Bonds may boycott the Baseball Hall of Fame

[Brooklyn Yankee Fan]

Barry Bonds said in an interview on "Countdown with Keith Olbermann" that he will boycott baseball's Hall of Fame if it decides to display his record-breaking home run ball with an asterisk.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21586470/

Check it out.

[YankeePride1967]

Please display that ball very prominently!

[RhodeyYankee2638]

This is the best news i've ever heard. Does this mean he won't accept entry if they display this?

[Casey at the Bat]

boo-frickin'-hoo

[TheJobaRules]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21586470/

Check it out.

Good for him....For a group of people to taint a man's greatest achievement just to express their opinion (it still hasn't proven to be a fact) is a real shame. The hall of fame should reject the ball if it is given to them with an asterisk.

If they do that to Bonds, let's put a big wad of spit on known cheater Gaylor Perry's plaque.

[Panamaniac42]

Good for him....For a group of people to taint a man's greatest achievement just to express their opinion (it still hasn't proven to be a fact) is a real shame. The hall of fame should reject the ball if it is given to them with an asterisk.

If they do that to Bonds, let's put a big wad of spit on known cheater Gaylor Perry's plaque.

I actually agree with this, and don't even get me started on that coward McGwire.

[Zimmers' Helmet]

Good for him....For a group of people to taint a man's greatest achievement just to express their opinion (it still hasn't proven to be a fact) is a real shame. The hall of fame should reject the ball if it is given to them with an asterisk.

If they do that to Bonds, let's put a big wad of spit on known cheater Gaylor Perry's plaque.

I'm not Bonds' biggest fan, but I partially agree with what you said. If MLB is allowing his records to stand; then the bottom line is that Bonds HAS broken the record and there should certainly NOT be an asterisk next to anything he has accomplished.

I disagree about whether "it still hasn't proven to be fact" is accurate. Look at pictures of Bonds back in 1991 and look at him now. As someone who has worked as a trainer I can tell you as a fact that a man's ability to gain muscle greatly decreases as you approach the age of 35. Your body produces less testosterone and your muscles begin to very slightly atrophy due to age. The fact that Bonds gained 35 pounds of muscle after the age of 35 is beyond suspicious; on top of that, your skull doesnt grow due to training. That's HGH, friend.

[Steve Dalkowski]

Good for him....For a group of people to taint a man's greatest achievement just to express their opinion (it still hasn't proven to be a fact) is a real shame. The hall of fame should reject the ball if it is given to them with an asterisk.

If they do that to Bonds, let's put a big wad of spit on known cheater Gaylor Perry's plaque.

I totally agree. That said, I don't see the Hall displaying the asterisked ball. Have they made an announcement on this?

[Dannman103]

Good, I hope the hall of fame boycotts him right back.

[Soriambi]

This is the best news i've ever heard. Does this mean he won't accept entry if they display this?

I'm not positive, but I don't think he has a choice. He can certainly choose not to show up on induction day (or at any point in the future,) but I don't think he can keep himself out if he gets 75%+ of the vote.

[MattUNC2003]

[Stick Michael]

The Hall of Fame has gotten boring. How many glass encasings of bats, balls and uniforms do we have to see? Historic ball, bat used to hit historic ball, uniform worn while using bat to hit historic ball...yeah, yeah we get it. Wanna make it worth seeing? Put batboys inside the glass. Or freeze them and put them on display like Han Solo in Empire Strikes Back. I don't care. Just give people a reason to come back.

James

[Changes]

The Hall of Fame has gotten boring. How many glass encasings of bats, balls and uniforms do we have to see?

Boring? It's not like the Smithsonian where you have everything under the sun to choose from (including the Sun). It's all about baseball from the beginning to now. Personally I'd rather see all of the memorbilia that you're dismissing as trivial than anything less relevant to the game and those that have promoted it.

Besides, I think Skippy has moved onto college.

[goin for 27]

Big Deal.
I hope Bonds shuns the hall. I wish the writers would shun him....

[The Q Bomb]

Hall of Fame

---

Quote:

Barry Bonds said in an interview on "Countdown with Keith Olbermann" that he will boycott baseball's Hall of Fame if it decides to display his record-breaking home run ball with an asterisk.

Good for Bonds. I'm no fan of his, but it would be disgraceful for baseball, i.e. Selig, to allow that ball to go in the HOF with the asterisk. If they know Bonds took steroids - kick him out of baseball and take away his records. If they can't prove it - shut up; play nice; and make sure a farce like this doesn't happen again.

[JDPNYY]

That solves the problem of fitting his head on the plaque.

[RhodyYanksFan]

How convenient. He'll boycott it now so when he doesn't get elected he doesn't have to feel bad.

[643DP]

I was just reading this through ESPN.com. My favorite part was where Bonds was quoted as saying "That's my emotions now. That's how I feel now. When I decide to retire five years from now, we'll see where they are at that moment"

Is this guy gonna play 5 more years?! Ha! Probably meant HOF election, but still, I'm picturing the guy hobbling around until he's 48.

