Gary Sheffield Gets on Hank Aaron’s Case

How Hank Aaron chooses to deal with Bonds hitting 757 is his business – unless you ask Gary Sheffield. While on the Worst Damn Sports Show Ever, the mustache weighed in on whether Hank Aaron should show up when Barry Bonds breaks his home run record:

"I wish Aaron would. We’ve been through a lot as African-Americans, and I just believe we should support each other."

We’ve been through a lot? What, does Hammer not realize this? Has he not lived and breathed it every day of his seventy-three years? I suppose a life where growing up in the Deep South, suffering daily injustices, and then, in his greatest hour, battling death threats, persecution, and untold amounts of opposition from racists and ignorant malcontents wasn’t enough for the old guy to catch a clue. Guys like Aaron, Jackie Robinson, Willie Mays, Satchel Paige, Buck O’Neal, and Frank Robinson are the ones that went through a lot as African Americans, they are the ones who endured unimaginable hardships. Their bravery and courage gave African American athletes the opportunity to chase any record they choose without fear of facing the same adversity. But it also gave jerks like Gary Sheffield and privileged brats like Barry Bonds the opportunity to cheat and then whine when people don’t let them get away with it. And these players – the Bonds and Sheffields of the world – are a disgrace to those that came before them.

Now, maybe this is one of those situations where I simply don’t understand what it’s like to be African American and I’m just talking out of my arse. But to me, Sheffield’s comments don’t just smack of pure ignorance, they’re also disrespectful to an honorable man that long carried the flag in the struggle against racism. Hank Aaron is behaving with dignity, as he always has, in the face of some entitled punk sullying the legacy of the most hallowed record in sport – a record that, when he broke it, was a triumph for African Americans everywhere. In light of that, what does he expect Aaron to say?

"You’re right, Gary. I think Bonds cheated his way to a record that I walked through the pits of hell to achieve and normally, I wouldn’t want to be associated with or caught supporting such egregious behavior. But since he’s also African American… well, hmm, let’s call it bygones."

That’s not how it works! Stand by, support, and cheer anyone that’s fighting like hell for glory. If you share the same race, great. But when that person is a cheating, fraudulent abomination that is making a mockery of an institution, as well as accomplishments for your own race of people, any sense of obligation needs to fall away. Shame on anyone who tries to guilt people into thinking otherwise.

Put Gary Sheffield down on my list of people that need a swift steel-toed boot to the face.