Barry Bonds used steroids

UPDATE 3/9/06: Go here.

According to today's San Francisco Chronicle, Barry Bonds told a grand jury that he used steroids. Now the media are falling all over themselves, screaming "cheater" and trying to decide what should happen to Bonds and to yesterday's news, Jason Giambi.

Here's my reaction to the Bonds news: so what. Big deal.

Bonds did nothing illegal. There is no law against possessing or using the BALCO drugs he took. And in 2003, when he used them, they weren't even against the rules of baseball. So Bonds' admission does not make him a "cheater". In 2004, baseball set up penalties for steroid use and starting testing players. Bonds was tested in 2004, so presumably, he was clean this year. Yet his performance hardly fell off from his previous incredible levels. Not only is he not a cheater, but being without the steroids didn't seem to make that much difference.

And why the big fuss about steroids? Why should they be banned? What makes them special? Taking steroids is hardly the only way athletes abuse their bodies. Need to play in the game on Sunday with your broken hand? Have a painkiller shot. What about "Tommy John" surgery, which takes a tendon from a pitcher's thigh and transplants it to his arm? That's just weird -- some people would probably like that prohibited.

Because steroids were not against the rules, talking about "what should happen" to Bonds' records is absurd. If you want to change records based on retroactive rule changes, start with Mark McGwire. Take away his 70-homer season in 1998, because he was using androstenedione, a steroid that was legal (in baseball) then, and banned later. And if steroids are so incredible, what about Jeremy Giambi, Armando Rios, Marvin Benard, Bobby Estalella, and other fringe players who admitted taking steroids, yet are barely able to stay in baseball? Did they get a bad batch?

Steroids carry serious health risks. But players are grownups, and they should get to decide whether to take those chances. Curt Schilling risked permanent damage to his ankle when he underwent surgery to pitch in the World Series. Nobody would tell Schilling he didn't have the right to do what he did. And please, I'm not comparing steroid use to Schilling's incredible feat (feet), just pointing out that adults should be free to decide what happens to their own bodies.

Bonds is not a sympathetic character, and he gets none from me. He might have been lying to the grand jury when he denied using other drugs. But let's get a little perspective here as the media whips this story into a frenzy.

Comments

[Scott]

Rob Neyer has a great column on how Bonds' records should be treated: http://proxy.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?id=1937580

[joe]

Why do they have to cheat? God, I hate cheaters.

[Elisa Camahort]

Hey Scott!

This morning while writing my post on this topic I kept searching the Mercury site looking for an article I was sure I had read on the topic. Turns out it was THIS post I was thinking of!

Thanks for commenting on mine, clearing up that senior moment mystery. I will go add your URL to my post right now!
Elisa

[David]

"Because steroids were not against the rules, talking about 'what should happen' to Bonds' records is absurd."

I totally disagree with you. Steroids are a controlled substance and Bonds was using them. They weren't explicitly banned in baseball, but they were banned for non-medical use in the United States. Bonds broke more than the rules; he broke the law.

[Scott]

The stuff Bonds admitted to using hasn't been classified as a controlled substance, or even a steroid, at this point. If he broke the law, let's see him charged and tried in a court of law. But even then, I stick by the argument that it's his own business what he does to his body.

[Justin K. Thomas]

Bonds should be suspended for 90 days of play starting @begining of season and all homeruns should be out of record books because Major League Baseball would be cheating Hall of Famers from keeping records they actually deserve to have.

[Michael Schmdt]

Barry Bonds is such a cheater and liar. If it is ok why does he deny it. Baseball is too lax on this stuff. They may be guilty also. Just because their may be no specific rule in a game you can still cheat. Barry you are a cheater and you know it.

[cheater]

cheater

[Martin]

I believe all those players who used steroids should be suspended no matter what race they are and they broke any records they shouldn't count . ps for those of you who defend this players get a life and grow up.

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[CJ]

Everyone always complains about Barry Bonds....

I dont understand why people single him out? Is it because he is breaking records???

