After a four year investigation... Now get that straight, FOUR YEARS! There is now a Federal indictment against Barry Bonds? What in the hell is going on here? This is the worst witch hunt imaginable. What about Rafael Palmeiro? Mark McGuire? Jason Giambi? ad nausea. These people and many more are right in there if Barry actually is proven to have used these performance enhancing drugs. Don't forget, he has never been tested positive for these drugs. Now, at this late date comes a claim that he has tested positive? Why now?
This is a terrible move.
Arguably the greatest player ever...
7 time MVP, Career Home Run Record.
Barry became the poster boy for the steriod era thanks to his attitude when it comes to the media. I'm sorry, you Barry haters can make your case over and over again, but just bear in mind it has been fueled by the pundits we all are compelled to listen to.
These people have the power to make or break you!
This is the type of treatment you get for not acting like the media thinks you should.
What about these top players?
Rafael Palmeiro pledging to tell the truth.
McGuire during Federal Investigation Hearing. Wouldn't answer questions.
Giambi cut a deal.
Who is next now? I've heard as many as 85% of all the players at the MLB level were taking performance enhancing drugs during the 90's.
Why hasn't this hunt taken in the full scope of what was happening? They've got who they want, that's why. The Media is having a field day...
I guess it's easy to tell... This just blows my mind. It smacks of racism and I'm already hearing that card coming into play.
What about all the others who have acted self righteous and even indignant when questioned (Roger Clemens comes to mind, does he look like he did when he was 26 years old? He gets a pass), other players that have been questioned simply retired and got away from the game.
This just stinks.
Last edited by Dwindy1 on November 15th at 4:00 PM.
"However, we must remember, as the U.S. Attorney stated in his press release today, that an indictment contains only allegations, and in this country every defendant, including Barry Bonds, is entitled to the presumption of innocence unless and until such time as he is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt."
Lest we forget what an indictment is....
Read the whole article.
I seriously believe the problem is that Barry has always been an arrogant SOB. It's his nature. He's the son of a MLB player and the God son of another of the greatest players ever. I recall instances clear back when he played for Arizona State in college when this arrogance was noted. He also guards his privacy. The media is put off by all of this and they consequently literally tormented the man. In recent years he has tempered how he acts around the media, but it is too late. They want him taken down and by God they will have their way...
I understand the indictment deal... The real question is why, after four years? Why didn't they make their case before he overtook Aaron? That is why I say it's terrible and the worst kind of witch hunt. I'm hearing that the Feds must have a good case or they wouldn't have brought the indictment.
The rest of the story is... The media has already pegged Barry as guilty.
I'll never be able to prove it, but I believe the powers that be have had it in for Bonds for a long time. The timing on the indictment doesn't make sense. If they wanted to take him down it should have happened long ago. Now they not only disgrace Bonds, but baseball as well. It smells, man.
dwindy1, totally agree with your blog. If he ever tested positive don't you think they would have suspended him(with smiles on their faces)? His trainer refused to testify, Barry denies it, so they must have read his girlfriend's story(and looked at the pictures in Playboy). sounds like a great investigation to me.
Way too many people have gotten passes on this. People who have done just as much if not more than Barry did. I'm not saying he's innocent. I'm saying why the witch hunt on this one man when so many others have lied and cheated and they KNOW IT!
D i know its a shock!!! BB has been a role model??? for so many... hey i had my favorites over the years >>> example #### CLARK AMERICAN BANDSTAND THOUGHT WOW WATTA great person and yes he is today, sadly with the stroke he had, anyway i got a book on his life, rock roll and rember, and was shocked at the language he used, he once smoked and drank???? i thought ooono not him!!!!! see we put folks on some higher plain and think nooo they couldnt do anything wrongQ@@@
Last edited by kellyscott on November 15th at 6:02 PM.
Dwindy1, I've attempted to read all of the blogs on this situation. So far, you appear to be the most reasonable and rational. I don't want to convict the man or to say he is innocent. I, like you, want to know why now after four years. I'm not sure about the race card. However, I do believe it is media dislike of the man. For the love of God, can't the powers that be in baseball get anything right? If they, or whomever, thought the man did something wrong it should have come to light before now. Maybe we should all go dig up "Shoeless Joe Jackson" and try him. That would make just as much sense. I hope this man gets a fair shake in all of this, but I doubt he will. Anyway, thanks for an excellent blog.
Thanks for the support! You're right, it seems like baseball continually shoots itself in the foot. No one said life is fair. They could at least make it a little less obvious.
Problem is, Dwindy1, he lied to federal investigators (OR AT LEAST THE GRAND JURY THINKS HE DID-DON"T MESS WITH THE FEDS!). This is the difference between Bonds and McGuire, Palmeiro, et al. Yes, he's a convenient scapegoat. Yes, he's easy to "hate". But he could have made it easier on himself. The other thing I vehemently disagree with are the racism charges people are starting to make. I'm sure people were rooting against BB mainly because of his arrogance/personality (or lack thereof), and that when contrasted with Hammerin' Hank in '74 (who truly encountered racism and handled his much more difficult pursuit of Ruth with total class) people latched onto the steroid allegations. If people start to march in the name of Bonds, I think I'll be sick.
The black commentator on ESPN, Steven Smith, is the person I'm refering to. He wasn't defending Barry, in fact he said he thought he might be found guilty. He was saying the black community will question why take down Barry when so many others (whites and hispanics) have been given a pass. I guess it's inevitable in our society anymore.
Just a quick P.S.- MLB and the almighty media do not have power over a federal grand jury (if they do we're all in much more trouble than we think!). Thanks for the thought-provoking post, and thanks, I was not aware that you were referring to Steven Smith's opinions.
