Barry Bonds might go to prision for lying about taking steroids? Come on?

Question

I can't believe it. It's his body-- and if he wants to risk ruining it to make millions more dollars, I say that's his option. What do ya'll think? I know, people are not supposed to lie in court, but when you consider the "crime" that he lied about, it doesn't seem like it justifies putting him in prision to me, even if he is convicted.

Lying under oath is wrong, sure. And if this case were actually about something serious, I could see somebody going to jail for lying under oath. Sure. But this is about steriods, and it seems to me likely that Bonds lied about his steroid usage pretty much to keep his baseball career intact... in my opinion, he did an illegal thing, which didn't harm anyone physically but himself, and after that got himself caught having to tell more lies. I just don't think Barry Bonds is anywhere close to a criminal, if he goes to prision it will show lack of common sense on the part of the judicial system.

Greg:
I don't think your example of the little boy who looks up to Bonds changes very much. It just doesn't seem to me that a little boy is going to be able to get his hands on steroids-- and if in the future he as an adult makes that choice to take steroids, I don't think we can pin it on Bonds!
It's not okay to lie, but I do actually have doubts as to whether steroid use should be illegal, as long as the person doesn't directly harm anyone in the process... it's just me but I'd rather have non-violent non-criminals out and about so there's enough room for the people who should be in there for a couple more years.

Also, I think he should be stripped of his home run record, if it turns out he really did take steroids... but prision... /le sigh!
Too many people in there already.

Answer 1

I'm famous for having 5 thousand word essays on stuff but you said it right my friend. If we are to have life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness in this land that as long as we harm no other (which is the gospel preached by government) we should be free to do our own. Barry has not been allowed that right, and anyone who smokes weed has not been allowed that right. It is anti-american to think that way, and as equally as hipocritical to think that way about religion when religion is the problem of all the world and then hide behind it when it is the very thing that started all of this.

Sorry didn't mean to educate anyone here... they are just looking for baseball answers in their small little heads.

Answer 2

The question isn't whether or not he has taken steroids, the question is whether he knew what he was taking was steroids. Sheffield, Bonds, and Giambi already testified that they did indeed take steroids, but Shef and Barry claim they didnt know that they were taking steroids, they thought they were putting a flaxseed oil creme on their bodies. If they [Shef & Bonds] are telling the truth, then Anderson could be in severe trouble for distributing a misleading, illegal product...kinda like giving out heroin as a painkiller. Just because Anderson is keeping quiet doesnt necessarily mean that he's covering up for Barry and Barry alone. BALCO's clients went from pro-athletes all the way down to high school students, as well as the BALCO employees themselves. IMO, he's not keeping quiet to protect Barry, he's keeping quiet to protect a much bigger network of clients. Barry is just the poster child, because people need to put a face on the problem.

Answer 3

This is a lot more serious than you seem to think. First of all, steroid use is cheating. In an industry that measures its assets in the billions of dollars, that's important. It is comparable to school money on the state level being handled by the mafia. It's not likely that people are being given a fair shake.

Then there is the biggest problem. Kids idolize these guys. Steroid use by highschoolers IS a problem. They would be less inclined to take them if their heroes did not. Since players DO take them, allowing the problem to go unchecked would mean that we are condemning a percentage of youth to the ill effects of steroids. For what? The dream of someday maybe if you're lucky you might perhaps make the majors. Might just as well make it heroin.

And then there is that hero thing. Here he is, Barry Bonds, major league hero, lying to the grand jury. But it's okay, kids, it isn't lying if you don't get caught or if you walk. See? It's all bad, that's all. No one wins, even if it isn't "serious".

Answer 4

yeah it's called "perjury" he lied to a "jury" about taking an "illegal" drug.

In 2004 I saw Rafael Palmerio and Barry Bonds both hit homeruns at Camden Yards. It was the first time since I believe the 60's that two players with over 500 homeruns hit one in the same game. I THOUGHT I was seeing some history....I PAID to see some HISTORY and FAIR PLAY. Which I didn't it was all a fraud, so if you enjoy paying money to see something fake go to see some pro wrestling. If you don't feel that guys like Bonds and Palmerio have ripped you off then you aren't a baseball fan. If you believe that everyone should be roided up so they can make the millions of dollars that you and the fans give to them. Then you can continue to pay for it and defend idiots like Bonds. The real issue is your probably a Giant fan, your all blinded by Bonds.

