CBS' Syler Wonders Whether Barry Bonds 'Likely' Candidate for Hall of Fame

Early Show/NewsBusters ^ | Mark Finkelstein

[governsleastgovernsbest]

by Mark Finkelstein

March 8, 2006

Bear with me. It's something of a slow news day. No Matt Lauer offering a 'he-set-me-up' defense for a lefty schoolteacher. Not even a Katie Couric plumping for more post-Katrina public housing. But perhaps, in a small way, an insight into how little hosts on the major morning news shows know about . . . the news.

All the shows ran segments this morning about a new book, 'Game of Shadows', by San Francisco Chronicle reporters Mark Fainaru-Wada and Lance Williams. With a release timed to coincide with the beginning of the baseball season, the book documents in overwhelming detail what others have suspected or alleged for years: that Barry Bonds has used a variety of performance-enhancing drugs, including steroids and human growth hormone.

You wouldn't think it would escape any sentient American's attention that Barry Bonds is not merely a super-star, but arguably the greatest player in the history of baseball. His records include not only the single-season home run record of 73, but, as Bonds' official web site documents, also:

· 13-time All Star · 8 Gold Gloves · 12 Silver Slugger Awards · Third member of 700 Home Run Club · Only member in 500/500 Club [home runs and steals] · Two-time N.L. Batting Champion (2002, 2004) · Player of the Decade for the 1990's by The Sporting News · All-time Major League walks leader · Set single-season walks (232) and intentional walks (120) record · Set single-season OBP record (.609)

If ever a player, but for the drug charges, were an absolute stone cold, leadpipe, mortal lock for first-ballot Hall of Fame election, it is Barry Bonds.

But in interviewing sports and investigative reporter Armen Keteyian on this morning's Early Show, co-host Renee Syler was unsure:

"In terms of the Hall of Fame - isn't he a likely candidate?"

Likely? Uh, yeah, you might say that, Renee.

Keteyian kept a straight face while responding "he was a sure-fire first ballot Hall of Famer."

Now granted, this is sports, not Social Security. But for someone in Syler's position to be so clueless as to one of the major figures and stories of the day makes one wonder how much MSMers know about other, weightier issues.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Early Show/NewsBusters pump-you-up ping to Today show list.

[AnnGora]

Bonds couldn't carry Ty Cobb's jockstrap.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

How's the weather down in Georgia? ;-)

[ClearCase_guy]

I have worked at a big-city newspaper and I have worked at a college that trained women to be teachers. Both fields are very similar:

Reporters study the art of "journalism". They (typically) don't know history, or economics, or political theory, or languages, or literature, or geography. They know how to write a good "lead". I was astounded at their ignorance of general knowledge.

Teachers study the art of "education". They (typically) don't know history, or economics, or political theory, or languages, or literature, or geography. They know how to write a good "lesson plan". I was astounded at their ignorance of general knowledge.

It's not a coincidence that the practioners in these fields are often incapable of understanding what a false doctrine the Left provides.

[nina0113]

There's a Druggie Hall of Fame? Who knew.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Excellent behind-the-scenes insight into the world of journalism. Thanks for posting.

[Rapscallion]

Sure. Make him a model to follow for America's kids. (Not!)

[Renderofveils]

Kids follow baseball?

[L,TOWM]

This may actually be a valid question. If Pete Rose is still a non-starter for HoF votes, than the poster boy of "baseball from a test tube" may be similarly punished for his perceived cheating.

If I were a baseball writer, I would have voted for Bonds induction had he retired in, say 1999, before he started breaking records in his late '30's and early 40's. He had a great career prior to sticking 'roid filled needles in his butt. After he turned into a chemistry experiment run amok, though, he lost all claim to be included with the best ball players of all time. His chemist may deserve a bust in Cooperstown, but not Barry.

[wagglebee]

Bonds is for certain going to be elected on the first ballot, unless the steroid allegations prove to be true. If that happens, there would be a lot of pressure on Selig to "alter" Bonds' records.

Despite all of this, I think the real problem with MLB is Bud Selig. He came in as "acting" commissioner and never left, eventually the other owners realized this and just made it permanent. However, there were and still are clear conflicts of interest; all he really did was transfer control of the Brewers to his daughter, and if the Brewers weren't Seligs team they would have been disbanded or moved.

My hope is that in a few years, George W. Bush will be named commissioner.