Seriously, I kind of see where Bonds is coming from. But he's handling this asterisk thing in a way that makes the whole situation more ugly. Could a ballplayer be any more alienating to fans? Oh yeah... you-know-who.

[Vin]

Boring? It's not like the Smithsonian where you have everything under the sun to choose from (including the Sun). It's all about baseball from the beginning to now. Personally I'd rather see all of the memorbilia that you're dismissing as trivial than anything less relevant to the game and those that have promoted it.

Besides, I think Skippy has moved onto college.

He got promoted I believe he works in the Yankee offices now.

[Yankees Empire]

Thanks for the info, Barry. We'll all try to muddle on without you.

[TheJobaRules]

That solves the problem of fitting his head on the plaque.

LOL!!!!

[TheJobaRules]

[quote=Steve Dalkowski]I totally agree. That said, I don't see the Hall displaying the asterisked ball. Have they made an announcement on this?[/quote]

That's what I'm wondering about...

[webassign]

Good for him....For a group of people to taint a man's greatest achievement just to express their opinion (it still hasn't proven to be a fact) is a real shame. The hall of fame should reject the ball if it is given to them with an asterisk.

I agree too. Letting fans do this basically sets a precedent that says that fans can become greater than the game.

[jlw1980]

I hope they boycott him, too. Douchebag.

[Centerhero]

Ban the ball from the Hall of Fame!

[Hitman23]

Not popular opinion coming here.... While I found what happened quite amusing the bottom line here is that like it or not that ball is MLB history. No matter what it signifies, cheater or champion. It should be in the hall and it shouldn't have an asterisk. Again, I find it funny, but it's not professional and even I can identify The Hall as a place of professionalism.

As far as his reaction, Barry is going to take this the way he is, I can't fully blame him, but he could also learn how to let some things go for the good of baseball.

[ShaneTravis]

I really wish people would stop disparaging our future DH.

[silverdsl]

Not popular opinion coming here.... While I found what happened quite amusing the bottom line here is that like it or not that ball is MLB history. No matter what it signifies, cheater or champion. It should be in the hall and it shouldn't have an asterisk. Again, I find it funny, but it's not professional and even I can identify The Hall as a place of professionalism.

I agree completely. I think it's sad that someone would deface a piece of history. It doesn't even seem to me it's as much about making a statement given that he let the fans vote on whether to brand it or not, as much as it's about getting some publicity.

[xenadanielle]

I heard some of this interview on the radio this morning. He sounded like such an effing condescending douche..

Jared Max on WCBS said the next time Barry gets really drunk someone should temporary-tattoo an asterisk on his "honeydew melon sized head."

[montrealer]

Must get elected before you can boycott......

[jeterdaman]

He's right. The Hall of Fame is a Museum. It's not for anyone to make a determination about history except for the people who come through.

[yanksphan]

I wonder how many people will be crying about Bonds when their favorites are also implicated via George Mitchell?

[BillBuckner]

Please do.

[46Mattingly23]

Hall of Fame

---

Quote:

Barry Bonds said in an interview on "Countdown with Keith Olbermann" that he will boycott baseball's Hall of Fame if it decides to display his record-breaking home run ball with an asterisk.

Good for Bonds. I'm no fan of his, but it would be disgraceful for baseball, i.e. Selig, to allow that ball to go in the HOF with the asterisk. If they know Bonds took steroids - kick him out of baseball and take away his records. If they can't prove it - shut up; play nice; and make sure a farce like this doesn't happen again.

I agree, I don't like Bonds, but the Museum was created to preserve history, not destroy it. It's apart of baseball history whether anyone likes it or not, you have to take the good with the bad.

[JJazz]

The asterisk is part of history too. That fans overwhelmingly voted to brand the ball is a part of the story. The ball belongs in the hall, asterisks and all. Same goes for Barry.

[yanksphan]

The asterisk is part of history too. That fans overwhelmingly voted to brand the ball is a part of the story. The ball belongs in the hall, asterisks and all. Same goes for Barry.

I didn't vote. My dad didn't vote. I'm willing to bet more baseball fans did not vote than did vote.

Museums are for people to visit, learn, and form their own opinions. No reason to try and sway people's opinion based on a publicity stunt.

[JeterForPresident]

Over 10 million people voted. I am not sure if thats 10 million voted for the asterisk or 10 million overall, but either way, 10 million people getting involved, that is significant.

[RYMASTER or Ryan_Yankees]

Personally, I can't care about anything he says seriously when he ends the interview by speaking in the third person.

"Jimmy likes you. Jimmy is new in town."

[RedGlare]

I didn't vote. My dad didn't vote. I'm willing to bet more baseball fans did not vote than did vote.

Museums are for people to visit, learn, and form their own opinions. No reason to try and sway people's opinion based on a publicity stunt.

