Why are we celebrating the return of Bonds? (This was posted in USA Today 9/20 print edition - "Your view" section))

There's an article in USA Today by Columnist Hal Bodley about the return of Bonds. It's so niave (among other descriptors) that we had to bash him for it. Here's the link:

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/columnist/bodley/2005-09-13-bodley-bonds-return_x.htm

"Now's the time to enjoy Barry Bonds as a ballplayer" is the headline.

Here's a few tidbits:

"The sun has shone through the dark cloud created by the steroids scandal most of the summer. Brightly." "Oh, there was the exception in August" (Exception? Are you kidding?)

"Yet for the most part, the season has evolved with little distraction." (Were you here in Aug?)

"Enjoy his great talent and, for now, put suspicion aside." (What if talent = steroids?)

"And that's what people should be doing: watching and letting all the allegations go for now."

"Aside from leaked testimony to the San Francisco Chronicle from the grand jury investigating BALCO" (Aside from the damning evidence you mean?)

Why should we just watch and let all the allegations go for now? How can we enjoy his “great talent”, when the “talent” itself is in question?

He admitted using steroids to a grand jury. His claim that he was unaware the cream he used was a steroid is laughable. His personal trainer who provided it is at the heart of the BALCO scandal. He was promptly thrown under the bus, by Bonds stating that he couldn’t believe his longtime friend gave him something illegal without his knowledge. Please. What about the damaging comments from his “mistress”? The IRS doesn’t think she’s lying. The most damning “proof” in my mind is the size of his HEAD. There is credible information and multiple sources/signs that he is a user. Do we really need a court or other authoritative body to tell us for sure he’s been aided by the use of illegal chemicals? A REASONABLE person doesn’t.

The comparison to Ted Williams is an abomination. He was not a nice man and had a contentious relationship with the media. Similarities end there. He sacrificed by serving his country, and his talent and statistics are beyond reproach.

The argument that Giambi has become a fan favorite in NY, and that Bonds similarly is so in the Bay Area, is a joke. Giambi is only as such because he has been producing. We remember how ugly April & May were at Yankee Stadium when he wasn’t. Home fans are not a good measuring stick, so just wait until Bonds hits the road to gauge it.

Stating the season has evolved with little distraction (via steroids) is utterly absurd. The “exception” in August with Palmeiro was a FIRESTORM. The guy resorted to wearing earplugs on the road. Were you out of the country during this? Did you watch the Congressional Hearings? This changes the way HISTORY will evaluate players and statistics going back over a decade. It puts a black mark on those who have performed without illegal help. How can you possibly downplay it as; “The sun has shone through the dark cloud created by the steroids scandal most of the summer. Brightly.” You have got to be kidding.

Until MLB institutes IOC level of testing, the steroid issue will remain in doubt, and folks like Mr. Bodley can drone on until then. No one outside the Bay Area is pulling for this guy. Do you want the biggest record in MLB to be broken by a cheater? We don’t. We shouldn’t be celebrating his return. We should be questioning it.