[reagandemo]

If you take the years that he took "Roids" out of the picture look wow that would change the records that he achieved. Best baseball player ever? Not after looking at it that was. Besides cheaters should not be rewarded for bad behavior.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

I should clarify: Syler's full question was "In terms of the hall of fame, isn't he a likely candidate and will this impact the voting?" In other words, she was asking whether, drugs aside, he was a likely candidate.

[OldFriend]

You have described the problem with journalism and the teaching profession PERFECTLY.

Thanks for your commentary.

[Osage Orange]

Why not Bonds in the Hall?

We've had a rapist as the POTUS.....

[governsleastgovernsbest]

I don't disagree. My only point is that Bonds is a sure-fire candidate for the Hall unless the drug charges affect things. For Syler to wonder if he is a "likely" candidate suggests how little she knows about the sport.

[johnny7]

I hear it's just... peachy.

[subterfuge]

Two subjects here:

1. Journalists aren't knowledgable--by and large true, but there are exceptions. I met a journalist at a Kerry FReep in Orlando in '04 when he interviewed me about the nut (Kerry). The journalist, David Whitley, a sports writer, has a pretty good understanding of how the world works but he did try to be objective and not let on as to his point of view. I could sense though, that he was NOT sympathetic to Kerry.

2. Barry Bonds in the Hall?---I suppose so. But the truth is, his records are tainted. How he's won 8 Gold Gloves I'll never quite get. Regardless, if what is in the SI article is true, the guy is a freak that needs professional help.

[bcsco]

"Teachers study the art of "education". They (typically) don't know history, or economics, or political theory, or languages, or literature, or geography. They know how to write a good "lesson plan". I was astounded at their ignorance of general knowledge."

I would only take exception to note this is true of teachers educated within the past generation or so. Those of the 'old school', like a friend of mine, went into the profession not only to 'educate' but because they had a passion for a subject; history, mathematics, government, languages, whatever. They were classic educators because they knew the subject and were able to inculcate it in their students. We've lost that fire, for the most part, and our education system, and its product (our children), are the casualties.

[sgtbono2002]

Is taking drugs worse than making a bet on your own team?/

Probably not according to baseball.

Keeping Rose out of the Hall of fame is a friggin sin.

Rose may not have a great personality, but his record cant be denied.

[PzLdr]

Bondsd should get in...about 80 years after "Shoeless Joe"

[reagandemo]

The big problem: If they let in Barry then they should let in Pete Rose. They can't have it both ways. Pete's records were made clean. He bet on baseball as a manager and lied about it. Barry has taken Roids while a player and some of his records can be attributed to their use. He has consistantly denied taking them. What's the Sports Writers to do?

[PzLdr]

Even without the 'roids, Bonds isn't the best baseball player ever. Babe Ruth is...at least until Bonds wins over 94 games pitching, is one of the dominant pitchers in his league for two years, and pitches 29+ innings of shutout ball in the World Series.

[reagandemo]

No argument here. I think Bond's records should only reflect what he did prior to the Roids use.

[IllumiNaughtyByNature]

I think that we will see the names Bonds and Cobb mentioned in the same sentence for a long time. I believe that they are going to be eternally lumped together as two of the most despised players of all time. Yes, "The Rotten Peach" and the "The Walking Asterisk" are going to be friends for a while. JMO

[IllumiNaughtyByNature]

Good point. What a quandry. I didn't think of that but now I am going to ponder it. The down side is that Rose is not longer eligible for the HOF.

[reagandemo]

Rose is still able to be inducted into the Hall of Fame... He just has to be room temperature.

[IllumiNaughtyByNature]

oh, thanks. So we'll sit back and wait it out. Wonder if all the meds in Bonds system will cause him to hit room temp before Rose? You know, kinda like the Meir nomination trial baloon?

[AnnGora]

How's the weather down in Georgia? ;-)

Don't care. We'uns here in Alabama are only in Jawja when we're slummin'...

[Beowulf]

Yeah, Bud Selig is a disaster to baseball. The integrity of the game (as well as the continuity with its past) has been compromised on his watch.

Personally, I am troubled by the trends in sports. Here in Tampa, we saw MLB use us to extort tax money for new stadia, etc., by established franchises threatening to move here before expansion brought us the Devil Rays. Then here in Tampa the NFL Buccaneers owners got a ballot initiative for a new stadium through the Hillsborough County Commissioners. It was rejected by the voters. Then the Commissioners repackaged it together with more funds for police and schools and it passed.

