Do you think Barry Bonds is being unfairly abused?

Question

I mean this abuse has been going on for two years without a finding. They tried to put his manager in federal prison. The press has been dragging this out. Is the outcry because he used these substances? It appears most players used these substances now and when he started playing? I think they (the press) are dragging it out not because he used substances, but because of the great record he is about to break. No one benefits more from sports or does more damage to sports than the ingracious sports press. What are your thoughts?

Answer 1

YES! He has never failed a drug test and he's never confessed to using steroids. He's never been caught cheating in any way! How do we know Hank Aaron didn't use steroids?! He would deny it, just like Bonds has. Give Barry some credit, he's had a fantastic career.

Answer 2

This is tough. First of all, though some players may have used substances here and there, steroid use did not "take off" until the boys came back from the strike in '94. Bonds apparently did not start using the stuff until after the 1998 season if you believe Wada and Williams in their book "Game of Shadows".

I don't think this is all a witch hunt focused at Bonds or Sheffield. Unfortunately for them, they are the ones who are most frequently mentioned in regards to steroid use. They also don't help themselves with how controversial they have been when speaking to the press. I'm not saying that they shouldn't speak their mind or give their opinion, but a little more tact could be used, (especially by Sheffield). Bonds is just a difficult fellow and that is why it is so easy to bring him up in a negative way.

I don't know what will happen. I'm tired of all of the press that this has been getting. I just want to concentrate on baseball again. MLB has improved its drug testing and its penalties significantly in recent years and in all honesty, that's all they can do. It appears to have made a difference so, please, let's enjoy the game again.

As for the record, the Commisioner should be there, shake Barry's hand and then if he wants to, leave. He doesn't have to enjoy himself, but for the love of God he is one of the biggest figures in MLB. It should be his job to be there. Bonds has never tested positive for steroids so for all intents and purposes, no one has any proof he's done anything wrong. Otherwise, he'd be suspended for fifty games at some point in his career. I'm sorry Barry haters, but those are the facts.

No I don't care for Bonds personally, but I don't have to. It would not surprise me at all if he took steroids and I wish they'd have caught him years ago if he did. I love baseball. Bonds is a great baseball player and was great before the 1999 season. I enjoyed watching McGuire hit number 62 and I'll enjoy watching Bonds hit number 756.

When a sports reporter writes about baseball, it should be about baseball, not pharmacutical sales.

Answer 3

Yes and No. He's being made a scapegoat for the whole "Steroid Era" for the lack of MLB to police its own problem of substance abuse(performance enhancing drugs) and the fact they looked the other way because He, Sammy and Mark were "saving baseball" after the lockout. He has reportedly(never met the guy) been an (insert expletive) to the media and fans throughout his career so his public persona is not exactly warm and fuzzy, thus the harsh sentiment towards him breaking "the most hallowed record" in sports!

Answer 4

Baseball fans, sports fans in general and the press especially can be very intense and vocal. Hank Aaron received all kinds of death threats and hate mail as he approached Babe Ruth's record, as did Roger Maris. Even to the point where they were afraid to go on the field for fear of snipers or what-have-you... A great film on the subject was "61*", directed by Billy Crystal.

As for steroids... Baseball has tightened their grip on a situation that, basically got out of hand over the past few decades. But you can't change the past and you can't fudge the record books. Besides all records through time have to be taken with a gain of salt to begin with... The game changes, technology improves, training techniques are developed and improved upon.

It's just baseball after all... And it's just a record, and one that stands to be broken again and again.

Answer 5

This abuse is not about Barry the short time steroid user. It's about the media, MLB, the fans , and the players getting back at Barry for being a jerk for all of these years.

Everyone that Barry has pissed off over his career is doing everything in their power to smear his credibility. The sad thing is so many people are buying and absorbing all of the negative things that's being said and written about him. Many of them are exaggerations.

People need to stick to the facts.
Was Barry a jerk for most of his career? Yes.
Did he use steroids/cream? Yes. For a short time not to his knowledge so he says.
Did he use steroids prior to that? No. The man has never tested positive for steroid use ever in his career. As stated in his sworn testimony.

Think about it. Considering the vast number of people that dislike this man someone would have come forth by now with evidence of him using steroids prior in his career.

I don't dislike nor hate Barry but what goes around comes around. Barry is paying for being a jerk to so many. Karma!

Answer 6

Is Bonds being abused? By the media, Yes. The constant questioning is annoying. Some of those reporters are extremely rude. They try to illicit a reaction to sell their story.

By the investigators? No. Bonds is not being abused. He has given elusive answers to direct questions. He acts like he his hiding something. The investigators have a right to question everything he does. Sheffield has cooperated. Once he answered questions, they left him alone. Bonds will not answer any question directly. He still claims that he thought he was using 'flaxseed oil.' Ignorance of the law is not an excuse. Bonds continues to place himself above everyone else. Once he is truthful with investigators they will continue to delve into his actions.


After reading answers I thought I would add this thought. BALCO developed "an undetectable steroid!" This means that whoever was taking it according to their schedule would never test positive for any banned substance. We'll never know who took it unless they come forward and admit to it. Also MLB did not test for steroids on a random system. The players knew when they were going to be tested! Therefore they could prepare their bodies for a negative test. This argument that Bonds and whoever never tested positive is worthless.

Answer 7

It's a witch hunt that's all. Lots of players used/use performance enhancers, and you can say BALCO all you want but nobody is abusing Sheffield. I don't see people going around ripping Sheff. I feel bad for Barry because he is guilty until proven innocent. These are the same people who support the death penalty based on circumstantial evidence. Yes, he did them, in my opinion, but I have no proof. I still love him because I think he is the greatest player I have seen play, with or without steroids. I think it's a witch hunt and all his haters are just waiting to tie the noose and hang him. For what, what you "think" he did?

Answer 8

I think he does gets a bad rap, but most often than not he placed that upon himself.

He's had a bad attitude since his Pirate days. Once he became more successful, the more he became in the public eye as sort of a villian.

Take Jason Giambi for example, he admitted using steroids, but you don't see him getting the abuse that comes close to what Bonds gets.

It all starts with his attitude, if was a nice guy to begin with, he probaby wouldn't get the abuse he is getting now.

Answer 9

No, but I think the great Hank Aaron's record is being unfairly abused. Babe Ruth was the greatest player ever. If his record had to be broken, Hank Aaron was worthy to break it. Barry Bonds isn't even close to being in their class.

Answer 10

I don't think he's being unfairly abused at all. Some people point out the fact that he's taking more crap than others who roid up, but at the same time, they aren't running down the most hallowed mark in all of sports. And not only is he about to rip the record from Hank Aaron (who did this legit) but he did it by cheating. I can't feel sympathy for Barroid and we'll have to make sure that in the record book, he gets a nice, big, fat asterix (*) right next to his name.