When I was a kid with three brothers, there were certain unwritten rules that you lived by. Never rat on your brother for smoking behind the house or trying chewing tobacco. Never, ever, discuss things that happen at home while your parents are out on a date,  never discuss what your brother is doing in the basement with his girlfriend, and definitely don't tell them about that condom he carries around in his wallet.  There were few things that were considered worse than narking on a friend or sibling.  We had our share of fights, and I can even remember my dad buying us boxing gloves so we could go outside and settle our disputes. Once my older brother and I argued about something trivial, and my dad said to us to come outside and settle it. I was 10 at the time and my brother was 12. I stood my ground, but eventually the two year age gap won out and I learned a valuable lesson, stay out of my older brother’s business. That was the way things were back in the early 70’s. Today, I would probably have taken my brother to court, divorced my parents, and won a huge settlement for that black eye I sported for a week.

Last night we learned that Greg Anderson, long time friend and personal trainer of Barry Bonds, is going back to jail because he is living by that same code I grew up with.  He has already served 3 months for his part in the Balco scandal, but apparently a federal grand jury wants him to testify again about Barry’s alleged steroid use.   He refuses to do so in part because his “sealed” testimony has been leaked to the media. According to his attorney, Mark Geragos, (He is the same high profile attorney who represented Winona Ryder, Michael Jackson, Susan McDougal, Roger Clinton, and Scott Peterson.)

 "Jail is not going to have any coercive effect," Geragos said outside federal court. "He is not going to cooperate with a grand jury that is leaking like a sieve."

Secondly, he says that his original plea deal had language in it that stipulated that he did not have to cooperate with the federal investigation.  That may or may not be true, but what about the unwritten rules of childhood?  Should he have to tell on his friend even after he served time for his role in this scandal?  Why did they not ask him all the information they wanted at that time?  Supposedly, they want him to explain the “doping” schedule that they found.  The reason it needs explanation is because it isn’t an obvious doping schedule. For example, an N on a date in a calendar may be for Norandrostene, or it could be for Niacin which is a normal dietary supplement used by weightlifters.  If the case against Bonds was so clear cut they would not need Anderson’s testimony.  Unfortunately, too many are willing to accept as fact the leaked information which is skewed towards incrimination.  By the way the federal prosecutors are  unable to discern the meaning in the charts of Conte and Anderson you would think they were written by Dan Brown, author of the DaVinci Code.

 Lastly, where is the uproar by the media or those in the blogging nation over this injustice? When Judith Miller was jailed back in 2005 for contempt of court charges, the media rushed to her defense saying that she should not reveal her sources. (Miller is the NY Times reporter who basically accused Cheney's staff and Karl Rove of outing Valerie Plame)  She became a martyr for all of the news outlets because she would not reveal her source.  Why is being loyal to a news source looked upon as more noble than remaining true to a friend?  I am not saying that Anderson should not be jailed for contempt just as Miller was held in contempt because she would not testify.  That is the consequence for his actions, but at least someone should give the man some “kudos” for his loyalty. 

Greg Anderson will not remain in jail for long. According to sources in this news article, he will most likely get out within two weeks. That is when the grand jury’s time is set to expire. I for one applaud Anderson. He has served his time in jail that both he and the federal prosecutors agreed upon. Leave the man alone and let him get back to his life, and while you are at it, how about spending some of my tax money on something worthwhile besides investigating whether or not Barry took steroids. Surely you can find bigger drug busts than Rush Limbaugh’s Viagra. Maybe you should go after the names on Jason Grimsley’#### list of which I am betting Barry’s name is not on it or it would have already been leaked. Maybe you should focus on Lance Armstrong’s blood tests from 1999. Just possibly if you looked long enough at the evidence in the Bonds’ case you might be able to prove the existence of steroid use the same way you could prove there was a second shooter on the grassy knoll. I think it’s time to let it go, but that’s just me. What say you bloggers?

Barry has been off to a slow start and who can blame him.  The Giants had two games postponed by rain and now there are more allegations of perjury and of a possible grand jury indictment.  I am amazed by the hate I see for Bonds and also the lack of knowledge by many people who seem to think this means Barry is going to jail.  Nothing can be further from the truth.  Don’t get me wrong; it’s not like I don’t believe our government is wasting precious tax dollars investigating a possible perjury charge by a baseball player, because I would believe just about anything when it comes to our legal system.  People can sue for the most absurd reasons and often times even win.  Our government can find time to convene Senate hearings about steroids but can not close our borders.  A federal prosecutor can find time to chase perjury charges against Barry Bonds but not find time to prosecute illegal aliens.  That should tell you what is really important to our elected officials and even worse, that we allow them to do so.  Government waste is at an all time high as our officials spend pork on their own pet pig projects and stopping is nowhere in sight. 

