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DEL.ICIO.USQuestions about Bonds won’t go away
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Terence Moore
He missed more than five months of the season, but Barry Bonds keeps doing the impossible, and he keeps doing so dramatically. One moment, the 41-year-old outfielder with the damaged knee is looking ready to retire. The next, pitchers are wishing he did. He returned to homer in four consecutive games prior to Friday night’s action, and his Louisville Slugger will rip more shots toward the stratosphere this weekend with his San Francisco Giants in the thin air of the Rockies.
Thus the question: Should we cheer or boo with Nos. 755 and 714 threatening to become yesterday’s news courtesy of Bonds’ otherworldly ways?
We should respond with silence. Just observe and nod and let history deal with the rest. The only person who really knows about the legitimacy of Bonds’ shattering of ancient records at such an advanced age for a pro athlete is Bonds. As for the rest of us, consider this: Whenever you wish to believe that we’re all wrong about a relationship between Bonds and anabolic steroids, you see that jumbo head above that Herman Munster body - you know, compared to how Bonds looked earlier in his career as a skinny line drive hitter.
What a mess for baseball, for the Giants, for the fans and for anybody who wishes to know the truth here. In the meantime, Bonds keeps turning this mess into a dilemma with every swing that pulls his artificially enhanced body closer to Babe Ruth’s ghost and Hank Aaron’s shadow.
Let’s start with this: Is Bonds artificially enhanced?
We don’t know. Well, not officially, even though Bonds allegedly told a grand jury before the season that he accidentally rubbed a bunch of steroid-related cream on his legs. This was sort of like Rafael Palmeiro allegedly informing baseball officials that he didn’t knowingly use steroids and that his positive test earlier this season probably resulted from a vitamin he received from a teammate. I mean, if you’re Palmeiro and Bonds in this situation, you have to say SOMETHING to authorities, especially since perjury can send your lying lips to the slammer. So, until you’re proven wrong (assuming that you weren’t telling the truth), you’re going to exist as Bonds in baseball purgatory.
Such is the plight of a slugger who is performing so many unprecedented feats, and who continues to prosper despite all of those steroid rumors, and who technically is “clean” when it comes to doing what he is being accused of doing.
That’s right. Although Bonds sat on the disabled list through most of the season, he still was subject to baseball’s new drug testing system for steroids and other substances. He has yet to test positive for anything, by the way. If he would have done so, somebody would have leaked it, and the news would have reached the print media and the airways in a hurry from here to whatever distant planet that receives the bulk of his home runs.
It’s just that, even without Bonds testing positive for steroids, you have so many other plausible reasons for his ongoing greatness.
Many claim that Bonds isn’t using anabolic steroids, but that he is on growth hormones, which can make you look like Herman Munster while slamming a bunch of home runs. In case you’re wondering, baseball doesn’t test for growth hormones.
Some claim that Bonds and his people discovered something better to take than anabolic steroids or growth hormones, something that is undetectable by any drug tests. Remember: According to leaked grand jury testimony from the BALCO investigation, those high-tech trainers that Bonds knew had more stuff to work with than that of, say, Grandpa Munster in the corner of his dungeon.
Others claim that Bonds was taking various things through the years to become artificially enhanced, but that he stopped when baseball began hinting of tougher drug testing. They add that Bonds was so big and strong and focused when he ended his drug use that he was able to continue his assault on Ruth and Aaron.
The point is, Bonds can slam 900 home runs, and he still won’t shake the doubters from now through forever. That’s really a shame. For everybody.
Permalink | Comments (7) | Categories: Braves / MLB, Terence Moore
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By BB FAN
September 23, 2005 06:23 PM | Link to this
Mr Moore, Not a bad article on Bonds. Especially after that garbage on Andruw Jones. But this one is good.
I don’t know if we will ever know for sure if Bonds was taking anything. There’s a good chance either way. He could have gotten huge by pumping iron the old fashion way. It ‘s possible along with the supplements and protein shakes and all of that stuff. I mean the one thing that people need to realize is that athletes today are so rich that all they have to do in the off season is workout. So it is possible to get ripped like he did. I mean many guys who played 20 + years ago had to get off season jobs. Today’s stars do not have to. They could just take 6 hours a day and work out.
But in the back of my mind and probably everybody elses, the question will be there: Did he take illegal drugs to strengthen himself? We might never know.
