Barry Bonds and Steroids

If you are any sort of baseball fan or sports fan at all you have heard the allegations over recent years of Barry Bonds and steroid use. And if you have been near any news media outlet over the past day you have seen the newest and most damaging allegations against Bonds. Two San Francisco area reporters have done all their research, grand jury testimony, over 1,000 pages of documents and interviews with nearly 200 people. It seems pretty damaging, it is pretty damaging. Still, I can't help but see this in a bit of a different perspective than all the hysteria that has surrounded this.

But, first, in fuill disclosure, I am a huge Barry Bonds fan. I admit it. I think he is the most dominant player I have seen in any sport in my nearly 25 years here on earth. And really, I can't think of any other player who was so clearly and obviously just lightyears ahead of his peers. I hoped and still do hope that he breaks Hank Aaron's record. That said, in everything I have read in the excerpts from this book, I don't see any new allegations or any new proof against this man.

First, they try to develop a motive for Bonds to cheat. They say jelousy of McGwire and Sosa in their great home run chase. The quotes they have of this jealousy are from Bond's ex mistress. In any court of law, that testimony would be looked at with suspicion as its an ex gilted lover. And, rightfully so.

Second, they got testimony of Balco represenatives, who were already going down, giving out information of Bonds steroid cycles. More times than not, when one is going down they want to take the whole ship of people who wronged them down as well.

Third, despite these mentions of Bonds' cycles there has yet to be a person step forward and say they have seen Bonds inject himslef with steroids. The visual evidence isn't there.

Fourth, despite the enormous amounts of drugs he was said to be taking we have yet to see Bonds test positive for drug use. This includes three tests last year.

Now, don't get me wrong, Bonds may very well be guilty. In fact, I'd be shocked if he wasn't guilty of at least some of the things said in this book. However, when you actually step away and look at this for a second, you do not see any new information or allegations in this book. And beyond that, you just don't see any proof. Yet. And, at the end of the day, when people actually step back from the initial firestorm this book has created, perhaps they will be able to look at it objectively and see that.