March 08, 2006
The Truth Comes Out.
By Sloan
Barry Bonds is a cheater. The very argument I have had against so many people has finally come to an end.
Reported by ESPN.com, the new book, Game of Shadows, written by two San Francisco sports writers, Mark Fainaru-Wada and Lance Williams, describes Bonds' illegal drug use since 1998. The drugs include illegal steroids, growth hormone and a drug called Winstrol, a popular steroid. The book is based on thousands of documents and interviews by over 200 people, which provide information on Bonds' illegal use.
Bonds still denies all accusations, and looks forward to the upcoming season. Good for him.
The new book, which will be released later this month, talks about and proves Bonds' use -- and commitment to his drug abuse -- extensively. It speaks of Bonds' relationship with Greg Anderson, Bonds' trainer and steroid "dealer," and it also tracks records of Balco's connection to Bonds himself. The records were taken by federal officials in 2003 after a raid of the Balco business. The book also talks about Bonds' incredible doses, his "routines," and the fact he took the drug every which way he could (example: Injections, pills, Greg Anderson/others injecting him, drops under his tongue).
What more proof would you all want? Bonds to flat out say he did it? For him to be tested? Well, hopefully he will apologize, if not, he will just keep denying it. And he can't be tested because he had all last year to drain his body of what he was doing.
So what does this all mean? Well in my opinion, all his "records*" should be forgotten, give Mark McGwire the credit for the single season home run record, and any home run Bonds hit after 1998 should be disqualified. I think it would be a shame to see baseball's greatest record broken by a cheater. The books states Bonds never used any illegal drug prior to 1998, so in this case, at least the way I feel, Bonds has only 374 career home runs. So keep chasing the record buddy, you got a long ways to go.
But what do steroids really do? They don't help you hit the ball right on the nose. They don't give you good eyes, or good hands. But they do make the ball go that extra bit when you need to hit a home run. Steroids help you heal, and for a man that is 41 years of age, staying healthy, and being able to keep playing the way Barry Bonds is, steroids might be my best friend too.
If the records and stats are taken from him, and he is cleaned up, I think it would be easy to allow Barry Bonds back into baseball. As long as the man admits it and apologizes, I will welcome him with open arms, and I feel the baseball world should as well. My only fear is Barry Bonds retires before he can play another baseball game "clean" -- meaning we will never see what help steroids truly had for Barry Bonds.
All in all, I am just happy, the truth FINALLY came out.
Sloan,
I see we do have something in common. The only place I differ with you is regarding McGwire. He is just as dirty a cheat as Bonds. He was a digusting, guttless punk befor Congress. I am against cheating, but I especially hate it when it takes away records held by players who did not cheat.
I totally agree. I hate how the records of honest players are replaced by records created by cheaters. Buster Olney had a great blog entry a couple of weeks ago comparing the careers of Will Clark and Rafael Palmeiro. Clark was obviously a better player until Palmeiro suddenly started getting astonishing numbers. Though I am glad Palmeiro's cheating is finally out in the light, I'm sad that this cheater's career overshadows Clark's, who was a true ballplayer.
Sloan,
We talked about this on AIM, so you know my stance. Cheating is cheating, lying about it or coming forward does NOT change the crime. If Barry Bonds cheated, then his fate should be the EXACT same as Mark McGwire; if McGwire makes the hall, Bonds is eligible. If McGwire is credited for his numbers, so is Bonds. You can't have it one way for one guy and have it another way for a different guy.
Also, I don't want it to sound like I'm playing the race card, but let's be fair if we want to start calling names. Sosa, Rafael, Barry and the Sheff were all (essentially) crucified by the media for steroids, red beans, performance enhancers, corked bats and everything in between. But Mark McGwire, Jason Giambi and Ken Caminiti get to keep their MVP's, their records, their pride? I don't think so.
Ryan Franklin tested positive for steroids, he got a 10-game suspension and a free trip to the Phillies. in Philly he was not only signed, but cheered in his appearance versus the Yankees. This is unfair when players like Palmeiro are forced into retirement (as they pretty much SHOULD be), yet players with less fame (or better ties?) get off with a clean slate.
Coming forward and admitting to cheating does not make you a man, it means that you're filled with GUILT. Had you not been filled with GUILT, you would not have admitted to anything. Oh, and it didn't seem like McGwire was going to fess up when he was in front of Congress. Maybe John McCain should've worn an ESPN cap, would that have made McGwire more open in his remarks?
And before you even begin to say "but guilt means he feels bad!" just think about how stupid that sounds. A player who feels bad about cheating could have stopped after their first injection/pill/corked bat and moves on no problems.
If you want to talk trash about Barry, read the book before anything else. You can't write foregone conclusions and belittle a man, while at the same time defending someone who did the exact same disgrace and damage to baseball.
Cheers,
Jack Jablin
I have a dirty little secret. Everyone has their favorite player, whether it is now, or when they were groping up, or just someone they respect. I have two, Mo Vaughn, and Mark McGwire. And I just cannot find it in myself to beat up Mark McGwire.
Though in the back of my mind, I do agree with his steroid use, in the bottom of my heart I look at it as: "he admitted to it, it was only andro, it was leagal, blah blah blah." But, because I mostly agree with the rest of you, I will not sit here and try to defend him.
Sometimes We are looking outside the box, when right now we need to look at the inside. Looking inside the box gets right to the point. Steroids is cheating, Barry Bonds has documents/proof/"hearsay", whatever you want to call it, that he is using/used steroids, therefore, Barry Bonds is cheating. This matter doesn't have to do with race, it doesn't have to do with players before him (but I think it does have to do with players after him), this doesn't have to do with Bud Selig, or a book. What this all has to do with, is the fact Barry Bonds cheated, and right now he could possibly disgrace, ruin, and upset the entire baseball game/world, if he breaks Hank Aaron's record. Forget his season HR record, the career home run record is what I believe the most sacred in sports, because for one reason, it practiclly isn't touchable, until some steroid using cheater decides to tamper with it.
You want to look at it inside the box? It's very simple.
"MVP awards: Plenty... World Championship Rings: Zero."
If Bonds is cheating, then sending him to a team that never wins is Karma's way of balancing the order.
Just for the record, I have thrashed my favorite players hundreds of times... It's sad, but it comes with the territory.
Cheers,
Jack Jablin
Jack,
Let's not forget something, Rafael is the only person in that group to TEST POSITIVE.
Giambi, Sheff, and Barry's information all came from the same place: The leaked grand jury testimonies. They never tested positive for anything.
As far as i'm concerned they should all keep their records. Steroids have been in sports since the 60-70's, we can't exactly go back that far and find out who used what etc. We also don't know the dozens of others who may be using HGH right now since we still don't test for it.
Steroids are a part of the game. That's not going to change. There will always be designer steroids, or some new method of cheating the test(s).
Let the records stand.
Just to touch on what Jack was saying:
I don't think it is at all about race- that's just too easy. I think it is more about the players themselves. Bonds does not do anything to endear himself to others, while Big Mac was all so accomodating. Bottom line is they unfairly achieved records. If it needs to be said, Giambi is no better except for the fact that he didn't lie to Congress. I don't know what can be done with what has already happened, but there will be a mental asterisk for many baseball fans.
Looking outside the box for a minute-
What about the shame and disgrace, not only to baseball, but the players themselves personally, knowing they broke a record, and cheated to do so? Do you think that will have an effect on them? Maybe to even tell the truth, or admit they didn't/don't deserve it?
Good point Sloan. I don't think Bonds thinks for a second about such things.
![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.yankeessuck.com/nav-commenters.gif)
