原文譯自http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1640390,00.html It's just too easy to loathe Barry Bonds. As he approaches one of the most important achievements in American sport--Hank Aaron's all-time record of 755 home runs--everyone knows about Bonds the boor. He's fought with teammates, dissed the press and shunned the notion that athletes must strive to be adored. Then there's that whole steroids thing. In a recent TIME.com poll, 77% of respondents didn't want Bonds to break Aaron's record. 要討厭Barry Bonds實在太容易了。當他接近了美國運動歷史上最重要的成就之一， 也就是Hank Aaron生涯的七百五十五支全壘打的時候，每個人都認為Bonds是個粗魯的傢伙。 他跟隊友打架(按：Jeff Kent)、與媒體交惡、不屑「運動員要努力贏得愛戴」這樣的觀念。 然後就是這次類固醇的事件。在最近時代雜誌的民調顯示，百分之七十七的受訪者不希望 Bonds打破Aaron的紀錄。 But Bonds deserves a little respect. Steroids or not, he may be the best pure hitter in baseball history. "Does Bonds carry the freight for all the sins of his generation?" asks noted baseball historian--and current Boston Red Sox adviser--Bill James. No, he says, "he can't ... Bonds is our home-run champion. We should respect and honor him, just like we did Henry Aaron." 但Bonds是值得一些尊敬。不管有沒有用類固醇，他可能會是棒球史上最好的打擊者。 「Bonds是不是為了這個年代所有的罪惡背黑鍋呢？」著名的棒球史研究者， 同時也是現任的紅襪隊顧問Bill James提出這樣的問題。 他說：「不，他不該是背黑鍋的人，他是我們的全壘打王。我們應該尊敬他、以他為榮， 就像我們對Hank Aaron做的一樣。」 History will soon unfold, either as a celebration of Bonds' feat or, more likely, one historically awkward moment, given the surreal, sad or even angry reaction to what should be an unforgettable game. Here are five ways to make sense of the Bonds phenomenon. Where do you fall? 歷史很快就要出現了，不管到時候會是慶祝Bonds的成就，或更有可能的， 是一個難堪的歷史性的時刻，都會對這樣一場難忘的比賽有著超現實的、難過的、 或甚至是生氣的反應。下面是五種對於Bonds現象合理的解釋，你喜歡哪一種？ 1. It's simple--he cheated 一、他作弊，就是這麼簡單。 Be serious. Bonds cheated, he lied about it, and we should just scoff at this so-called record. In 1998, at age 33, Lean Barry hit a respectable 37 home runs. Two years later, Bulked-Up Barry smacked 49, then a preposterous 73, followed by three more seasons of at least 45 dingers. His head has visibly swelled, an inflated noggin being a telltale sign of human-growth-hormone use. 說真的，Bonds就是作弊，他說謊，而我們應該嘲笑這個所謂的紀錄。 精瘦的Barry在一九九八年時三十三歲，打出了令人尊敬的三十七支全壘打。兩年之後， 大塊頭Barry打了四十九支，然後是反常的七十三支，再接下來三個球季至少都轟出四十五 支全壘打。他的頭腫得很明顯，膨脹的頭部就是使用生長激素的證明 According to leaked grand jury testimony, Bonds has admitted to using steroids but has denied knowing that they were performance-enhancing drugs. Right. According to Game of Shadows, a Bonds expose, the slugger went on frequent steroid binges. No one has disproved these allegations, and if they are untrue, where's his sense of outrage? Where's his libel suit? "This record is unfortunate because it's pretty badly tainted," says former Major League Baseball commissioner Fay Vincent. "[Hank] Aaron is not going to go watch Bonds break it. I think that's the message for the rest of us." 依照流出的大陪審團的證詞，Bonds已經承認使用類固醇， 但是他否認知道那些藥是增強表現的藥物。沒錯， 根據披露Bonds固定使用類固醇的Game of Shadow一書表示， 沒有人能駁斥這些嫌疑，而如果這些事情是不實的，那他為什麼要不爽？ 為什麼他不提出訴訟？前大聯盟執行長Fay Vincent表示，這個紀錄很不幸， 因為它已經被徹底玷汙了。