Why does everybody say that Barry Bonds is the "face of steroids?"?

Question

I mean, he has never tested positive for any substance, and all of these other baseball players have tested positive. Giambi, Palmero (Not to mention him lying to congress!)

What happened to innocent untill proven guilty?

Answer 1

The media and many baseball fans vilify Barry Bonds as "the face of steroids" because he's an easy target. Everyone sees how his physique has drastically changed since he came up in the 80s, so they automatically say it's because of steroids. He's also on the verge of breaking one of baseball's most cherised records, so he's an easy target. Everyone sees Aaron as this perfect gentleman and Bonds as a bad guy. What they fail too see is Bonds has never tested positive for any illegal performance enhancement substances, but most fans are just ignorant. Bonds said it best, steroids don't help you hit a baseball.

Answer 2

Tim Montgomery has also never tested positive for steroids but yet he is banned for life from track and field events.

The reason they consider him the face of steroids is because he is front and center of the BALCO investigation which I believe was the biggest steroid bust in this countrys history. He also admitted to using steroids which most would consider just as good as a positive test. Read "Game of Shadows", the paper trail against him is amazing. There is far more hard evidence that Bonds used steroids than any other current athlete competing today.

He is also considered the "face" because hes going after the most hollowed record in sports and because he improved so dramatically in his late thirtys, a time when most athletes decline in production. Not to mention, just about all other athletes associated with BALCO(with the exception of giambi) have either retired or been banned from competition.

Answer 3

Giambi never tested positive. During grand jury testimony he (Giambi) admitted to taking steroids and HGH. Bonds also admitted to taking steroids, although he claimed it was "unknowingly". His personal trainer, verified his claim, saying that he gave these supplements to Bonds and withheld the information that they were in fact performance enhancing drugs. I believe the trainer was sent to jail, although he and Bonds remain close (seems shady to say the least).

The grand jury testimony was supposed to be "sealed" i.e. private, yet it was leaked, clearly violating the players rights, However neither has publicly claimed the information to be false or inaccurate (at the same time, neither has claimed it to be truthful).

I think the majority of people with in-depth knowledge of the BALCO case would say with overwhelming certainty that Bonds has used steroids/HGH/performing enhancing drugs.

The reason he is the "face of steroids" is because he is BY FAR the most high profile case. The man is probably the greatest baseball player of all time (at least top 3). And his hostel attitude and bitter relationship with the press makes him an easy target for media to vilify.

Also, as a side note. The type of illegal performance enhancing substances that BALCO was engineering were at the time undetectable by the lax drug testing policies of MLB (which have since become more strict). Which is why hardly anybody (possibly nobody) tested positive during baseball's "Steroid Era", despite reports of rampant juicing.

Answer 4

Branding Barry Bonds the "face of steroids" comes with the territory of what he is about to accomplish....break the "holy grail" record of most home runs in mlb history. Today Hank Aaron is revered! Back in his days of trying to accomplish the same feat I read that he was even served death threats. So it seems to come with the territory, especially when you are not from the major race. Why would you surpass "our mickey"?

One thing people seem to forget is that mlb to my knowledge didn't have a policy on substance abuse prior to the drive by Mark Macguire to break the 61 home run seasonal record. Baseball seems to get off easily while the little guys (players) are branded and hated. What price is baseball the organization that forgot to set standards for it's players paying for it's lapse in pointing the way? None of course! Bud Selig can of course have the luxury of contemplating whether or not he should attend the ceremony that would attend Barry Bonds breaking the record while everything that's being alledged happened under his watch as commisioner with little or no guidance from his office. Substance abuse in other leagues nfl or the nba is handled internally due to established policies. The lack of such policies in mlb until maybe recently has caused baseball players to be parraded before the congress and in the mist of that the blame that should have gone to mlb (the organization) for not setting standards has befallen the players since they were the ones that were parraded before congress.

Answer 5

SillyRay, you really are silly. . .
OPEN YOUR F*CKING EYES!!!
Look at a picture of Bonds from about 10-15 years ago. Then look at him now. See any differences? Even his HEAD is bigger around! He looks like he ATE Palmeiro and Giambi--in one sitting!
Bonds has become a total freak. If it's not steroids, it's HGH. It may not make you hit a baseball, but the ball will go a lot goddamn farther if you are on the juice. He should be ashamed for using, baseball should be ashamed for not banning this sh*t years ago, and any fans who support this humanoid monstrosity are severely deluded if they think he's "clean".
How much more proof can you possibly need?

Answer 6

1) Bonds is not on steroids. He is on HGH. That is why his head actually grew in size!! You don't change your head size by working out! And MLB never tests for HGH, so he is safe. Same with Giambi.
2) He admitted using the cream and clear. But claimed to think it was flax seed oil. This was leaked by the grand jury.
Just one look at Bonds and you know the guy is dirty. Every sports doctor in America says that your body cannot change like his did. I mean again - his head grew in size! No guy in his thirties ever goes to the strore to buy a new hat because his head grew.

Answer 7

there are three major reasons that i see:

1. physical appearance...when bonds was with the pirates, he was skinny as a rail, a classic leadoff hitter with very little power, but he eventually evolved into a huge, monstrous slugger who will most likely go down as the home run king(for now)

2. the home run record...because he's going for the most sacred record in baseball and maybe in all of sports, the all-time home run record, he's put under a magnifying glass by the media...every move he makes, every time there is even a whiff of steroids talk, the media will be all over it

3. image...he acts like, and seems to be, a complete snob as a person and that clearly turns the court of public opinion against him...therefore, people accuse him not really because they believe he even did steroids, but because they enjoy watching him go down

in my personal opinion, bonds is a complete jerk and i believe he is on steroids, but i will not go so far as many people who say he HAS to be on the juice, because we can't yet prove it

Answer 8

jecollard hit it right on the head, and I applaud him for standking up and saying it straight. Steriods bulds muscle mass and bulk. It shortens your range of movement, slows your speed down, and actually it also lowers your cordination. All of those combos would make it HARDER for Bonds to hit a homer, NOT easier.

If they are really so sure he is taking roids he would have been tested more often and if he IS taking them he WILL have tested positive.

Since he has never tested positive and since steriods would HURT your abilities to hit homers how about we all stop being judge, jury, AND hangman and give him the due he deserves because he IS innocent until proven guilty.

Oh, for those who say that the other reason is because he started doing so good in his mid to late 30's, more than 50% of most single season sports records are held by athletes who are 45 years old or older.

Answer 9

Personally, I love Barry Bonds and I respect him a lot as a baseball player. I am sure that many baseball players have experimented with steriods to improve their game so everybody is wrong when the say that Barry Bonds is the "face of steriods"

Answer 10

Good Question.

He is the face because lots of players used steriods and he is the only one getting a bad wrap for it.