He plays baseball, just like Barry Bonds, they both play for the Giants, they both hit home runs and they are both all-stars. They are, however, very different – Jack Hansen doesn’t play in the major leagues.

Hansen plays for the Ames Little League 11-year-old Woodruff Giants.

“Steroids can stop bone growth, and they make your muscles bigger, but they are bad,” Hansen said. “Steroids can put other players at a disadvantage if they don’t use them, and it should be fair for everyone to break the record.”

Whether Bonds took steroids is no longer the issue. He may or he may not have, but the public conception is that he did. As Bonds zeros in on possibly the greatest record in sports, Hank Aaron’s 755 career home runs, a lot of attention has been given to the negative impact the allegations of Bonds’ steroid use has had on young fans. It’s possible, however, that isn’t the case.

“With these Little Leaguers, it’s not unusual where these groups of boys have broken into a debate over the impact of steroids, and whether or not they should count it as a record or kick him out of baseball,” said Scott Grau, manager of the 11-year-old Urbandale all-star team.

Bonds’ drive for Aaron’s record, if nothing else, has generated discussion to some serious issues facing young baseball players and provided them with a basic understanding of the repercussions of using performance-enhancing drugs.

“[Steroids] cheaps your lifestyle, it cheaps how you play sports, because it is cheating,” said Reed Smith, of the Central Iowa All-Stars. “It makes you bigger and stronger than the other players.

“It destroys your bones and your body,” added teammate Austin Hillebo. “He could be a lot better baseball player if he didn’t use them.”

All five Little Leaguers had a solid understanding of the impact of steroids. Interestingly enough, although the kids believed that Bonds took steroids, and believed that to be cheating, there seemed to be conflicting opinions as to whether they wanted him to break the record.

Hansen, along with Jake Grau and Ryan Yoder of the Urbandale All-Stars, didn’t want Bonds to pass Aaron. Reed and Austin, however, wanted him to break the record, despite thinking that Bonds cheated his way to this point.

According to a story on www.nytimes.com, a New York Times/CBS poll found 48 percent of baseball fans believed the allegations were probably true, and 18 percent thought they were definitely true.

Despite most believing he took steroids, 55 percent of baseball fans said the excitement generated from the record falling would overcome what they thought about Bonds, whereas only 35 percent said it would be bad for baseball.

Inconsistencies among the public are prevalent, and maybe rightfully so. People love to see records broken, and, for a record as hollowed as Aaron’s, the desire to see it broken is also widespread.

Controversy, however, will surround the night that Bonds passes Aaron. People may never know if he did use steroids, but the speculation, and a nation divided, might taint what should have become a memorable night for America and little leaguers alike.

Sometimes all it takes is a little leaguer’s perspective to view the situation in a more positive light.

“I kind of want him to break the record,” Yoder said. “Because I want the other players that are close to the record to know that they will be able to do it without using steroids or anything.”

As Yoder so simply pointed out, when Bonds does set the new record, somewhere down the line another player will be chasing Bonds. When that happens, it will be a lot easier to root for a player who isn’t suspected of cheating.

Maybe not all bad has come out of Bonds’ quest for No. 756.

“You hear a lot of comments about the negative influence that the kids may be picking up,” said Scott Grau. “Where, with at least this group of kids, it may have had the exact opposite impact and turned them off to steroids.”

For that, thank Barry Bonds.

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