Friday, November 16, 2007

Bonds Indicted

That's right, Dews' boy, Barry Lamar Bonds, has been indicted on federal perjury and obstruction of justice charges. What does that really mean? It means that the federal investigators presented enough evidence for a federal grand jury to formally charge Bonds with the crime. That means the federal prosecutors have evidence of Bonds' performance enhancing drug use. This is intense.

Although the media is already sizing Bonds up for a prison uniform instead of a baseball uniform (and that might not be jumping the gun all that much), the spotlight is really on Commish Selig, in my opinion.

Baseball has come down hard on those who would harm the integrity of the game ever since the Black Sox Scandal in 1919. The idea is that the game should be played competitively and cheating should not be tolerated in any way. For decades, proof of betting on games, even if you weren't playing in them, led to your ban from the game. Ask Pete Rose about that one. Bonds' actions threaten the integrity of the game in the same way that the Black Sox or Pete Rose did. The Black Sox threw the World Series and Rose violated the most well-known rule in baseball. Bonds used illegal substances to gain an advantage. He unbalanced the playing field (and in a scary way for a player of his natural talents).

So, Mr. Commisioner, you have some thinking to do, but you have some time to do it. If Bonds is convicted of perjury (or takes a plea deal), you should ban him from baseball, just like the Black Sox and Pete Rose. Be the next Kenesaw Mountain Landis. Invalidate his records, you certainly have reason to do so. In fact, wipe him off the books. Make an example of him, and let every player in baseball know that if they use these drugs, the same fate awaits them. It's the right thing to do, and it's the right thing for baseball.

27 comments:

SayHey Kid said...

Actually DC&H, he is my boy. Im the Giants fan in this bunch. I knew someone was going to touch this, hence why i didnt.

This is bullshit, what new evidence do they have?? And why are they being so secretive about it?? Anderson didnt say anything. So unless someone else did, there is no grounds for this. The Feds are pissed off and doing this to save face.

HOWEVER, if these charges are legit, then damn, I owe folks major apologies. Ive been sticking up for this guy for years! Its not ignorance or whatever you people will call it. Its loyalty. There is a thin line but if this were Tom Brady, im sure Patriot fan would defend him to the grave. Think about it....

Side note- Blacksox gear is in the HOF, Bonds records will go as well.

Dewey, Cheatem, & Howe said...

The stories I've read this morning are split on how the evidence stacks up: The Philly Inquirer says that it must be pretty thin if it took four years and two grand juries to get an indictment. ESPN says that the feds are so cautious when going after someone of Bonds' stature that they must have a no-doubter on their hands. There's no way to tell until someone either leaks some info or a trial rolls around. At the very least, the indictment means there is some credible evidence that he lied about steriod use and obstructed justice. The New York Times says that the feds have finally uncovered some failed drug tests.

As far as Bonds' records, I say that he has to be wiped from the books entirely if he's convicted or pleads guilty. We can't tell what part of his performance was his ability and what part was the drugs. That, in my opinion, is why nothing he has done is worthy of inclusion in the HOF.

But, yes, I understand that you're a Giants fan. I'd hate it if the Mitchell Report came out and said that Manny Ramirez is as good as he is not because of his abilities but because he's on some serious performance enhancers. I do give the Giants as an organization credit for cutting ties with Bonds though. They were in a no-win situation for years with this guy. He's too good (as a player, as a ticket seller) to let go, but he's too much of a cancer to keep around. In my opinion, Barry Bonds has held the Giants hostage at gunpoint for the last 15 years. I don't think that's an exaggeration.

I'd love to see that Giants tear up the NL West, and I think they're finally about to head in the right direction. Getting rid of Bonds was the first step.

SayHey Kid said...

BTW- Quickest way to anger an entire city is to disregard the accomplishments of their team. Last thing baseball should do is alienate a man who was not tested positive for any substances. And nothing has been, nor could be, proven that he lied about anything. if that were the case, several other relics in the HOF and records should be stripped.

As a lawyer, I would expect you to know this stuff. Innocent until proven guilty- Lawyer 101 stuff.

SayHey Kid said...

My last comment was posted before i read yours. Your interp was alittle less on the attach the second time around. Didnt mean to get to offended.

Your right, unless Anderson talked the feds dont have much of a leg to stand on. The Feds normally disclose information they gathered but its odd that they are keeping this so hush hush. I dont think statute is a reason they are so hesitant to convict. People with more money and power have been busted, aka Nixon.

True, It is ignorance to think we let go of Bonds for any other reason than this distraction. I am glad he is gone. But you have to admit, what he did in his 15 years in SF was impressive. Nothing will be stripped from him, Rose and the Blacksox still have records and memorabilia in the Hall, you cannot single Bonds out. As a Giants fan, we dont feel he kept us hostage. He had tons of talent and proved his metal on countless occasions. We are only fed up with the allegations. Its hard work defending a man everyone hates.

So yeh, disregard the last para in my last comment. Kinda on the defensive here, can ya blame me?? =)

Jack Gonzo, MD said...

Either way, Bonds will not get into the HoF now. What he did, in my opinion, is more reprehensible then what Pete Rose did.