By doc
September 23, 2005 09:50 PM | Link to this
though it hasnt been proven that bonds head has grown it sure looks as though it has. when this happens in medicine it is called acromegaly and is due to the stimulation of the gland that secretes growth hormone and is a disease. andre the giant of wrestling fame had it. it is indirect evidence of bonds taking something that could enhance his muscle mass.
it also looks like giambi is back on something when you compare him to where he was spring training 2004 coming off roids before he had his health “crisis” that ultimately was called a pituitary problem, the same gland that produces growth hormone. somehow, it would not be surprising that it is related to his use of exogenous steroids. i doubt he will open his medical records to the public.
if they have used these drugs their lives will ultimately be shortened and we will see premature deaths in both of these individuals or significant health issues down the road. that is the message that all need to hear and despite bonds’ insistance that congress has much larger things to worry about, it is very relevant. i would like to see a sting operation to expose these guys, that might humble those involved and put an end to it and ultimately get the point across that it is a major health isssue or they could be passed over the counter.
isnt it amazing how we once considered this a communist problem to be stopped. now, we cheer those who flagrantly and arrogantly do it in the name of “entertainment”.
By nitrodust
September 24, 2005 06:27 AM | Link to this
Fine article. We can speculate on other players to. Look at Roger Clemens, when Clemons left the Red Sox he seemed to be about finished. Did he start using something in Toronto? Don’t forget he is a 40 something year old power pithcher who seems better than ever as does Bonds. Why not the speculation here.
By Ernest
September 24, 2005 07:58 AM | Link to this
I don’t think this home run record issue is specifically about Bonds. I think anybody who approaches Babe Ruth’s record these days will be vilified. I say this because when I look at the senate hearings they only called home run hitters. The media only talks about homerun hitters. There were no pitchers,base stealers, or singles hitters on the list. Maybe setriods are selective in providing benefits. You might say well why wasn’t Hank Aaron accused of steriods, well I think he would have been if the media had picked up on the steriod story during those times. yes, I think there was steriod use during Aarons time. The people that hold Ruth’s records the highest are those that are now in power in the media and government. These are the people who idealized him growing up and don’t want to believe that someone can surpass him without the aid of some performance enchancing substance. It seems that the doubters are hanging on to the steriod cream Bond’s supposed to have admitted to in grand jury testimony. The story doesn’t say he used it everyday for the past ten years, but the haters only need to mention it to gain some momentum for their beliefs. What is his status if used it one or two times to heal an injury My question is has bond failed any setriod test. I find it hard to believe that hes never been tested. I say if he never fails a test we cheer his homeruns particularlly number 714 or 756
By doc
September 24, 2005 08:18 AM | Link to this
nitro i agree with you about clemons and would throw johnson in there as well. nolan might have bulked up as well and had the type of health issues that goes with roid abuse, a mi in his early 50’s. look at behavior as well and roid rage may be the culprit with the first two guys. the sad thing is one begins to speculate on who cheated throughout their careers and anyone that routinely throws 100 mph brings up suspicion especially when they suddenly lose it like johnson did this year.
if nothing else credibility is the reason for drug testing among many better reasons. this is one of the most trgic stories in sports today that will come back to haunt the perpetrators in the latter years, just look at the wwf stars and their health issues.
By Andy
September 24, 2005 04:12 PM | Link to this
I enjoy having someone with the appropriate medical background, like Doc, to offer an educated opinion here. Lot’s of bloggers on this issue simply have no idea what they’re talking about. As I mentioned in a previous post, I think it’s important for people to recognize that recent research HAS supported that human growth hormone improves visual acuity. That suggests a reasonable and viable counter explanation for individuals who keep saying “well drugs don’t help you hit a baseball”.
I’m wondering important things like where the heck Barry finds a baseball cap that will fit that engorged pumpkin he calls a head. I do not believe that steroids were at issue during Aaron’s career. In fact Mike Schmidt, who’s career ran well past Aaron’s has been quoted as saying that had they been readily available when he was playing, he may well have tried them if he believed that would have made him a better player. It was a candid statement from one of the best third basemen ever, and really underscores how badly professional athletes want to be great. With the money one can make from great performance, it’s hard to honestly place yourself in someone else’s shoes to say what you would do if it was your decision. From that standpoint, I cannot judge the decision to use illegal substances. However, no matter where Bonds’ homerun total lands, he will never get full credit from me regarding his accomplishments. And it’s really not my problem where other people’s opinions fall on the subject.
One of the biggest challenges we have in this world is that so many people feel it is necessary to impose their value system on everyone else. It is at the core of almost every national and international problem that exists today. If mankind could learn to agree to disagree the world would be a much safer and happier place. Now please join me in another verse of Kumbaya (sic)………
By DD
September 26, 2005 04:04 PM | Link to this
Bonds has cheated. How can anyone with half a brain (as opposed to TWO brains, which is what it appears Bonds now has) think otherwise? Human Growth Hormone, a substance that masks use of steroids, whatever. With $18 million a year at stake (Bonds’ salary) my guess is he has the best chemists in the world at his disposal……..