Sammy Sosa's positive steroids test means we've all been taken for another outrageous ride - ESPN

ESPN: "Sammy Sosa's positive steroids test means we've all been taken for another outrageous ride"

One of the issues raised by this year's revelations is that Barry Bonds was right about something - he WAS being unfairly singled out. He was no different from anyone else, and he knew it, although the circumstances prevented him from saying "Sure I use steroids. Me and everyone else." Can we now conclude, based on perfect hindsight, that Bonds was the victim of racism, as many have contended? I don't know the answer, but my guess is "no." I think that Bonds was singled out because he was arrogant, prickly, aloof and cantankerous. He was disliked not because he was a black man eclipsing many revered records of beloved white dudes, but simply because he was an ass. To cite just one example, he's the one guy who refused to let his name be licensed in the general deal for fantasy baseball leagues, so that ESPN had to list him as "Giants outfielder." He was the only guy that needed to be treated that way. To reword that synonymously, he actively singled himself out, as opposed to having been passively singled out by the press or the fans. If he had been both black and a great guy, like Tony Gwynn, I'm guessing that he would have received far gentler treatment.

On the other hand, many of the greatest players of all time have been total asses, as bad or worse than Bonds. Ted Williams was, arguably, even less likable than Bonds. Ty Cobb was at another level altogether. He made Bonds seem like an adorable puppy. Over the years, the personality problems of Cobb and Williams have faded until they are now only colorful anecdotes which have been stripped of the intense negative emotions that once surrounded them. Compared to those vague, vestigial memories, we can see black-and-white stats which have remained unchanged and overwhelmingly impressive.

Those guys did not receive a free ride from the press in their own days, but they got softer treatment than they would have received in today's harsh press culture with its instantaneous and omnivorous news cycles, not to mention its snarky supporting blogosphere. Remember that JFK got a complete free ride from reporters, even though his love for floozies was common knowledge. You think that could happen today? If Cobb, Williams or JFK came back to today's world and behaved the same way, they would receive the same harsh treatment as Bonds, Clemens, or Bill Clinton.