader in 1989 (I believe). If anything should be proven that Bonds did take some sort of steroid or human growth hormone, then I feel the record should be reviewed, scrutinized, and possibly deemed invalid.

Answer 5

Maybe he did take steroids? Who cares? I don't like Bonds at all, but his homeruns have been getting people back into baseball. If it wasn't for him, Mcgwire, and Sosa baseball would be dead by now. So Sammy corked his bat, and Mcgwire took human growth hormones (before they were outlawed by MLB), and Bonds has probably taken some sort of HGH. Baseball should be happy for them and turn the other cheek. Steroids has been in baseball long before the "steroid era" Players have always tried to do everything they can to get that sort of edge. Its just that now they are deciding to crack down on it, and are realizing how much of it is in the league. So as much as I don't like him he deserves this record, and should be giving the respect he deserves for it.

Answer 6

What about all the players in the "steroid era" that never used steroids, who are they and should they have the "SE" next to their name as well? Baseball fans are smart enough to be able to make up their own minds about the significances of baseball records and I believe we should leave it at that.

Answer 7

No, NO NO....he should have nothing next to his name. A record is a record and baseball's records are not that sacred. I can't stand this....he hasn't been proven guilty of anything, other than being an a*shole. He gets the record pure and simple.

And what hypocrites that many fans are....People are saying AROD will catch Barry and pass him and that'll be a good thing......HELLLLLLOOOOOOOO!!! AROD has played 8 or 9 years of his career during the...HELLLLLLOOOO..STEROIDS ERA, so why should he get a free pass.

Leave it alone. Bonds will have the record and he deserves it. And if we are talking about guys in their 40's, doing things that no 40 year old has done and guys that are much larger in size now then when they were 25, then look no further than ROGER CLEMENS...why does he get a free pass.....

TO BRETT: if you are referring to me, I didn't say he didn't fail drug tests or admit to anything. I said that he hasn't been proven guilty. Just cause some jackass in jail didn't say Bonds was innocent, doesn't means that's proof of anything.

Answer 8

He should definitely not have an SE after his name in the record book. Nothing has been proven and maybe never will be. People just need to get over it, he has never tested positive for steroids.

Answer 9

I would rather put SE after his name once there is definite proof that his home runs were steroid enhanced fly balls to the outfield.

Answer 10

Bonds is a homo. hes on steroids, and he sounds like a smart a...