Marc Ecko is not an idiot. He's a marketing genius. I eagerly await his line of Asterisk-brand fall fashion.

A marketing genius? Sure.

A baseball fan? Hell no.

I kinda agree with Gammons, Ecko is trying to push history on his side by calling Bonds' record phony and circumventing time. Baseball has a funny way of deciding what is fit for its history and lore.

Tan the Man, but it was Bond's (allegedly of course) who did the circumnavigating; Ecko is simply reflecting the tone of some people.

Still, I see your point. One argument posited is that none of the stuff being used by modern athletes were banned ergo they broke no rules or laws. In this light, Bonds can be off the hook. On the other hand...well we've seen it.

There is no right way to look at this. From the fans point of view, this is how they feel - right or wrong. Let history decide. Everyone tries to influence history. Bonds is guilty of this also.

Sorry RJ......Ecko really is an idiot, but America seems to be quite comfortable with idiots these days."Look what they've done to our song,Nicolo"

Aw c'man, Haze. Cut me some slack! I'm looking at this from a strictly historical perspective.

Ecko bought a ball. He took it to the streets; the people. He asked them their thoughts. They voted in the millions. In the process, he got publicity for his company. The BHOF accepted it and I agree with their thinking. You can't get more democratic and capitalistic than that.

Would I personally do it? Don't know. I suspect probably not. Depends where I stood in life.

That ball preserves what some people felt about #756. It's a conduit into the thinking of many fans. You can't suppress that. That's being in denial or advocating censorship and/or revisionism if you do. The fact remains that Bonds did it under a cloud of suspicion - rightly or wrongly.

It is what it is.

No way I'm disagreeing with you! and it is historic in more ways than I think we realize. I just think our society has become comfortably numb to idiocy. In todays age of everybody wanting their 15 minutes of fame, it just seems that people are willing to do whatever over the top act is necessary to get that spotlight on them. I just don't see his act as beneficial,only superficial and selfish. What message is this supposed to be sending? That Bonds is a cheater? Shit! The Patriots get caught cheating and they still get the win! WTF??? Now their 4-0! I do think he can do what he wants with the ball, I just disagree with what he's doing. You are correct....it is what it is.....and I think it's sad.

I see your point.

So here's a question to your accurate "I just think our society has become comfortably numb to idiocy. In todays age of everybody wanting their 15 minutes of fame, it just seems that people are willing to do whatever over the top act is necessary to get that spotlight on them."

Is it possible to do so without being cynical? What I mean is what if Ecko is not seeking his 15 minutes? Have we become indifferent or incapable in being able to tell the difference between real democratic action on one hand and cynical fame on the other?

It's like saying all politicians are scumbags because of a few bad apples and so on.

I am skeptical of the motives of others(especially in the sports world)because,as you put it...it is what it is and we are what we are. There are many reasons why,just not enough time to tell you. I feel the sports media is a large component of that reason. I fear we have become a brutal sports society where winning at all costs is fast becoming the norm. The politician thing is a funny analogy.Don't they all seem to speak out the side of their face?(lol) BTW-GO TRIBE!!!!!!

No doubt we're a results driven society. You don't win points for looking pretty that's for sure.

12-3. More importantly they beat up the Yankees best and most consistent pitcher all year. The trick with the Yankees is to force them to use their middle-relief. Once you do that you can beat them up.

Well they mauled 'em(12-3) and they took a close one(2-1).Now let's test their mettle in enemy territory! On to the place that's "so nice they named it twice"(UGH!!!) "The city that never sleeps"(PUL-LEES!!) "The place that all the worlds slime gravitates to".

That they did and they even beat the Yanks at their own game in the second one - come from behind in the late innings. Beating Pettite was huge.