The fact is the entire eras of 80's and 90's were filled with steroids...and we cant tell who was using them and who wasnt using them

How can you single Bonds out??? by his body??? Thats crap...

Juan Rincon used steroids....look at his body....he doesnt look like he would be using it...how many pitchers used steroids back in those days??? you cant tell...

Even if playres come out and deny steroid use a la Rafael Palmerio....you still cant tell...
Schilling could be a huge steriod user and we would never know...haha

The only way people know that Bonds used steroids is because the US government leaked it... The US goverment loves to control the mind of the masses....basically they want Bonds to take the fall for the entire dirty era...

Can anyone tell me with absolute certainity that Wade Boggs, Tony Gwynn, Don Mattingly or Rickey Henderson wasnt using steroids?? Can you tell me that they never tried steroids??

Alex Sanchez was also caught with steroids...think of how many people in the 80's or 90's could have been just like alex sanchez....with a little steroids they could turn into say, Kenny Lofton, Marquis Grissom or Delino deshields...

The fact is stop blaming bonds...when other guys used steroids too...Its why he used steriods...cuz everyone else was....

[martin lopez]

How could anyone defend any player that uses steroids that is sending thewrong message to young players and future stars . this who use steroids are not real men or players and their records should be erased . Shame on who ever defends this players you are idiots

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[barrybondsnigger]

Barry bonds jacked steroids. Hes a nigger.

[James Fenimore]

Ode To BALCO Men

Bonds thought he'd fooled folks by fakin'

'Bout all th' drugs he'd been takin.'

His deceit was revealed

When the BALCO guy squealed --

Mitchell's findings left Barry quite shaken!

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[bayshunn]

when barry was married to that white woman,no 1 said sh... now he quit that woman.you're mad now.they knew he was on it then.but since he so call.cross the white man.now he must pay ..like any other black man.in his endevers.when will you people rehab.it's over saying a black man guity.just because.you think you are perfect..stop fooling yourself..we live in the times were we can stand up and defend ourselves.your not god..holla

[Scotty]

Bonds is a cheat!

[Food. Shelter. Baseball.]

forget the ankle. schilling risked permanent damage for years when he chewed tobacco. he didn't quit until he got a cancer scare. and chewing tobacco may be legal but nicotine is a pretty swell little drug. it increases the flow of adreline which leads to increased heart rate, blood pressure and respiration. it decreases anxiety and causes a state of alert relaxation. it helps you concentrate. it's a stimulant (just not one of the bad ones, like neifi got busted for).

[mike vignapiano]

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!
Steriods or not, I don't care. It's an amazing feat & should be honored and acknowledged as the GREATEST feat in any sport.
I am a HUGE MET fan, but more than that, I am a BIG BASEBALL FAN!!!
I will be watching and rooting that #756 is hit on your next start. GOD BLESS & CONGRATULATIONS Mr. Bonds

[ZXE]

Barry is the man and the racism is
obvious in this situation. Where
was the poison when Mc and Sosa
were pounding the ball? Only when
Barry got in on the fun did it
become illegal. America always had
double standards for blacks and
whites,we lead the world in violence and bigotry. If Barry were of a different hue,he would
be hailed as a conquering hero.

[Randy]

I find it interesting that some people can come up with legal reasons Barry gets to beat Hank's record. Barry is a good ball player, but his batting record is no better than having a corked bat. Take a look at his past ten years...you will see the year he began to pump himself up with roids.
Hell, Arnold would probably be exercising with him. Barry will NEVER replace Hank..........Barry is just another drug user that plays a game.

[Joe]

Why don't they just have 2 sets of records--one for steroid users and ones without? Put a double asterisk beside the names of those who used 'roids. That would also include Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire, Jose Canseco & dozens of others. Then we can remember those who got their stats clean and those who didn't. Aaron, Maris, Willy Mays and Babe Ruth can be put in the clean section. The dirty ones can be included the asterisk section. But then at least we'll know the fakes from the legits. I'm tired of giving credit to those who didn't to it clean.

