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Reputation:98
Level:Superstar
Since:Aug 19, 2006
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So, Bonds said he never knowingly took steroids, right? Those defending Bonds (or at least, those not crucifying him) have said that since he didn't knowingly take steroids, he shouldn't be faced with all this. I'm not too bothered by that; as a baseball player, taking steroids doesn't necessarily enhance performance since the ball still has to be read coming off the pitcher's hand, the bat has to be swung at the right time, etc.
Problem is, he DID admit to taking steroids... the "cream" and the "clear" were of course steroids, but Bonds thought they were an arthritic balm and flaxseed oil (if I remember correctly). So yeah he took 'em, but wasn't cognizant of it. So I have a question. What would a judge think of that scenario? A person says he/she didn't KNOWINGLY take a banned/illegal substance (in Bonds' case, the cream and clear), originally given to him/her by a friend (the trainer). Does that still mean he's guilty due to his not making sure that what he was taking was (il)legal? I'm not well-versed in law so I'm not sure.
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Reputation:94
Level:All-Star
Since:Mar 12, 2008
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I think you are remembering the story correctly as to what Bonds said - that he didn't knowingly take steroids.
But if the prosecution has evidence that he knew he was taking steroids, then he would be in trouble. If you are really interested in the whole story, The Game of Shadows is an interesting read. It talks as much about steroids in track and field as it does Bonds, but it is really well done.
When the book was released Bonds sued, not for slander, but over the fact they were making money on it. If it were me, and I were innocent, I would have sued for slander. Even more interesting regarding the book, is the fact that the source for much of the book turned out to be one of Bonds lawyers. He divulged the information in hopes he could argue that the government (prosecution) had illegally leaked the information and the case would be thrown out.
I think it's obvious that he knew he took steroids. Besides setting a lot of records, his cheating altered the outcomes of games and seasons.
No doubt Bonds has extraordinary talent. But it's hard to argue steroids don't help baseball players. Everything from improved bat speed to improved stamina over a long season can be helped by steroids.
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Reputation:75
Level:Pro
Since:May 11, 2008
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I think that any lawyer worth their salt would get past "knowingly".... I can think of a dozen other circumstances where people wouldn't "knowingly" have done something but still face stiff punishment.
I don't expect anything to come of this anyway - In the USA, Sports/Entertainment stars do not go to jail unless there are moutains and moutains of proof/witnesses/signed affidavids by God.
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Reputation:78
Level:Pro
Since:Oct 2, 2006
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I think you missed the point of the indictment. Whether he took steroids or not isn't the issue. The government intends to prove that he knew precisely what he was taking, and then lied about it in an investigation. I think the guy is a big fraud, and has tainted the game, but his being busted for lying in an investigation is like Al Capone getting busted for tax evasion.
And steroids absolutely can enhance performance. They don't improve your coordination, as Barry made so clear in numerous interviews, but that's not the issue. Increased bat speed, which leads to balls flying over the fences and those grounders that get out of the infield seemingly before the infielders can flinch, is the problem.
What do you think, did he know? I think he did, but I have nothing to substantiate that. Of course, if I was looking at that ever-growing head in the mirror every day, I'd wonder what was going on.
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Reputation:97
Level:Superstar
Since:Jan 3, 2007
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Here's the deal. He says he did not "knowingly" take steroids so he could admit to taking them, but without taking responsibility for taking them. Just like when he "blamed" Mark Sweeney for the positive drug result a few years ago. Bonds takes drugs out of Sweeney's locker without "knowing" what they were. Two things: 1) Bonds goes into a teammates locker without consent and 2) steals medication and ingests it without knowing what it is. Either Bonds is an idiot or he thinks everybody else is because he told such an outrageous lie expecting us to believe him!
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Reputation:94
Level:All-Star
Since:Aug 18, 2006
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I'm not too bothered by that; as a baseball player, taking steroids doesn't necessarily enhance performance since the ball still has to be read coming off the pitcher's hand, the bat has to be swung at the right time, etc.
John Kruk said it best. Summary: These guys are already the best of the best in the world. Give them something that increases their physical abilities and they will produce even better numbers. It is a huge difference between being 6'1/210lbs and hitting a homers for an average of 345 ft and bein 6'1/230lbs and hitting a homer for an average of 370ft. Obviously if you're stronger and hitting the ball further it don't matter how sucky you are at the plate. You know that if you can make contact that ball is going to fly farther with the excess strentgh.
So on one hand you can believe amateurs that don't play in the majors that PEDs won't make you better or you can believe someone that played in the majors alongside other steroid users such as Len Dykstra.
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Reputation:98
Level:Superstar
Since:Aug 19, 2006
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dasuperfan:
In regards to your last paragraph and question: I can't say whether he knew for sure, but even if he didn't know... he would have HAD to realize the changes occurring to his body over the years. In that way I can definitively say that he would've known something was up; however, some people just aren't that bright.
In addition, of course steroids enhance performance. I never doubted that, because it's the truth. However, I'm just saying that steroids won't improve performance in all aspects of the game, some of which are critical to success. For instance, being able to read what type of pitch is coming isn't helped by steroids - the batsman still has to get the bat around and make contact. Otherwise, yes it most definitely adds power to the swing. I agree wholeheartedly with all of you on that. It's just that there are a few other vital components to the game that are not affected or are adversely affected by steroid use. That's all.
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Reputation:91
Level:All-Star
Since:Nov 7, 2006
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"taking steroids doesn't necessarily enhance performance since the ball still has to be read coming off the pitcher's hand, the bat has to be swung at the right time, etc."
Agreed, accept if you have the hand-eye coordination to read the ball and swing at the right time, the drugs allow you the opportunity to hit the ball much further... Give me the drugs and I'll still strike out every time.... Give Hank Aaron the drug, and he would have 900 home runs...
Back to your point, if he thought it was flaxeed oil, he is guilty of cheating (intentional or not). That is not what the case is about. It is about purgery. They don't care if he used steroids or not. They are trying him for lying to the Government. Andy Petitte will never face charges for using steroids because that isn't something you can face charges for. If he lied, he could face pugery charges. The prosecutors believe the flaxeed story is a bunch of BS which is why they indicted him.
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Reputation:97
Level:Superstar
Since:Feb 9, 2007
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If Bonds is convicted (which I highly doubt) for perjury, meaning the court would rule that he KNOWINGLY took steriods and lied to the grand jury, I hope they rename Bonds Cove (or whatever they call it), "STEROIDS COVE". The world should know how he came to hit a lot of those home runs that splashed into the bay across the fence from right field. And if he is convicted, Hank Aaron is still the home run champ in my opinion (actually, he's still the home run champ whether Bonds is convicted or not.) Aaron hit his home runs pretty consistently throughout his career. But go take a look at Bonds stats, and look at how many he hit in his LAST 10 years (after he UNKNOWINGLY used steroids)! LMAO! Aaron hit 342 homers during his fist 10 years in the bigs; Bonds hit 292. During Aaron's second 10 years, he increased his home run total to 371 (an 8% increase); Bonds hit 437 during his second 10 years (a 49% increase over his first 10 years), and a whopping 258 of those came during the steroid years of 2000-2004. That's 34% of Bonds' total homerun output for his entire career crammed into a 5-year stretch. Think steroids don't enhance performance? Think again!! Oh, but I'm sure he did it through weigt lifting and the use of B-12 and flax seed oil, or snake oil, or voodoo; anything but steriods in Bonds' words.
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