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Bonds or Barbaro? There’s no comparison If Barry Bonds had broken his leg instead of matching Babe Ruth’s home-run record, maybe Americans would like him better. There was lamentation from coast to coast when Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro broke his leg during the running of the Preakness this past Saturday. (Indeed, ABC News was prompted to do a story examining why the plight of an injured racehorse evoked “deep empathy” from so many people.) Bonds’ home run, by contrast, has evoked more distaste than applause. A Rasmussen Reports poll fielded last week found just 41 percent of baseball fans saying Bonds should “be allowed in the Hall of Fame,” while 39 percent said he shouldn’t be, and the rest weren’t sure either way. An outright majority (66 percent) believe Bonds used steroids to bash his way into the record books, vs. just 18 percent saying they don’t believe it. His personal approval rating is all of 22 percent. We can surmise that a candy bar named after Barbaro would fare better with consumers than one named after Bonds. —Posted by Mark Dolliver

May 24, 2006 | Permalink

Comments

The only reason everyone is mad at Barry Bonds is simple: R-A-C-I-S-M. Where were all the steroid mongers when Mark McGwire was on his homerun tear to surpass Roger Maris? Everyone acted like he was a god. At the time, some reporter had the nerve to report that creatine was spotted in McGwire's locker and everyone turned on the reporter. Nobody dared question McGwire's use of that or possibly (and now obviously) other substances. If Barry Bonds' so-called achievement is besmirched, so too then should that of McGwire be ridiculed. And with equal vigor. If and when Bonds surpasses Hank Aaron's homerun record, he should be given a tickertape parade. Because no matter how many steroids some players take, ain't many who are gonna hit 715 homeruns. Right, Lenny Dykstra?

Posted by: Malcolm X | May 24, 2006 2:15:08 PM

How dare you besmirch the good name of Lenny Dykstra?

Posted by: Egon | May 24, 2006 2:40:04 PM

I didn't like Mark McGwire and Barry Bonds for the same reason... They're cheaters. Baseball has become a huge joke-- nobody plays fair. Hank Aaron and Babe Ruth are true heroes. I don't like any cheater, no matter what color they are.
Also, I don't think it's fair to even try to compare the achievements of man and horse. Barbaro is a beautiful horse that had a very tragic accident. Let's all hope that he will be able to live a happy live as a stallion.

Posted by: No Way | May 24, 2006 2:53:41 PM

At least Bush can relax knowing someone has an even lower approval rating.

Posted by: Anonymous | May 24, 2006 3:52:46 PM

So it's a vote? I vote for Vinnie Barbarino.

Posted by: Horschak | May 30, 2006 2:51:24 PM

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