Answer 5

This case is about something serious. It wasn't about Bonds originally. Is was about Balco selling illegal drugs which is very serious. Bonds name was among their files so he became a key witness. He allegedly lied under oath which is a criminal offense. If perjury were not a crime then the justice system would not work. Marion Jones came clean about the same thing to avoid what Bonds is going through now. All Bonds had to do was tell the truth and the grand jury would have left him alone, but he's to worried about his career and his stats to do that.

Answer 6

The whole premise of "it's his body - and if he wants to risk ruining it...." is such a load of libertarian garbage. I'm not sure if you would apply that to such narcotics (as steroids are when taken illegally - as Bonds and so many other athletes have done) such as heroin, cocaine, meth, etc. Drugs that are funding terrorism worldwide. But based on yours and other person's libertarian tirades on the subject, I would gather, yes, you would apply that answer to other narcotics.

Bonds will go to jail because we have rules in this country, whether you like them or not. Other athletes stood in front of the grand jury, said "yes, I used steroids", under oath, and were given a pass. Despite the fact that what they did was illegal. Bonds, on the other hand, disputed evidence that he had used steroids (again, ILLEGAL), and then lied under oath in front of a grand jury (AGAIN, ILLEGAL) about it. Despite the promise of full immunity for truthful testimony.

Now, if you want to make a mockery of our court system by allowing people to just saunter in, lie under oath, give false testimony, and then make "millions more dollars...that's his option", then you're in the wrong country. Might I suggest joining the heroin trade in Afghanistan or something? When you become powerful enough in a country like that, you're free to be as libertarian as you want. I think....

Answer 7

The assistant US attorney asked Barry Bonds, while sworn and in front of the grand jury, if he used steroids and he said no. The Feds already knew the answer. It was what is called a "perjury trap." Martha Stewart fell for it. She denied doing something that they had proof of that probably would have been a civil violation resulting in money damages otherwise. Bill Clinton fell for it when they asked if he had ever had sex with Monica whatshername. They already had the dress with his DNA on it, they knew the answer and it was not a crime having sex with a slightly overweight bim, just bad taste. But he lied under oath, and that is what got him impeached and what will get Barry Bonds imprisoned.

Answer 8

i think you are jumping the gun alittle if you think Barry is going to prison....and its not that he lied to protect his baseball career that the FEDs care about, in their eyes he is covering for the distributor of the steroids...the whole trial thing was not to convict Barry of any wrongdoing but to testify against the Conti and the others ....Barry was told along with several other superstars they would have immunity from anything they admitted and that it would be private(lol) sealed testimony...other superstars had the same offer and confessed or took the fifth like McGwire where Barry lied....and when you look at this as a Drug Case (which it was) barrys lying looks more serious than just protecting his career.... but he will not go to jail get serious he is way to rich for that

Answer 9

your statement is 100% wrong. He is not going on trial for taking steriods. He is going on trial for lying to a grand jury under oath. If you lie about your age while you are under oath that is called perjury. Lying is lying no matter what you lie about. Thats what they are going after him about. Granted it is centered around steroid use, which he obviously did. The issue is whether he knew it or didn't. He said he didn't know he was using them, and appears the government thinks otherwise.

removing his records is all up to MLB, and not the government or this trial. He is assured of one thing if found guilty, definately no hall of fame.

Answer 10

The Federal Government gave him EVERY OPPORTUNITY to tell the truth with no fear of reprocussion. He could have said he took coke, crack, heroin, anything, and wouldn't have been charged. Bonds, being the smart guy he is, decided to not only say nothing, but deny everything. Since that time, the prosecution has determined that he did in fact use steroids (although how they know hasn't been released to the public yet) and since he denied it to a grand jury, he committed a crime called purjury.

Bottom Line: If you or I purjured ourselves we'd be in jail, why is he any different? Please answer that question.

Answer 11

Lying to a grand jury is a crime - that's what he's being charged with. Whether he lied about steroids, or murdering dozens of prostitutes, or who kidnapped the Lindbergh baby is irrelevant - the perjury was the crime, and it doesn't matter what the perjury was in relation to. Prosecuting people who perjure themselves is necessary to ensuring the sanctity of the justice system.