Why the media is out to get Barry Bonds

By: Larry Fitzgerald
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
Originally posted 3/8/2004

  Unless you have been in a deep sleep the last two months, you have heard by now about the steroid scandal facing Major League Baseball. It’s been reported that as many as five percent of all the players in the big leagues use these illegal drugs.

 Understand that Major League Baseball does not ban steroid usage or test its players for steroids, and never has. Why? Because the Major League Baseball owners have never concerned themselves with the profound impact that rampant steroid use by some of its players could have on the American pastime.

 How rampant is steroid use in baseball? Who really knows? One thing is certain: It’s suddenly become the hot button for media and politicians alike. The question is why it is so important in 2004 to smear the innocent and assume some of the biggest names in the game are guilty.

 A large number of athletes in the last six months testified before a federal grand jury in the now-famous Balco Laboratory hearings in Northern California. Barry Bonds, Jason Giambi and Gary Sheffield, three of the biggest stars in baseball today, were among those who testified. Last I heard, if you were found to have lied to a grand jury, you would be faced with the penalty of perjury.

 That same federal grand jury recently indicted Greg Anderson, the former trainer of several athletes, including Bonds. Distributing illegal performance-enhancing drugs is a serious crime, because steroids are illegal drugs in this country according to the Federal Drug Administration.

 Now, remember this because it’s important: Major League Baseball does not test its players for steroid use. It never has, but because the heat is on, that could change. Many like to blame the powerful baseball players’ union because they have not permitted their players to agree to being tested.

 I choose to blame the Major League owners who govern the game because, after all, they do sign the players’ paychecks, and they have never really cared enough about the influence that players have on young people across this country who want to do what the best players in the world do. The owners could have and should have long ago demanded that the game of Major League Baseball be protected from a potential scandal. Now is the time to make a change.

 The designer steroid in question is called THG, and according to government documents, Anderson has been charged with participating in a steroid distribution ring that provided performance-enhancing drugs to professional athletes. Also charged were Balco founder Victor Conte, lab vice president James Valente, and track coach Remi Korchemny. All four men pleaded innocent.

 In the 2001 season, Bonds smashed the all-time single-season homerun record with 73, and currently is just two homeruns behind the great Willie Mays (660 career homeruns for third all-time in the history of Major League Baseball). Henry Aaron is number one with 755, and Babe Ruth is number two at 714. Bonds could reach 700 this year.

 According to the San Francisco Chronicle, citing an anonymous source, Anderson provided Bonds with steroids and human growth hormones as far back as — you guessed it — 2001. Bonds has denied ever using the drug THG or any other steroid. He is the only player in history to win the National League MVP award six times.

 But because of the cloud of scrutiny and his association with Anderson over the years, Bonds is under the spotlight. As has become the sign of the times, he is presumed guilty of taking and using THG.

 Not by me, however; when a man says he did not do it, I tend to take him at his word. His accomplishments and records would be tarnished beyond repair if he lied to a federal grand jury — not to mention that he would be facing a jail term.

 I’m certain that a motivated media wants to get to the truth. There’s nothing wrong with that. Patience is a virtue, and Bonds says he did not use steroids; that’s enough for me for now. I’ll wait until all the facts are in. 

 Fitz Notes & Quotes

  First-year Houston Rockets Head Coach Jeff Van Gundy had previously coached with the New York Knicks, and Latrell Sprewell was one of his players. “I found Latrell to be everything opposite of his reputation coming in,” Van Gundy said. “I found him to be a team-first guy, all about winning, worked extremely hard, unselfish, a good leader and a fierce, fierce competitor.

 “When Minnesota traded for him, I knew they were getting something special because I was fortunate to have him,” said Van Gundy. “And Latrell will come up very big in the big games, because defensively Latrell can really guard. He’s just a really good player.”

 Kevin Garnett on his teammate: “Sprewell can put buckets together and go on a nice little tear. But I did not know to the detail that he could, until now. His focus for all four quarters is unbelievable, his energy and his intensity and how he brings it to the game.”

 “I knew he was really great, but to be up close and personal with him is like an atom bomb. His intensity is probably greater than anyone on this team. That includes myself and Mad Dog. And he’s a professional. He’s very poised, and at the same time you got to be an animal to play this game.”  

 After losing two in a row at home and three of their last five games, including back-to-back Sunday losses to lowly Philadelphia without Allen Iverson and Boston scoring only 75 and 77 points, Head Coach Flip Saunders questioned what his players are doing on Saturday nights.

 “My main concern is we can’t score over 75 points on a Sunday. I don’t know what we’re doing on Saturday nights, but whatever we’re doing ain’t working,” Saunders said.