「Aaron不會親眼見證Bonds打破紀錄， 這對我們來說是個很明顯的訊息了。」 2. He's the greatest hitter of all time 二、他是史上最偉大的打者 You try smacking a 95-m.p.h. fastball out of the park. "755 home runs? It's an accomplishment, man," says New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter, noting that there's never been unequivocal proof that Bonds cheated. Before Bonds allegedly started steroids after the 1998 season, he was already bound for the Hall of Fame, having won three MVP awards. In 1996 and 1997, he had 42 and 40 home runs, respectively. And there's precedent for a late-career power surge: Aaron himself. 試試看把一個九十五英哩的快速球打出球場。紐約洋基的游擊手Derek Jeter說： 「七百五十五支全壘打？天阿這可是個了不起的成就，」 他認為從來就沒有明確的證據證明Bonds作弊。 在Bonds被懷疑於九八年球季後開始使用類固醇之前，他已經是個準名人堂球員， 得到三座MVP了。在九六年和九七年他分別打了四十二支和四十支全壘打。 而且在之前就已經有在生涯末期還能提升力量的證據：Aaron本人。 Bonds "has the most perfect swing I have ever seen," says James. "Steroids didn't do that. He disciplines himself not to swing at anything outside the strike zone in a way that any player could but very few do. Steroids didn't do that." You have to credit Bonds for performing while opposing fans are throwing syringes at him and booing him. "I don't know 10 people who can take all the flimflam he has taken and still do that job," says Texas Rangers scout Mel Didier. James表示，Bonds「有著我所看過最完美的揮棒。」「那是類固醇辦不到的。 他控制自己不去揮擊任何在好球帶以外的球，而這是很少有球員可以做到的。 類固醇辦不到。」你必須肯定Bonds在對手球迷對他丟注射器並且喝倒彩的時候， 還能有著好表現。「我認識不超過十個人能像他一樣， 面對所有的胡言亂語還可以把工作做好。」德州遊騎兵的球探Mel Didier說。 3. Come on, pitchers are juiced too 三、少來了，投手也是加料的 Cartoonishly large sluggers such as Bonds, Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa have dominated the steroids debate. And admit it: you loved watching those hulks abuse poor, defenseless pitchers. 像Bonds、McGwire、Sosa這樣誇張的強棒主宰了整個類固醇的爭議。而且承認吧， 你很喜歡看到這些大棒子凌虐那些可憐不設防的投手們。 But here's a reality check: 33 of the 48 major and minor league players suspended by baseball for using performance-enhancing drugs since the start of 2006 were pitchers. That's a stunning 69%, if you're keeping score at home. "With steroids, there has been a preoccupation with one aspect of the game-- the home runs," says steroid expert Dr. Gary Wadler, a member of the World Anti-Doping Agency. "To be fair, you have to look at other aspects of baseball performance." Steroids can speed a pitcher's recovery time and perhaps bump him a notch on the radar gun. 然而這裡有些事實：從二○○六年開季開始，每四十八個大聯盟和小聯盟的選手中， 就有三十三個投手被懷疑使用提升表現的藥物。這比例是驚人的百分之六十九， 如果你自己有計算的話。「說到類固醇，大家只關注在比賽中的一部分，就是全壘打，」 類固醇的專家，同時也是世界反用藥組織的會員之一的Dr. Gary Wadler表示， 「公平地來看，你必須檢視球賽中另一部份的表現。」類固醇可以縮短投手恢復的時間， 甚至讓投手在球速上有所提升。 Without a reliable test for human growth hormone, it's impossible to know who's still cheating. And with pitchers seeking an edge as well as hitters, it's possible that Bonds will best Aaron's record on a more level playing field than previously thought. Says Minnesota Twins outfielder Jason Tyner: "The pitchers definitely have gotten off the hook." 如果沒有一個針對生長激素的可靠測試，就不可能知道誰還在作弊。 而且投手跟打者一樣都在追求極限，所以有可能Bonds的紀錄比Aaron的更難得， 因為Bonds在更高層級的球場上比賽。