As for Barry, well he may or may not have perjured himself.  In the end, let’s not forget that he was given immunity for any grand jury testimony that he gave to the feds the first time he appeared.  Secondly, anything he has said off the record about steroids, all the denials, can not be held against him in a court of law.  He can only be found guilty of perjury if he did indeed lie to that grand jury or another legal proceeding with intent.  Just because a book was published saying he has been taking steroids since 1998 is not proof he lied.  In fact, the evidence against him in the book comes from “sealed” grand jury testimony.  Don’t get me started on the meaning of “sealed”, but suffice it to say that even if someone did unseal that testimony for these reporters, it is this same testimony where Bonds claims to have taken the “Clear” and the “Cream” unknowingly.  So if you want to use other people’s testimony to catch Bonds in a lie, you would have to get them to say he took steroids.  The only people who would know that is Victor Conte, Greg Anderson, and maybe Bonds’ personal physician.  BALCO founder Victor Conte insisted Thursday, March 30, that he never gave performance-enhancing drugs to Barry Bonds and that a new book that makes those claims is "full of outright lies."  The personal physician will be allowed to hide under the cloak of secrecy afforded him by the physician/client privilege.  And you can bet that Greg Anderson will not say anything against Bonds. 

This is the same federal government that brought in Sosa, McGuire, and Palmeiro for their take on steroids.  Rafael denied taking steroids in that “official” testimony before the Senate committee and yet tested positive just weeks later.  Has the federal government thought about going after Mr. Palmeiro for perjury?  Not on your life, although that would be easier to prove than going after Bonds because Rafael does have a positive test, something that Bonds has never had.  Some have said that Kimberly Bell, Bond's mistress could testify against him and that would be enough.  If that were the case, then Jose Canseco's testimony against Palmeiro should be enough to prove Rafael perjured himself during the Senate Committee hearings. 

One thing that I have learned about athletes in general is that they are usually dumber than they think and eventually slip up and get caught at whatever it is they are trying to get away with.  Affairs are eventually found out either by children born out of stupidity or extortion of mistresses.  Hidden drug use is suddenly uncovered.  Steroid users finally test positive.  Not in Barry’s case.  He has never tested positive, period!  And he has been tested numerous times.  Lance Armstrong was accused of steroid use and the vast majority of fans came to his defense.  Why?  Because they like Lance and he is a cancer survivor.  The truth is, Lance probably did use EPO, a red blood cell stimulator.  Cyclers need more red blood cells so that they can supply their muscles with the oxygen needed to pedal.  Back when he supposedly used EPO it could not be tested for, and we will never know for sure so I give Lance the benefit of the doubt and believe him. 

As far as jail time goes, Victor Conte and Greg Anderson were both given very meaningless sentences and so even if Bonds were found guilty surely he would be given what amounts to a slap on the wrist by the feds.  Conte and Anderson both got less than 4 months actual jail time.  The so called “Ringleaders” of the whole steroid issue get measly months in jail and everyone thinks Bonds will go for years.  Known drug users like Doc Gooden are only now receiving jail time after being caught multiple times on cocaine.  Come on!  Barry will still be swinging his bat long into September as the feds drag their feet on yet another issue.  It took Ken Star how many years to investigate Bill Clinton?  How about Patrick Fitzgerald who is investigating Lewis Libby?  He is still investigating others while Libby goes to a grand jury. These guys get paid for dragging their feet.  Once they find one defendant, they keep investigating because they know their time will eventually run out as a “special” prosecutor.   If anything our government knows how to do well, it is how to drag its feet.  I will refrain from starting down that path as it is a dark one, but suffice it to say that Barry will pass Babe Ruth for second on the all time HR list sometime in May.  The secret grand jury will eventually decide to either go forward or quit but either way if it does go to trial Bonds will be found innocent of any crime.  I predict a judge will throw the case out if it does go to trial, and again, granted how sloppily our government proceeds into these quagmires, I have no doubt it may go to trial.  I just wish that the powers that be would let us get back to baseball and forget about steroids.  Let the new MLB policy work as it should to prevent future problems.  Let’s all move on and watch as we get some new rookie sensations to follow like Chris Shelton or the resurgent veteran like Jim Thome.  I am excited about this season as should every baseball fan.  Don’t let the feds take our joy away.

 

SoCalSportsFan