A private business like professional sports franchises have no business ripping off the taxpayers who wouldn't otherwise support them.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

I'm wrong again. Do I get 'close-but-no-cigar' credit? ;-)

[reagandemo]

As much as I detest what Bonds has done I do not wish him an early end to his life. Roids have shorted many a athlete's life. Lyle Alsato (sp) comes to mind.

[beyond the sea]

ROFL!!!!! Cobb was a banjo-hitting crazy man.........

[IllumiNaughtyByNature]

I do not wish him any harm either, but reading the list of cocktails in another thread about what he used, stacked and became a human pin cushion for scares me that he has shortened his life expectancy big time.

[dfwgator]

Barry needs to worry if he's even going to be around if he makes the HoF with the way he has abused steroids.

[beyond the sea]

There's a Druggie Hall of Fame? Who knew.

Let's throw Yankee Stadium's finest Whitey Ford out of the Hall of Fame for being the greatest spitball/scuffball cheater in Major League history.

Come to think of it........... Don Sutton, Gaylord Perry, etc. are all cheaters too, right?

Baseball players have been artfully cheating forever in a thousand different ways.

****

Barry will pay for all the drugs most likely some day. I hope not, but it wouldn't be a surprise to see him become ill in one way or another.

[dfwgator]

Well at least Barry hasn't killed anybody, meanwhile OJ is still in the Football Hall of Fame.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I think you may be on to something.

[KenmcG414]

Hate to say it but he'll probably get into the Hall but McGwire won't. Bonds won't get the lousy media attention as McGwire. Any guesses why?

[L,TOWM]

Baseball players have been artfully cheating

Well, there you have it. Perry, Sutton, Ford - all those guys had a little bit of a fig leaf of doubt over their ball doctoring -- I remember as a kid watching umps damm near strip search Gaylord Perry on the mound trying to find his "stuff". They were unsuccessful.

With Bonds, there is no doubt - anyone that saw pre 1999 Bonds and compared that the moon faced, 'roided out Bonds of 2000 on, has no doubt about his chemical enhancement... No art whatsoever in that cheating.

[beyond the sea]

Well, there you have it. Perry, Sutton, Ford - all those guys had a little bit of a fig leaf of doubt over their ball doctoring -- I remember as a kid watching umps damm near strip search Gaylord Perry on the mound trying to find his "stuff". They were unsuccessful. With Bonds, there is no doubt - anyone that saw pre 1999 Bonds and compared that the moon faced, 'roided out Bonds of 2000 on, has no doubt about his chemical enhancement... No art whatsoever in that cheating.

****

Not to be too abrupt and direct with you, but everything you say therein is silly or outrightly false.

"fig leaf of doubt" --- whatever that means. LOL......

Everyone over 50 who knows baseball knows Whitey Ford was the king of cheaters as a pitcher. A drn great cheater...... some would call him a fraud. ;-)

By the way, fig leaves, as you oddly mention, are usually covering up something not to be viewed, aren't they? What would that be? I guess you blew your own cover.

#2 --- If Bonds hadn't been "artful" in his drug taking (as you say that he wasn't)...... why is he still playing.

To sum up........ you know little or nothing of what you are talking about here. Plain and simple.

P.S. ....... learn how to spell "damn".

;-)

******

Speaking of damn/dam........ this is extremely funny and should make you laugh!

http://www.naute.com/stories/dam.phtml

[Osage Orange]

Well at least Barry hasn't killed anybody, meanwhile OJ is still in the Football Hall of Fame.

And Kennedy and Clinton are still in the Senate........

[wmileo]

Before the 1999 season, Bonds had already accumulated the stats to be in to the HOF. So did Palmeri. The problem with keeping them out is this. Baseball, since the death of A. Bartlett (Bart) Giamatti, has not had a commissioner who was devoted to preserving baseball's traditions, values and integrity. Bart Giamatti was also willing to take risks in order to protect the game. This was evident in his handling of the Pete Rose Scandal. Despite the popularity and superior skill of Pete Rose, Bart did the correct thing. If he were the Commissioner instead of Selig, there never would have been a Steroid Controversy. We the fans are stuck with the results. MLB is a professional sport which is just as tainted today as it was in 1920 when the Black Sox Scandal of 1919 was finally reveled. My opinion, let Bonds in the HOF. However, don't allow him to be honored during the Induction Ceremony. Just place a Bust of his likeness on a wall in the HOF and send him a confirmation letter. This will send a message to everyone, fans, players owners, etc.