re: Is the all time home run record really the most prestigious record in sports?

I feel like the NFL career rushing record is up there. Barry Sanders could have crushed it but didn't. The only person to ever come close to Payton was Emmitt Smith when he did break it. I was pretty young then, but I remember that being followed/watched very closely by even non-sports fans. Nothing like the McGwire/Sosa HR race, but look where that got us...