Last edited by 4everRED on November 15th at 6:50 PM.
No way to know for sure but my money has Bud Selig cracking open a $1000. bottle of wine, stoking up a hundred dollar cuban cigar, and thinking of a trip to Vegas.
I've never like Barry Bonds, even from the days early in his career when he was skinny and played in Pittsburgh, but the most saliant point is, in fact, that he has never tested positive for steroids, and your point that the media want to take him down because he didn't play their games is very valid. Love him or hate him, they are trying to make an example of Barry Bonds.
I can see good ole Bud just like you say... There's a real work for ya!
OSL,
I hear what you're saying. I've always had a real hard time with Barry myself. But that is nothing compared to how I feel about some members of the media and those individuals are out front right now circled around Barry and gleefully kicking him while he's down...
Besides the Bonds story going to get so much more exposure in the news for weeks to come, the worse thing that could have happened is this is news again.
Dwindy- last summer, 90% of ALL blogs were about BBs and that was months on end. We had blogs begging people to qiut blogging about it. It was so sick, all the blogs up and down the boards for months.
Maybe you opened the doors?
Not really, Bonds did, but HERE WE GO AGAIN ) I'm crying ).
You keep any grand jury in session for over a year, totally destroy any resemblence of a normal life for them, then extend them for another year and I guarantee at some point they will indict the Pope for jacking rims off of lowriders in South Central. This is nothing more than a prosecutor looking to justify his waste of money over all this time. He'll play hell getting a conviction.
I had to vent on this. I've been sick of it for a long time, I thought it had blown over. Now this. Let me tell you, I wish it had never raised it's ugly head again...
Dusty,
That is most likely the bottom line. Justify the money.
Dwindy1
It's what you call here in the US the Justice System. It's the way it supposedly works? And no doubt one of the many things they want to export across the world to show how democracy really works.
The idiocy here is that all parties are to blame for the incompetency shown in dealing with the matter. The MLB will place their own spin on the issue and ESPN and the other major networks will bilk the story for all its worth. At the same time the expense to the taxpayer has been enormous. And say what you will for Bonds but once he was placed iin this position he ought to have known what was coming down the pike. It's not as if he hadn't been forewarned.
I think that they had to go ahead with the indictment for several reasons.
The cost of constantly reconvening the jury was mounting. Bonds probably was going to be signed in free agency to at least a 1 year deal with an option for more years, so they had to assure that he would be too hot to touch by any GM or owner, that gets him for the immediate future out of baseball.
Next with the indictment formally lodged against Bonds, Bud"Vince McMahon" Selig now has carte blanche to do whatever he wants with Bonds future as a player, his records and his place in the HOF. All to protect the game mind you.
I wouldnt be surprised if they drop the indictment. The damaged done is irreparable. All of the writers are already stating that he will never get their votes and he hasnt been to trial.
Every player,GM,owner, and Bud himself should thank Bonds for taking a bullet for the entire #### up industry. My prayers are with him and his family.
Race???? Really? Although there is generally some amount of "racism" involved in virtually everything American, I'd say that effect here is minimal at best.....Bonds never tested positive? Neither did Marion Jones, and look at her mea culpa a few weeks back......
You must not know much about the speed at which our government moves....Generally they do not hand down indicments until they have an iron-clad case..witness the whole vick deal....they had been investigating that for years before it came to the surface.....So a black athlete cheats, gets caught in a lie, and it's racist???? Oh, but a black football player kills 2 people and it's okay? Ray Lewis stabs somebody, and doesn't even get sentenced to probation.....No my friend, justice doesn't go to those lighter of skin, it goes to those with a fat wallet...that is the real shame.
Regardless of what happened 300 years ago, people need to be held accountable for their actions....
pumpdude, btroup1, BUCKEYEZZ, slshusker, tophatal, and #1overall.
Thank you all for your comments. Like you say #1, the damage is done...
Is it any wonder MLB has slipped below the NFL? These self-rightous, greedy mental giants in control, epitomize the finger pointing that pervades our society. Its always someone else's fault and in this case it's Barry Bonds.
Thanks again for your comments.
It's time to move on. I wish we could have some influence, but let's face it, we don't. It really makes me wonder when I hear that MLB attendance continues to rise. It speaks volumes of America's love of the game, even with these small minded people are in control.
Last edited by Dwindy1 on November 16th at 2:06 PM.
I wholeheartedly agree about personal accountibility and if you read what has been stated here you'll understand that. Racism comments were not the point. The point is that the vast majority of those playing the game in the late 90's were taking drugs to enhance their playing ability. I'm just wondering why Barry Bonds wasn't given the same pass that almost all the others received. Why was he in front o####rand jury in the first place? I believe the problem lies with the finger pointing owners in their crystal palaces. You want to talk about personal responsibility? Check out those people...
Regardless of Bonds' innocence or guilt...the part that bothers me is a lot of people hold the EVERYONE IS DOING IT SO WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL stance. When we start rewarding those who have not played by the rules, and persecute the ones who have played by the rules...that to me is the greater travesty.
Why should records of by gone years be stripped just because public perception says it's okay to use performance illegal enhancing drugs? Everone seems to have forgotton the Tris Speakers and Ty Cobbs and the Lou Gehrigs. And by speculating that their era did things too...is just that speculation, unlike today where we are hearing steriods use is rampant and we have the proof it is occurring.
It is a sad state of affairs.
Last edited by socratesofswat1 on November 16th at 3:16 PM.
I'm a sports fanatic living on the west coast of Florida. I'm a rare bird that moved here from the left coast a couple of years ago. I advocate an even playing field in all of life's endeavors.
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