[Joe]

Barry is the man and the racism is obvious in this situation. Where was the poison when Mc and Sosa were pounding the ball? Only when Barry got in on the fun did it become illegal. America always had double standards for blacks and whites,we lead the world in violence and bigotry. If Barry were of a different hue,he would be hailed as a conquering hero.

---I totally disagree. I know, because when I was growing up and playing baseball, Hank Aaron was by far and away my favorite baseball player. And I'm not even Black. I cheered the day he broke Ruth's record. It's too bad he had to face death threats when he was attempting to pass that milestone. I also liked Willy Mays, too. So where's the racism? BTW, McGwire and Sosa should also be stripped of their records.

[Fredzo]

Two sets of records -- brilliant! But why stop there? We need another set for pre-integration and post-integration. And one for day games vs. night games. How about big vs. small ballparks? In fact, we can have a matrix: most homers in a day game after Jackie Robinson in a big ballpark.

Great idea.

[Joe]

Two sets of records -- brilliant! But why stop there? We need another set for pre-integration and post-integration. And one for day games vs. night games. How about big vs. small ballparks? In fact, we can have a matrix: most homers in a day game after Jackie Robinson in a big ballpark.

Great idea.

---Asterisks will do the trick for Bonds and all the others who cheated:

**Records achieved with steroids. He cheated.

or for Aaron, Ruth and Maris:

* They did it clean.

Then it separates the Greats from the Cheats.

BTW, no racism here. I think Hank Aaron, also black, should be the rightful owner of the All-time Home Run record.

[Joe]

If MLB came down hard on Pete Rose by banning him from the Hall of Fame, they should do the same for Barry Bonds as well.

[Fredzo]

Ruth did it clean, all right. Clean without having to face any African-American or black hispanic pitchers.

Aaron did it clean, too. Oh, except that he might have been using amphetamines, but they didn't test for those then. Oh, and his teammate, Tom House, the man who caught 715 in the bullpen, says the team was experimenting with HGH and "whatever steroid we could find". (See here: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/2005-05-03-steroids-house_x.htm)

There is no "clean". Each player played the game the way it was played in his era. Get over it.

[Joe]

The following are Aaron and Bonds in their prime:

Hank Aaron hits 715

Barry Bonds in Pittsburgh (Pre Steroids)

Barry Bonds in San Francisco (with Steroids)

The pictures speak for themselves. Bond broke into the big leagues with a lanky build, but now looks like a puffed up beachball. Aaron? Like a guy with a normal build & even a bit of a pot belly. Steroids? Hardly.

[Jerry]

There is video of the Bonds indictment now up at:

http://www.webcastr.com

[Chuck Gallagher]

As a motivational speaker, I was recently speaking to a group of high school students about the importance of telling the truth and making the right choices. What qualified me to make this presentation - personal experience…perhaps one of the best teachers in life. Having spent time in Federal prison for making unethical decisions, I know first hand the impact that choices have in our life. I am not proud of those decisions, but, likewise, refuse to hide the fact that I made them and that the impact they had on my life were - well - life changing.

As reported in the Wall Street Journal law blog, MLB’s home run hitter Barry Bonds has been indicted for - well simply put - “lying!” http://blogs.wsj.com/law/

The post in the WSJ Blog states: “Bonds joins a line of individuals stretching from Alger Hiss to Martha Stewart to Scooter Libby to who were indicted not for commiting an underlying crime, but for lying to investigators. Each time this happens, critics argue that a perjury prosecution is nothing more than an excuse for overzealous prosecutors to bring a headline-grabbing case against a boldfaced name. On the other hand, in pursuing such well-known figures, the feds hope to send a message to the meek and mighty alike: Don’t lie.”

I couldn’t agree more. Whether Bonds is convicted like Martha Stewart or not…the fact remains that the consequences of lying can have dramatic, life-changing effects. Take it from one who knows, “Club Fed” isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. It’s prison and no one I know wants to be there.

I routinely speak to business groups and associations on ethics, choices, consequences and their total effect. Every choice has a consequence - and the sooner we recognize that telling the truth is a choice the quicker we control the type of consequences we face. I personally perfer ”positive results” from the choices I make.

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