Barry Bonds bombshell: Book details slugger's steroid use..

[Shibby]

So I hear the latest excert Barry Bonds told Ken Griffey Jr. he was going to use steroids before the 1999 season. It's also reported that Griffey was not the source for this information. Talk about hear/say.

[go Yankees]

hitman, the thing about Bonds and the Hall is that while Major League Baseball may decide to do nothing, his fate will be left to the voters for the Hall, who will "do as they please," and likely not vote him in on the first ballot. There needs to be no legal precedent for this, nor any justification. Just that his name is drenched in a controversy that baseball does not want surrounding its Hall-of-Famers. And yes, I believe Sosa, Palmeiro and McGwire will suffer the same fate. Remember Sosa's little sparring with Rick Reilly over Reilly's offer to test him? For many (myself included), that sealed Sosa's fate.

I'll agree that it is a bit of a witch hunt, who used and who didn't, and until a test turns up positive no one can legitimately, legally be punished, but such evidence is not needed in the court of public opinion, and with regards to the steroid issue and the Hall of Fame, something the baseball veterans of a prior era are very sensitive about, all those things matter

[meat12]

haha mexican beans

[redsquirrel]

I'll agree that it is a bit of a witch hunt, who used and who didn't, and until a test turns up positive no one can legitimately, legally be punished, but such evidence is not needed in the court of public opinion, and with regards to the steroid issue and the Hall of Fame, something the baseball veterans of a prior era are very sensitive about, all those things matter

Eloquently put. I couldn't agree more.

What I really support is the baseball vets of a prior era when doping was never an issue. I mean, when you're talking about breaking some SERIOUS records w/ Aaron and Ruth, that's huge; especially if the record breaker is under suspicion for not making it to that point in the same way Babe and Hank did.

But what I don't understand is: why now?? Is it because Bonds could realistically break the records this year, and the media wants this out before he gets put on the ballot? Why didn't they dig a little deeper a few years ago when there was speculation of the same thing??

[6p6]

bottom line is who cares...we pay to see them play in top performance...so what if

[go Yankees]

why now?? Is it because Bonds could realistically break the records this year, and the media wants this out before he gets put on the ballot? Why didn't they dig a little deeper a few years ago when there was speculation of the same thing??

A couple reasons: the steroid issue in baseball, very concisely summarised in ESPN The Magazine a couple months ago, really only became a well-known issue among fans after Caminiti's admission to SI a few years ago, and his "75% of players use" comment. Then, it snowballed from there. Selig HAD pushed for testing, most notably around the 1994 strike, but didn't have enough capital to get that across with the owners. When testing was finally implemented and "5-to-7%" tested positive, the plan got kicked up a notch...and here we are today, with Palmeiro finally a victim.

Reason two: The IRS investigated a SF company called BALCO, as a result of their murky tax dealings. In doing so, they stumbled upon a steroid distribution ring, with Bonds, Giambi, Sheffield, and other world-class athletes as recipients. This roughly coincided with USADA's discovery of the previously undetectable THG. So, that investigation slid Bonds into the crosshairs

Reason two(a): Bonds is the biggest name of the BALCO baseball clients, and there is now a book about him and gear use...so here we are. Giambi's admissions were leaked and there was a little fiasco. Being a NY area sports fan, this was BIG news, because Giambi was our HUUUUUUUUUUGE free-agent signing, had a year with many strange illnesses, weight loss, etc, and now we find out he was a big time user. Bonds was the most fascinating of the grand jury's witnesses, because he acted the fool in court. Fainaru-Wada and Williams, covering the case for the SF Chronicle, took it upon themselves to write a book. Part of it is in SI...and here we are now.

It also helps that Bonds is the biggest star in America's national pastime, and is chasing the game's biggest record

[Scrumhalf]

bottom line is who cares...we pay to see them play in top performance...so what if

People who are interested in the notion of fair play and a level playing field do care. There are rules and you have to follow them.

If people don't like the rules, they should feel free to start a league that does not ban anything and does no testing. That way, anything goes and may the most chemically enhanced athlete win.

[Shibby]

People who are interested in the notion of fair play and a level playing field do care. There are rules and you have to follow them.

If people don't like the rules, they should feel free to start a league that does not ban anything and does no testing. That way, anything goes and may the most chemically enhanced athlete win.

I think the XFL showed that wouldn't work :)

[zed]

if he took that much gear how come he still looks like shit? he aint evn that big

[go Yankees]

if he took that much gear how come he still looks like shit? he aint evn that big

Zed, you must be thinking about someone else named Bonds...compared to his rookie year, or even 1996, Bonds is a monster. Remember that he's 41 years old this year

with Pittsburgh, 1992: http://www.fsu.edu/~crimdo/images/pirates/bonds.jpg

1996: http://barrybonds.mlb.com/mlb/photo/...n/bonds/01.jpg

2004: http://www.post-gazette.com/images3/...ebarry_450.jpg

2006 spring training, dressed as Paula Abdul from American Idol:
http://images.usatoday.com/sports/ba...side-bonds.jpg

tell me what you think

[zed]

ok yah hes got alot biggr... but like to try every anabolic at least once ...never come off hgh slin and all that ...id hope if i did that much shit id be biggr than him but i duno...ne1 kno his stats height weight? hes no where near as big as a top level npc guy...then again he aint training 2 b one but he gears up like he wants 2 b

[go Yankees]

he's listed at 6'1, 228, but he's probably closer to 250...and at his claims of 6-point-something percent bodyfat, if he competed at 3%, he'd be about 241 or so, making him a super-heavy. Jerome Ferguson, the top NPC super-heavy, is probably about that, maybe a little less, but 5'9. So, no, Bonds isn't that big, but a) he's a lot closer than one would think, and b) he's still a baseball player, not a near-pro bodybuilder. Don't worry, if you grew as much as Bonds did, you'd be very happy with yourself

[GearTripper]

...

[zed]

he's listed at 6'1, 228, but he's probably closer to 250...and at his claims of 6-point-something percent bodyfat, if he competed at 3%, he'd be about 241 or so, making him a super-heavy. Jerome Ferguson, the top NPC super-heavy, is probably about that, maybe a little less, but 5'9. So, no, Bonds isn't that big, but a) he's a lot closer than one would think, and b) he's still a baseball player, not a near-pro bodybuilder. Don't worry, if you grew as much as Bonds did, you'd be very happy with yourself

yea i kno it just seemed like that unreal amt of gear n never comin off the guy wud look alot freakier...y wud they lie n say hes smaller than he is? (he 250 they say 226) lets put it this way he does not look "unreal" or "unachievable" persay

[slayer of souls]

awesome point.

This point brings to mind a great article: http://www.superiormuscle.com/vbulle...698#post350698