Barry Bonds???

[Keal]

What's going on with Barry Bond. I've heard all about this steroids stuff, and I've also heard he won't be playing much this season. So what's the deal?

[Cerek]

Bonds used a substance for a number of years provided by his trainer that was classified as a steroid. Bonds claims he had no idea the substance was a steroid and he would have stopped using it had he known (yeah, right). The trainer he was using was well-known for providing steroids to a number of athletes and all you have to do is look at how much Barry has "bulked up" in the last 6-8 years. MOST athletes - no matter HOW good - LOSE muscle as they get older instead of gaining it, especially in such dramatic proportions. There is NO DOUBT in my mind that Barry chose to use steroids to give his career a boost as he got older. The fact is that he didn't really become a "superstar" until the last 5 years or so as he started slamming more and more balls out of the park every year. Which is another interesting fact. Bonds' homerun production has increased dramatically in the last few years, just as his biceps have suddenly grown unbelievably huge. I don't deny that Bonds is a greath athlete in his own right, and I'm sure he trains and practices very hard to maintain the level of skill he has, but most men just do NOT gain the kind of physical increase he has without a little extra help.

As for him not playing much this year, I've watched the interviews and the reports on ESPN. Barry had operations on BOTH knees during the off-season. Then, for whatever reason, he had to have a second surgery on his right knee (IIRC). There was some speculation that he may have been trying to rush the rehab on his knees too much and that's why he ended up needing a second operation on one of them. So this time he will taking his rehab much more slowly.

The famous interview where Bonds brought his son and a crutch along as props was nothing more than another manipulation of the media - at least according to one ESPN analyst. That reporter had the same operation on his knee that Bonds' did, and said he was able to jog 3 miles within 4 weeks of the operation. Bonds is claiming he may be out for the entire season because of the operation. At the very least, he implied he would miss at least half the season. But the ESPN reporter insists that Bonds is exaggerating how much rehab is needed and is just trying to drum up sympathy as the "poor, victimized athlete being picked-on by the media". While the reporter may have had the same operation (and is also around the same age as Barry), he is NOT a professional athlete. I'm sure the demands placed on Barry's body by playing ball day in and day out puts a lot more strain on his knees than the reporter puts on his.

So I'm taking BOTH accounts with a grain of salt. Chances are, Bonds will only miss about 1\4 of the season, then he can make a "triumphant" return earlier than expected and use the occasion to show how dedicated he is to the game and how tough he is physically. At the very worst, I wouldn't expect him to miss more than half the season. He still has fairly long way to go before breaking Hank Aaron's homerun record. And homerun production DOES tend to drop dramatically when athletes hit their 40's. Bonds' only has a very few seasons left in him - with or without steroids. If he wants to hold the homerun record, he will need to play as much as possible during the time he has left.

[Azred]

Professional athletes who engage in steroid use cheat not only themselves but the fans, as well. Whatever happened to enjoying the game and doing your best without artificial help? [img]graemlins/1ponder.gif[/img]

Were I to be the baseball commissioner, I would test every athlete for steroid use and give anyone who tests positive one chance to straighten up. If they test positive a second time, then that person would be immediately and permanently banned from playing professional baseball and any records they hold would be rescinded.

[VulcanRider]

Originally posted by Azred: Professional athletes who engage in steroid use cheat not only themselves but the fans, as well. Whatever happened to enjoying the game and doing your best without artificial help? [img]graemlins/1ponder.gif[/img]

Team$ that win put more fan$ in the $eat$. Or wa$ that a rhetorical que$tion?

Were I to be the baseball commissioner, I would test every athlete for steroid use and give anyone who tests positive one chance to straighten up. If they test positive a second time, then that person would be immediately and permanently banned from playing professional baseball and any records they hold would be rescinded.

You & me both...

[krunchyfrogg]

There's a ton of speculation that he's been asked to retire by the commish, Bud Selig. This consiracy theory goes something like this:

Bonds retires, never breaks the HR record, and the media leaves him alone.

I'm not sure I buy that, but I wouldn't be completely shocked.

[johnny]

So he isn't coming to the Yankees then ?

[wellard]

I wish he were already banned forever, starting yesterday. His records ripped up and for him to become the joke punch line of every comedian in town. The USA has a very sad record of not being tough enough on sporting cheats. So much so that to compare them (USA sports) to East Germany would not be a long draw of the bow.

[John D Harris]

They ought to let them take what they want, "Hale" if they want to have the problems that come later in life from the use of steroids so be it. JUST don't cut them any slack and say "OH sorry you have these problems, let us give you this help." Instead say "well you have to pay the fiddler if you want to dance, you are all grow up and if you made choices that are stupid so be it. Live with it like an adult and stop crying like a child.
There has been no for the love of the game in professional sports in 30+ years, when you got millionairs(SP?) going out on strike and whinning about crap, they lost the love of the game long ago. DO NOT get me wrong if I could find somebody to pay me Millions for what I do I'd take it in a heart beat, so I don't fault them for being paid lots of money, "HALE" that is way people go to work, so they can make money. The fans are as much to blame as anybody else they want a winner, they don't care why,how or what as long as their team wins.
I quit watching MLB after the 1987 strike and will not watch it again unitl after the mid point of the 2012 season, I figure in 25 years the cry babies that were there in 87 will be gone. I can't even tell you who won the World Series. I may watch the NLB agian for years or for 1 game depending on if the players start whinning again. The pukes are sports stars they put their pants on the same way as everybody else 1 leg at a time.

[Marathon]

One interesting note about Bonds and his injuries - steroids aren't merely taken to gain muscle mass, but they help you recover much more quickly. In a 162 game season that is a big deal. He has to stop taking them before the season, now he's riddled by injuries...

It's a shame, because he was a first ballot hall of famer without all the home runs. Guarenteed. When you never hit more than 40 in a season, then start hitting 70+ in your late thirties, how could he think that wouldn't be suspicious?

[Keal]

Originally posted by VulcanRider: quote: Originally posted by Azred: Professional athletes who engage in steroid use cheat not only themselves but the fans, as well. Whatever happened to enjoying the game and doing your best without artificial help? [img]graemlins/1ponder.gif[/img]

Team$ that win put more fan$ in the $eat$. Or wa$ that a rhetorical que$tion?

Were I to be the baseball commissioner, I would test every athlete for steroid use and give anyone who tests positive one chance to straighten up. If they test positive a second time, then that person would be immediately and permanently banned from playing professional baseball and any records they hold would be rescinded.

You & me both... [/QUOTE]One thing though is that you can't always tell for sure if the tests are 100% right. You'd have to keep a reall close eye on him to know for sure if he was on steroids.

Posted by John D. Harris: Something about the strike, and letting them do what they want.

I agree. The big bux are what you play for but that's being greedy- wanting more than a couple millions of dollars. Hocky's strike I find reasonable though.

Thanx for answering my question guys!(I'm a yankees fan anyways!Go A-rod!} [img]smile.gif[/img]
Major PS: Johnny you'd better watch baseball if you like the sport. If you don't want to here about the steroid crap, one word:MUTE. Enjoy the game for the spirit of it, who cares what they do. They have the skills to play. You might not be here in 2012(but then again in Heaven there is no cheating. But if you go to Hell... well youre screwed.)