BARRY BONDS

[JT Rock]

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slu...yhoo&type=lgns

I called the folks that believe Bonds is clean either "devout or dim" and I would have to write a book to refute all of the ridiculous and often factually ignorant defenses of the man. I'll leave that to "Game of Shadows." But I will address the four most common bits of foolishness that poured in.

1. The claim, articulated here by Alvin, that "Barry Bonds had no knowledge of any illegal substances" and that no one can say Bonds "knowledgably abused any controlled substance."

This is all true. And for the sake of argument, I'll buy Bonds' unlikely arch that he thought the "the Clear" was flaxseed oil. For the purpose of this debate intent means nothing. So whatever he wants to say, he can say. But it doesn't change the fact that in grand jury testimony, as Alvin notes, he did take "The Clear." Knowingly or not, what's the difference? It was in his system as he clubbed 73 home runs. He benefited from it. So where's the debate?

2. Steroids were not banned by baseball.

Yes they were. People seem confused about this, but they were banned in 1991. Baseball didn't test until 2005, which is why the column places equal, if not greater, blame on Bud Selig (who came out worse than Bonds in this whole deal) and the players union that blocked it. But it was still banned.

3. He never failed a drug test.

That's because they never tested him before 2005. And even if they had, THG was designed to avoid detection. The blame here, again, is on baseball. But how that is a defense for Bonds is beyond me.

4. Steroids do not help someone hit a baseball.

According to the chemist who created "The Clear" for Victor Conte, it sure does. His name is Patrick Arnold, he served time for making this stuff, and here is his recent questioning by Bob Costas on HBO:

Costas: In addition to size and strength, you believe steroid use can help a baseball player with not just greater power but greater bat speed (and) hand-eye coordination, that it could account in a rise in batting average as well as home runs?

Arnold: No doubt in my mind. That's what the test results showed.

Costas: So people who say it can't help you hit a baseball are dead wrong?

Arnold: They just don't know the facts.

Arnold went on to say Conte told him Bonds' "reaction time" improved and likened one effect of the synthetic designer steroid to putting a player "in the zone" it provided such advanced focus. But hey, what does he know, he only invented the stuff.

I could go on, but it’s a waste of time. If you still want to believe he was clean, go for it. I get that for many people, this is just entertainment and who cares. Baywatch was once the most popular television show in the world and, needless to say, not everything was real on that. But spare me the unintelligible arguments that he was clean.

Yea here is a list of the violaters from 05 to present

Major league players
Player Team Date announced Penalty Position Reference
Alex Sánchez Tampa Bay Devil Rays April 3, 2005 Ten days OF [2]
Jorge Piedra Colorado Rockies April 11, 2005 Ten days OF [3]
Agustín Montero Texas Rangers April 20, 2005 Ten days P [4]
Jamal Strong Seattle Mariners April 26, 2005 Ten days OF [5]
Juan Rincón Minnesota Twins May 2, 2005 Ten days P [6]
Rafael Betancourt Cleveland Indians July 8, 2005 Ten days P [7]
Rafael Palmeiro Baltimore Orioles August 1, 2005 Ten days 1B/DH [8]
Ryan Franklin Seattle Mariners August 2, 2005 Ten days P [9]
Mike Morse Seattle Mariners September 7, 2005 Ten days SS [10]
Carlos Almanzar Texas Rangers October 4, 2005 Ten days P [11]
Félix Heredia New York Mets October 18, 2005 Ten days P [12]
Matt Lawton New York Yankees November 2, 2005 Ten days OF [13]
Yusaku Iriki New York Mets April 28, 2006 Fifty games P [14]
Jason Grimsley Arizona Diamondbacks June 12, 2006 Fifty games P [15]
Guillermo Mota New York Mets November 1, 2006 Fifty games P [16]
Juan Salas Tampa Bay Devil Rays May 7, 2007 Fifty games P [17]
Neifi Perez


[edit] Players with major league experience suspended for violating minor league rules
Player Team Date announced Penalty Reference
Damian Moss Seattle Mariners April 4, 2005 Fifteen games [18]
Robert Machado Texas Rangers April 4, 2005 Fifteen games [19]
Clay Hensley San Diego Padres April 4, 2005 Fifteen games [20]
Brian Mallette Pittsburgh Pirates April 6, 2005 Thirty games (second violation) [21]
Jon Nunnally Pittsburgh Pirates April 6, 2005 Fifteen games [22]
Tom Evans Pittsburgh Pirates April 6, 2005 Fifteen games [23]
Grant Roberts New York Mets April 22, 2005 Fifteen games [24]
Darnell McDonald Cleveland Indians May 6, 2005 Fifteen games [25]
Steve Smyth Chicago Cubs May 12, 2005 Fifteen games [26]
Christian Parker Colorado Rockies May 12, 2005 Fifteen games [27]
Luis Ugueto Kansas City Royals May 13, 2005 Fifteen games [28]
Wilson Delgado Florida Marlins May 13, 2005 Fifteen games [29]
Ramón A. Castro Washington Nationals July 1, 2005 105 games (two violations) [30]
Matt Whiteside Toronto Blue Jays July 15, 2005 Fifteen games [31]
Wilson Delgado Florida Marlins August 12, 2005 Thirty games (second violation) [32]
Luis Ugueto Kansas City Royals August 16, 2005 Thirty games (second violation) [33]
Nerio Rodríguez Pittsburgh Pirates May 19, 2006 Fifty games [34]
Abraham Núñez San Francisco Giants May 24, 2006 Fifty games [35]
Yamid Haad San Francisco Giants May 31, 2006 Fifty games [36]

Besides Palmeiro I would say its a skeleton crew of less than mediocre talent at best... Yet Bonds is 43 and having a year that would be a career year for most in their prime and he is probably the most tested player in sports today.

Dont believe everything you read, we live in a political society that can make or break people thru the media whether the info is true or not and is subject to much manipulation.

Barry's ability to read the strike zone and see pitches have been with him his whole career coupled with his superior hand eye coordination always complimented his graceful swing, just as junior Griffey

yea, but hand eye coordination + being 40+ years old = a bunch of hits, but not necessarily any HRs and with the reduced speed that comes with age probably a fucload less hits then a younger bonds...

Listen man I understand both sides of the argument, but athletes are playing longer and still being effective at 40, whether were talking Basketball, baseball, football some boxers etc. its just a real confusing era of sports in general, unfortunately you can like it or not, those are the only 2 choices