As for the case it self, they let Anderson out of jail telling him we don't need your testimony anymore. So apparently they have found something NEW that helps implicate Barry Bonds.

As for SayHey's denial that Bonds was ever on anything, he's going through the part of denial where the blinders are up. He has admitted to using the cream and the clear, two things known to possess performance enhancers. His whole defense, which I will never buy, is he didn't KNOWINGLY take anything.

Dewey, Cheatem, & Howe said...

I'm not convicting him of anything other than putting forth a story that doesn't pass what we in the lawyer biz call "the straight face test," which is, essentially, can you tell your story and keep a straight face?

What the government has put forward is some credible evidence to convince a panel of Bonds' peers that he lied under oath about his steroid use. Although it'll take more to convict him of a crime, it takes far less to convict him in the court of public opinion. Remember that OJ Simpson trial thing? He's already been tried and convicted there, except among a small number of fans holding out hope. I'm not one of those fans.

He will not be a Hall of Famer if he is convicted or pleads guilty to these crimes. I don't think that his records should stand either.

Dewey, Cheatem, & Howe said...

SayHey - I responded before I saw your most recent postings. My bad for going on the offensive.

SayHey Kid said...

There are no blinders up. Someone back me up here. Loyalty means you go down with the ship. A's fan should know this, but then again, they wrote off the a bash brothers the second Andro was whispered. Not much loyalty there.

Yes, he took the cream. I am aware of that. If he did knowingly or not knowingly take it, that can NEVER be proven.

Anderson was released. This we know. So who is this silent whistle-blower?? His wife? Doubtful. Another trainer? unlikely. Teammates?? Not a chance. Who then?? They had 4 years to find someone, who is the magical conjured up mystery person and why are the feds so tight liped?

If for some reason he is guilty of this subjective claim, then I will be most dissapointed and deceived. But fans dont write off there team for claims and not convictions. Everyone should know this. So cut me some slack =)

SayHey Kid said...

There is no doubt Bonds will not be a Hall of famer. McGuire set that standard for suspected athletes.

Hell, Im going to Cooperstown with Shane once Rickey is inducted. I doubt i would go attend Bonds if he made it.

Jack Gonzo, MD said...

Slight difference though, there is only one "greatest of all time"...and he just stole third as I typed this

Dewey, Cheatem, & Howe said...

There is just one greatest of all time, and his head has been cryogenically frozen for future cloning and an appearance on Futurama.

SayHey Kid said...

Unless they can find a body to go with the head, Teddy is just a head.

Rickey will be the first player ever to be inducted to the HOF, then come out of retirement and steal 50 bases.

Dewey, Cheatem, & Howe said...

Teddy Ballgame's head would come out of retirement and bat .335 with 41 HRs and 120 RBIs, then he would fly bombing missions over Afghanistan while simultaenously winning national fly fishing deep sea fishing championships.

Where's your God now?

Jack Gonzo, MD said...

Yes, he would do all of that and still have no ring. Rickey, Rickey has plenty of rings, Rickey loves bling

SUCKAAAAAAAAAA

Dewey, Cheatem, & Howe said...

I think I might trade World Series rings for the power to speak in the first person. That's just me though. Not being mentally retarded is important to me.

SayHey Kid said...

Rickey is Rickey for speaking in the 3rd person! Man has 2 World Series rings to go with it!

Teddy was great, but Teddy would never have the balls to trash Lou Brock in from of 50,000 fans.

Dewey, Cheatem, & Howe said...

Teddy did have the balls to be a dick in front of thousands of Red Sox fans day in and day out though. And we still love him.

And let's not forget the balls it took to be a fighter pilot.

Jack Gonzo, MD said...

Technically Bush was a fighter pilot

Dewey, Cheatem, & Howe said...

Technically cold sores are a form of herpes, but no one calls cold sores the gift that keeps on giving.

Did I mention that John Wayne admitted that in all those cowboy movies he was just doing an impression of Ted Williams?

SayHey Kid said...

Rickey would contest that he could run faster than Teddy could fly.

Rickey does impressions of Rickey...thats how good he is!

Teddy was a dick, hence why Red Sox fans should sympathize with Giants fan.

Dews said...

We had Raffy, not Bonds...

Glad I could clear that up...

:)

SayHey Kid said...

Raffy was guilty as sin....and it was proven =)

Its odd that the one charge they can easily nail him on; tax evasion, wasnt brought up.

Dewey, Cheatem, & Howe said...

Jeter is about to get nailed for tax evasion in NY State. I love it.

SayHey Kid said...

Him and his herpes wouldnt last 1 day in jail.

Dews said...

fishy fishy fish fish...

Hope he goes to a jail in Massachusetts or any place in New England for that matter...

Dewey, Cheatem, & Howe said...

Jeter has the herp? The gift that keeps on giving? Explain.

SayHey Kid said...

Jeter gave all the hollywood hotties herpes to boot. Guessing he got it from Mariah Carey.

Never the less, he will def get butt raped if in prison. He may have to swallow whats given to him if he ends up at Shawshank.