雙城隊的外野手Jason Tyner說： 「投手們完全沒受到責備。」 4. Aaron was pure, but baseball has issues every era 四、Aaron是清白的，但是每個年代的棒球都有些爭議。 Yes, injecting steroids would seem to give Bonds a critical advantage over historical competitors. But don't forget that both Ruth and Aaron got help of a different sort. Yankee Stadium, the House That Ruth Built, was really the House Built for Ruth. The right-field fence, just 295 ft. from home plate in 1923, was a dream for a left-handed hitter. Perhaps more important, Ruth never faced a black pitcher. How would he have fared against Satchel Paige, "Smokey" Joe Williams and other Negro League greats? 沒錯，使用類固醇似乎讓Bonds比歷史上的競爭者有著更關鍵的優勢。 但是不要忘了Ruth跟Aaron也都獲得了不同方式的協助。 被叫作「the House That Ruth Built」洋基球場，是真的為了Ruth打造的。 一九二三年的時候，右外野的圍牆離本壘板只有兩百九十五英呎， 對左打者來說就像作夢一樣。也許更重要的是，Ruth從來沒有面對過黑人投手。 如果他面對過Satchel Paige、 "Smokey" Joe Williams和其他在黑人聯盟的偉大選手， 結果會是怎樣？ Aaron benefited from a field change. In 1968, the Year of the Pitcher, Aaron, at age 34, hit 29 home runs. After that season, baseball lowered the pitching mound, from 15 in. to 10 in. Advantage, hitters. Over the next five years, Aaron averaged 41 homers. An incredible feat, but it's fair to ask, What would have happened if the mound hadn't been lowered? Bottom line: every era is imperfect. Bonds' is the steroid era. Aaron則是從球場規格的改變中得利。一九六八年是投手稱霸的一年，Aaron三十四歲， 打出了二十九支全壘打。下一個球季投手丘就從十五吋降低成十吋，對打者來說是利多。 接下來的五個球季，Aaron平均每年打出四十一支全壘打。是個很了不起的表現沒錯， 但是也可以很公平的問問看，如果投手丘沒有被降低會發生什麼事？ 結論就是每個年代都不完美，而Bonds生在類固醇的年代。 5. It won't matter--A-Rod will surpass him 五、一切都不重要，A-Rod會超越他。 Don't sweat it. Bonds won't be the home-run king for long. Yankee third baseman Alex Rodriguez, 31, is about to become the youngest player to reach 500 home runs. He led the majors with 28 home runs through June. Ten more seasons of 25 dingers, which A-Rod can belt blindfolded, and he's right around 750. "Nobody has A-Rod's God-given ability," says Minnesota Twins All-Star center fielder Torii Hunter. "Nobody. That's why he's the $250 million man. He's definitely going to break that record." 不需要這麼辛苦了。Bonds不會永遠都是全壘打王的。洋基隊三十一歲的三壘手 Alex Rodriguez將要成為最年輕達成五百支全壘打里程碑的球員。到六月為止， 他以二十八支全壘打領先整個大聯盟。只要再十個球季平均有二十五支全壘打， 他就差不多有七百五十支了，A-Rod閉著眼睛都可以做到。 「沒人有像A-Rod那種天生神力，」雙城隊的明星中外野手Torii Hunter說。 「沒有任何人。這就是為什麼他可以拿兩億五千萬。他絕對會打破紀錄。」 There's something oddly appealing about A-Rod. He has the propensity to be all human as well as all star. He's seen a shrink. And he's been seen escorting a stripper in Toronto. He badly wants to be liked yet criticizes Yankee fans. He can't hit in the post-season. While Bonds is entangled in a federal perjury investigation and Major League Baseball's steroid probe, A-Rod's trials are of the lighter variety. Thank goodness. It will be nice to just smile about a slugger once again. 有些奇怪的事情曾發生在A-Rod身上。他有時候是很普通的人，有時候是個全明星球員。 他看過心理醫生，而且他也在多倫多被看到跟脫衣舞孃混在一起。他很希望被喜愛， 卻又批評洋基的球迷。他到了季後賽就會軟手。 當Bonds被聯邦陪審團和大聯盟的類固醇調查纏身的時候，A-Rod的考驗似乎輕鬆多了。 感謝老天，一次眷顧一個強打者就很夠了。 -- 初次翻譯，多有疏漏請大家多多指教 !! -- --

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