Alex Rodriguez is on the verge of a pretty remarkable career achievement.  600 home runs.  Only 6 baseball players in the long history of the sport have reached that mark: Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, Ken Griffey Jr., and Sammy Sosa. 

ARod will become the youngest player to hit the number.  He is 35.  The bigger picture?  He is 163 from tying Barry Bonds, 164 from passing him.  Based on his current path, you'd think it will take him 5-6 more seasons. 

One question: Will he get there?  Bigger question: Will "we" be cheering for him? 

When Aaron passed Ruth, he was cheered against by many.  When Bonds passed Aaron, he was cheered against by most. 

The time and setting and culture had a lot to do with attitudes toward the person who was doing the chasing.  I can't paint an accurate picture of what the world of baseball, sports, or America will look like in 2015, but I do know this, neither ARod nor Bonds would win a popularity contest. 

I am one that roots for history to be made.  I want to see records fall so that I can say I was watching when they fell.  I remember where I was when Marino, Favre, Manning, and Brady set passing records.  I remember Emmitt Smith and Jerry Rice breaking records.  I can recall Ripken, Hershiser, and Bonds.  Kareem, Magic, Stockton, Kobe, and more.  Individual marks.  Team records.  One game.  Season records.  Career achievements.  I find watching them exciting.  So I will "root" for ARod.  Will you?

ARod is disliked?  Hated?  Is he more or less than Bonds?  How will people decide?  Will his admitting his cheating help or hurt?  Will his being a Yankee help or hurt? 

Will we even get the chance to decide?  I am not sure, but I would lean towards no.  He is pretty far off from the mark and I am not sure he is as driven to get there as Bonds was.  His HR numbers are down this year, with only 16 at this point.  And he is now (I guess) not using drugs anymore and coming off a hip injury from a year ago.  If I had to bet, I don't think he'll get to Ruth, will probably finish right at 700.

So, you can debate in your own mind if you would choose ARod as the lesser of two evils or not, but I am not sure you'll get the chance.