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New book details Barry Bonds' long steroid use
Reuters ^ | Adam Tanner

Posted on 03/07/2006 4:13:52 PM PST by indcons

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - A new book about Barry Bonds says he used steroids for at least five seasons, casting new doubts about the baseball superstar's exploits as he seeks to pass Babe Ruth for second place on the all-time home run list.

The book "Game of Shadows", an excerpt of which was on the "Sports Illustrated" Web site on Tuesday, said the San Francisco Giants outfielder took steroids via injections, pills, creams and liquid starting in 1998. His most productive seasons followed while he was in his mid-to-late 30s, most notably in 2001 when he hit a single-season record 73 home runs.

"If it really is true, I'm sorry to hear it because it does cast a shadow," Babe Ruth's last surviving daughter, Julia Ruth Stevens, 88, told Reuters.

"I don't know if daddy were here what he would say," she continued. "He was always on the side of ballplayers."

Asked if it might be appropriate for Bonds to retire before passing her father in the home run record books, she said: "I certainly would not have any objections to that."

(Excerpt) Read more at today.reuters.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: barrybonds; baseball; bonds; bookreview; gameofshadows; steroids
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To: cincinnati65
No one has presented a single piece of evidence other than "He looks big, and plays ball too good for a forty-year old."

You obviously haven't read the SI article or some of the documentation that accompanies it. There's a list of people as long as my arm that talked about how they either sold steroids to Bonds or personally witnessed his steroid use.

81 posted on 03/08/2006 6:29:34 AM PST by Publius Valerius
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To: cincinnati65

Nice post, but you didn't answer my question. If those charges against him are FALSE, why is he NOT suing for LIBEL OR SLANDER?


82 posted on 03/08/2006 6:30:29 AM PST by stockstrader
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To: stockstrader

Probably because he couldn't win. If you're a public figure, it's pretty much impossible to win a defamation suit, whether or not the information is false--so I don't think that's necessarily convincing evidence that he's juicing.

What IS convincing evidence, in my mind, are the statements by just about everyone that knew Bonds personally that said he was using steroids.


83 posted on 03/08/2006 6:36:31 AM PST by Publius Valerius
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To: cincinnati65
Another important point about Bonds testimony to the BALCO federal grand jury on December 4, 2003: Bonds was granted IMMUNITY from prosecution in order to aid the Feds in gathering evidence against BALCO. So the federal prosecutors have plenty of dirt on Bonds, but decided to go after the distributors of the controlled substance instead of the users. And it's a simple act -- if Bonds hadn't sold out his distributors, he'd be facing a stretch of jail time.
84 posted on 03/08/2006 6:38:47 AM PST by steelyourfaith
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To: indcons
His record already has at least a couple of asterisks, and therefore meaningless

"Bonds: xxx**"

85 posted on 03/08/2006 6:43:27 AM PST by ElPatriota (Let's not forget that we are still friends despite our differences!)
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To: Publius Valerius
True, that his silence is not proof that he used steroids. So, according to you, public figures JUST LET defamation go because it is not easy to win? They will not respond if their name is dragged through the mud? They won't respond legally if their legacy is attacked? They won't respond to 'character assassination'? They won't attempt to clear their name against false charges that partially destroy their lifes accomplishments?

If they charges against them are false, I hardly think they would just 'look the other way'. In fact, with his financial ability to fight slander or libel, I would think he would JUMP at the chance to prove that the allegations are totally bogus. With his financial security already established, I would think that his reputation is much more important to him than money.

86 posted on 03/08/2006 6:45:56 AM PST by stockstrader
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To: stockstrader
No kidding. Ruth is and will always be the greatest baseball player of all time.

Unless Bonds can manage to throw a no-hitter.

87 posted on 03/08/2006 6:48:06 AM PST by AmishDude
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To: Ghengis

Barry is no Jr. Barry's dad's name is Bobby.


88 posted on 03/08/2006 6:50:07 AM PST by AmishDude
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To: stockstrader

Perhaps, and I think you raise a good point. But it's worth noting that newspapers (or magazines) almost--not totally, but almost--have full legal immunity for whatever they write--and that could be driving Bonds's choice not to sue.


89 posted on 03/08/2006 6:50:11 AM PST by Publius Valerius
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To: cincinnati65

There's no "leap of faith" involved. The book is very well documented.


90 posted on 03/08/2006 6:55:00 AM PST by Petronski (I love Cyborg!)
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To: cincinnati65
Bonds has never admitted to steroid use.

Has he denied it?

91 posted on 03/08/2006 6:56:17 AM PST by Petronski (I love Cyborg!)
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To: AmishDude

I don't know. While it's fun to talk about who is the greatest of all time, it's really hard to compare players from different eras--much more difficult than, say, basketball--not because just the way the game is played has changed, but because there have been MAJOR rule changes that have practically rendered it a different sport.

Assuming we call from, say, 1920 on the "modern" era of baseball, it becomes a little easier, but certainly there are changes that make even comparisons from 1920 on very difficult. Moreover, how do you determine what makes one player better than the other when they do different things? Or how much weight do you give to fielding? Certainly Rose was one of the best hitters ever, but he also played nearly every position on the field--how much weight is that given? Tough to say. But fun to talk about.


92 posted on 03/08/2006 6:57:47 AM PST by Publius Valerius
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To: cincinnati65

You need to check out his HRs per At-Bat. Damning statistic.

Everyone began walking Bonds.

Face it, Bonds juiced. McGuire admitted using andro, which was legal. If Big Mac is found to have used illegal substances, his records should be removed, too.


93 posted on 03/08/2006 6:59:35 AM PST by Bryan24 (When in doubt, move to the right....)
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To: Publius Valerius
What IS convincing evidence, in my mind, are the statements by just about everyone that knew Bonds personally that said he was using steroids.

LIES!!! ALL LIES!!!

They're jealous. Yeah, that's it, jealous. Or maybe it's because he's black. No wait, I've got it, the press is out to get him because he wouldn't kiss their butts....

The saddest part is the simple fact that he was a great ballplayer and it just wasn't enough. He threw his credibility and career away by cheating when he didn't need to.

Now only the sycophants remain in his corner (and that's pretty sad too).

94 posted on 03/08/2006 6:59:43 AM PST by wireman
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To: KurtZ
The man's head grew two full sizes during one season. Which exercise makes your head grow?

Algebra?

95 posted on 03/08/2006 6:59:52 AM PST by MediaMole
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To: softwarecreator

I count four Ass-terisks. Reggie Jackson is the last great home run hitter. Amazing.


96 posted on 03/08/2006 7:00:42 AM PST by Kokojmudd (Outsource US Senate to Dubai! Put Walmart in charge of all Federal agencies!)
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To: cincinnati65
The only real case anyone has presented is that "he's big, and he doesn't play like a forty year old."

That's just not true.

The real evidence is in the book, and in the court files at the federal courthouse in San Francisco.

97 posted on 03/08/2006 7:00:55 AM PST by Petronski (I love Cyborg!)
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To: indcons
I thought it was the special bats he used.
98 posted on 03/08/2006 7:01:10 AM PST by Big Horn (The senate is loaded with scum-baggers)
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To: cincinnati65
There is no hard evidence that Barry Bonds knowingly used performance enhancing drugs including steroids to increase his performance. It's all conjecture.


99 posted on 03/08/2006 7:01:45 AM PST by Petronski (I love Cyborg!)
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To: indcons

And This Just In, Breaking News: It's Wednesday.


100 posted on 03/08/2006 7:01:59 AM PST by Tanniker Smith (I didn't know she was a liberal when I married her.)
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