Bonds Is Not The Only Guilty Party - So Is Baseball And So Are We

Ok, for those of you who have read my blogs or if you haven't, if you look back, I try and keep them professional - virtually no or little opinion of mine is incorporated into them unless is has a sound base or logical reason behind it - I have tried to make these "blogs" more like articles, but this is one case where I have to open my mouth.

Barry Bonds pleaded not guilty the other day in court. Of course that is what he was going to say - he has been denying it since they first asked back in 2004 in front of congress, but why is Bonds the target?

I don't know whether it is racial profiling (and I am Caucasian, so you can't say I am sticking up for someone of "my" race - which I assume a lot of people would assume if you read he rest of the blog), or if it because he has been the benchmark that players have looked up to since he became the single season homerun hitter as well as the all-time homerun hitter, or if it for another reason. Maybe it is because he has had a lot of bad press.

It is well documented that, and even heard him say in an interview on ESPN once that he comes to the ballpark, which is his work, he works, and then he goes home.

He doesn't seem very concerned with what people think about him - whether they love him or hate him, whether these are fans of his or whether they boo him , whether it is the media or whether it is someone on the street - he doesn't seem to care.

And you know what? That is fine. He wants to go to work and then come home and be left alone. He isn't paid to smile at the fans and and run into the outfield like Sammy Sosa always did acknowledging everyone. If Bonds doesn't care, he doesn't have to.

This is probably the greatest job in the world, but it is a job non the less.

Look, I understand where he is coming form and if you think about it, you will to. When you come home from work if a line of five hundred people wanted your autograph as you left your place of business - most of whom booed you on the field, why should you give them a second look when all you want to do is go home and spend time with family and friends? Would you acknowledge them after a day of heckling from them - for some of you maybe, for some of you maybe not - Honestly, I doubt I would.

Look, he did his job on the field, whether or not he used performance enhancers I think is just a cop out as of to why he is being targeted. But he went to work, stayed in phenominal shape, took left field, had four or five at bats, took batting practice, took fielding practice, hit the gym, the whole nine yards.

Some people say that because sports figures are public icons they have a responsibility to be first class citizens and be nice to everyone you meet.

Why? So what they are in the public eye! If he does what he is supposed to do on the field, what he does or doesn't do off the field is another story.

I am not saying you have to become his biggest fan or even like the man - but you have to respect him for his accomplishments.

Problem I have about the whole thing about steroids, is first off while it seems fairly obvious he took them, he has yet to test positive, so he is innocent until proven guilty. Also, I have always had the attitude that if you want to take the chance and take drugs - it is your body, not mine, not baseball's, not congresses', so who are any of us to tell him what he can and can't put in his body.

There are risks - look at Jason Giambi who had the brain tumor, in the long run it can cause severe health problems, it can shrink your prostate, etc... Point is, there are risks and if they want to take the risk, it is their body.

Besides, it was not the drugs that made him great, look at him beofore the 1998 season when he is alleged to have started taking them - he was already a Hall Of Famer. No, maybe he doesn't get 700 homers, but maybe 600, or maybe he still does, who knows? But it doesn't matter - look at the gold gloves and MVP's he already had on his trophy case before he was accused of taking anything. No doubt he would have been a Hall Of Famer anyway.

And you know what? As the Mitchell report comes out, we will see some of the names of players who were also taking them and lied about it - and who knows how many slipped through the cracks, whether not due to enough evidence or whatever reason. Who knows how many pitchers were juiced that he hit homers off of. In a way he was just evening out the field.

We have to all just got to realize that we are in a steroid era of baseball. And don't think we or baseball are so innocent. Are we all saying we didn't recognize men like Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa, along with players like Bonds and so many other players get bigger and stronger and better as they got older? Baseball knew about it, we knew about it, the players knew about it (obviously), but no one ever stepped up to change anything. And you know why, because we like to see the homeruns being hit, the players liked to see their stats and pay checks skyrocket, while Comissioner Bud Selig and all other baseball executives liked to see television ratings boom once again after the 1995 strike, they liked to see butts in the seats, filled ballparks, huge revenue for baseball and so, everyone turned a blind eye to the truth, figuratively sticking each and every needle into these players arms.

So, is Bonds being used as the sacrificial lamb to show that thy are now not afraid to take down the big players - now that baseball is once again a booming business - wow, that shows that Selig has a lot of gumption.

He didn't care about it then because people were back involved in baseball, but now he has to show the world he is doing his job - we have needed a new comissioner for a long time now - I am sick of Selig.

The disgrace that has been brought to the game can lie on many people's shoulders. Look at the day the players went in front of congress. McGwire made a mockery of himself trying not to answer whether or not who refused to answer whether he took steroids as a player, look at Sosa who all of a sudden needed a translator - for crying out loud - he speaks English! - look at Rafael Palmeiro, who refused that he took drugs and what do you know? It didn't take too long before we all found out that was a lie and he retired in shame. So, they all lied in front of congress, so why is Bonds getting picked on like the fat kid in the playground?

It is because now that Selig has no more need for Bonds, he wants to take down the highest person he can in baseball. But where are Sosa's reprocautions? Or Palmeiro's, or McGwire's? And where are the asterisks next to their name that Bonds may have next to his? Tell me where!

Worst that will happen to them is that they now will no longer make the Hall Of Fame which they were once bound to be a part of. But they aren't getting thrown out of record books and trying to be thrown into jail like they are trying to do with Bonds.

Look, they lied to try and save their reputation. If you were considered one of the best in the game but used performance enhancers, do you truly think you could stand up in front of congress, in front of baseball, in front of millions of fans around the world and be the first one(s) to be linked to steroid usage - I am sure a lot of you think you would do the right thing and tell the truth but if you are honest to yourself and really put yourself in their shoes, the answer would most likely be "no." You would not want to be the spear head that launched steroid investigations.

So, finally Selig is doing something right and that is trying to "clean-up" the game and not because of congresses' investigation, but because it is the right thing to do so that not only is everyone on the same playing field, but for these players health.

But as far as those who took it in the past, who cares, leave them alone, recognize that era for what it was and move on. A lot of people made mistakes, but here is nothing you can do about it now. So leave Bonds alone, elect him, as well as the Palmeiro's and McGwire's and Sosa's into the Hall Of Fame where they belong.

The longer this charade takes place, the more of a mockery the game will become.