Yes but I did vote. As did my brother and my father too.

Steriod useage is part of baseballs history now. Maybe at one point it didn't have to be.. but it sure is now. In fact it is SO much a part of its history that some crazy fan burnt an asterisk into the record breaking homerun ball. That is note worth. It needs to go into the hall. Without it... it would be surpressing history.

So. You are absolutely right. Let the ball stand in a case. Let people look at it and "learn and form their own opinion" about a very real issue

[YankeePride1967]

He's right. The Hall of Fame is a Museum. It's not for anyone to make a determination about history except for the people who come through.

It's debatable as to who is making that determination. The Hall or the person donating it. Asterisk or not, the ball has historic value and that is normally the basis an artifact gets placed in the hall. The Hall could stipulate that it takes no position on the issue of whether the record is tainted or not.

[webassign]

Over 10 million people voted. I am not sure if thats 10 million voted for the asterisk or 10 million overall, but either way, 10 million people getting involved, that is significant.

10 million in a country of 300 million is nothing. Let's not forget about people voting from overseas too.

I didn't vote. My dad didn't vote. I'm willing to bet more baseball fans did not vote than did vote.

Museums are for people to visit, learn, and form their own opinions. No reason to try and sway people's opinion based on a publicity stunt.

This is pretty much it right here.

[Casey at the Bat]

If I remember correctly, the Hall has said that they do NOT alter anything that comes into the hall, with the exception of maintaining or trying to restore old equipment (and I may even be wrong about the restoring). They specifically said that if the ball comes in with the asterisk, they will not be erasing it, which is in line with their policy of not altering artifacts in the Hall.

If that ball makes it to the Hall, it will make it with the asterisk. Whether or not the Hall decides to put it on display, however, is a different story.

[YankeeZim]

I agree too. Letting fans do this basically sets a precedent that says that fans can become greater than the game.

The fans MAKE it the "game" it is. Without the fans, there is no "game". If the fans want to protest this walking caraciture and his tainted achievements, so be it.

[46Mattingly23]

The asterisk is part of history too. That fans overwhelmingly voted to brand the ball is a part of the story. The ball belongs in the hall, asterisks and all. Same goes for Barry.

The asterisk was not on the ball when it was on the playing field though, if they put a plaque or something in the display explaining the controversy behind the home run that would be one thing, but ruining the ball like that isn't right.

[yankeeman61]

Hall of Fame

---

Quote:

Barry Bonds said in an interview on "Countdown with Keith Olbermann" that he will boycott baseball's Hall of Fame if it decides to display his record-breaking home run ball with an asterisk.

Good for Bonds. I'm no fan of his, but it would be disgraceful for baseball, i.e. Selig, to allow that ball to go in the HOF with the asterisk. If they know Bonds took steroids - kick him out of baseball and take away his records. If they can't prove it - shut up; play nice; and make sure a farce like this doesn't happen again.

Q -I don't think Selig rules over the HOF and the sheer hypocrisy it would take on his part to say the ball deserves to be untainted when Bud himself turned a blind eye to the steroid issue in baseball would be pretty hard to stomach IMO. It would be an endorsement by Bud that what Bonds "uknowingly" (my ass) did was clean. Bud should stay as far away as possible from this issue IMO. The only reason he did anything about steroids at all was BALCO. Otherwise someone would have hit 80 HR by now.

Anyway the HOF is for fans and the majority voted the way they feel about Bonds' HR record. It's a life lesson opportunity for Dads to explain to their sons

[JJazz]

The asterisk was not on the ball when it was on the playing field though, if they put a plaque or something in the display explaining the controversy behind the home run that would be one thing, but ruining the ball like that isn't right.

The question at hand is not whether it's ok to brand the ball. The question is whether the ball, once branded, belongs in the hall. I say it does because the ball is of extreme historical importance. Even if the brand detracts from the ball, I refuse to believe it detracts so much that you keep the ball out.

[JJazz]

10 million in a country of 300 million is nothing. Let's not forget about people voting from overseas too.

To put that 10mm in perspective, the Arod got 3.9mm all-star votes. Nobody else even came close. 10mm votes is a lot of people in the baseball world.

[MaineSoxFan]

Over 10 million people voted. I am not sure if thats 10 million voted for the asterisk or 10 million overall, but either way, 10 million people getting involved, that is significant.

10 million votes overall with 47% votes for the asterisk. http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/200...s-record-ball/

[webassign]

I think the only way to make you guys understand is through an analogy. What if a Red Sox fan were to have caught Wade Boggs's 3,000th hit (a home run), and then wrote a nice big TRAITOR in red marker on the ball and gave it to the hall of fame under the same conditions that Ecko is giving to the hall of fame? I'm sure most of you would be against that. Just because a lot of people don't like Bonds, doesn't make his situation any different than the hypothetical I just presented.

[Octoberbaby]

Cry baby!