As Barry Bonds attempts to tie, then break, Hank Aaron’s home-run record, the controversy surrounding the use of steroids heats up even more, if that’s possible, and though I have always been against the use of steroids, I would like to clear the air on just what it means to sports and what we can do about it.

First of all, let’s look at baseball, as that’s where most of the focus is on as Bonds, later today, will go to the plate and see if he can hit number 755. What a lot of people forget, I think, is that no matter how many steroids you take, you still have to hit the ball. And that, as always, means eye and hand coordination, not strength. Yes, if you do connect, the ball will, if hit solidly, carry that extra distance that can mean the difference of a ball dropping in the outfield or clearing the fence.

But to hit that 95-mile-per-hour fastball screaming towards home plate, or that sinker that drops a foot just as it reaches you, has nothing to do with steroid use. I also wonder if any tests have ever been performed to see if there is any negative effect to the performance of a baseball player. With that added bulk, do you lose a step in speed? Are you as flexible or agile as you were pre-steroid use? I would think lean and mean could outperform The Incredible Hulk.

So what do we do about it? I believe there are only two solutions. One, a complete ban on the use of steroids accompanied by harsh penalties. First offense, out for remainder of season and following season. Second offense within a three-year period, banned from that sport for life.

Or we can say, “Hey, you’re all responsible adults, you know the dangers of steroid use over the long run, but it’s your life, so we are going to make the use of steroids legal.” Along with that would also come the beginning of a new era for records so no longer would the argument come up as to the legitimacy of breaking a record set 20 or 30 years ago by someone today who is on steroids.

I feel badly for Barry Bonds. Here’s a guy who is going to break a record revered by baseball fans around the world and when he does, assuming it’s not in San Francisco, he is going to make his way around the bases to the sounds of boos and jeers instead of the cheers he deserves.

Our system has created the situation in which professional sports now finds itself. Sports has become a numbers game. How many home runs did he hit? How many passes caught or completed? How many tackles made? How fast is his serve? This is what determines if not only you make the team or win an event, but how much you can be paid. Sadly, it all comes down to greed. Greed by the owners, greed by the players. But that’s what America has become. What a lesson for our children to learn. Shame on all of us.