News-Record.com

We wanted to stand up and cheer for Barry Bonds in our Editorial Board meeting this morning, but we just weren't juiced up enough.

Some of us also love the game of baseball too much.

Let's give credit where it's due: Bonds battled pitcher Mike Bacsik of Allen Johnson's beloved Washington Nationals to a full count before blasting his record 756th home run into deep right-center at San Francisco's AT&T Park last night. The man can hit, and always could -- long before he was alleged to have bulked up with steroids or other performancing-enhancing drugs. Yes, he dramatically improved his power numbers late in his career, definitely an unnatural phenomenon. As a result, many fans will hold him in contempt and never accept the legitimacy of his accomplishments. They're entitled.

But in what context should we place Bonds? Among his generation of sluggers, he stands out only as the most proficient. Should his 2001 single-season mark of 73 home runs be erased? That would leave Mark McGwire as the record-holder. He's tainted, too. Get rid of him, and you're looking at Sammy Sosa, another suspected juicer.

Athletes look for all kinds of ways to improve their abilities or gain a competitive edge. Heck, during my distance-running days at Carolina, I gave hypnosis a shot (it didn't make up for being too slow). What's fair and what's cheating? Innovative training methods? Dietary supplements? Energy drinks? Altitude tents? Surgery to improve vision? Blood transfusions? Stimulants? Hormones? Genetic engineering? Does it matter?

He may not get into all this, but lifelong Chicago White Sox fan Ken Irons is writing about Barry Bonds for tomorrow.