The Documentation (Bonds Steroid Scandal)

CNN/Sports Illustrated ^ | 3/8/06 | Mark Fainaru-Wada and Lance Williams

[marshmallow]

This narrative is based on more than a thousand pages of documents and interviews with more than 200 people, many of whom we spoke to repeatedly. In our reporting on the BALCO story for the San Francisco Chronicle, we obtained transcripts of the secret grand jury testimony of Barry Bonds and seven other prominent professional athletes. We also reviewed confidential memorandums detailing federal agents' interviews with other athletes and trainers who had direct knowledge of BALCO. Sealed material we reviewed also included unredacted versions of affidavits filed by the BALCO investigators; e-mail between BALCO owner Victor Conte and several athletes and coaches regarding the use and distribution of drugs; a list of evidence seized from the BALCO storage locker; and a document prepared to brief participants in the raid on BALCO.

Memos detailing the statements of Conte, BALCO vice president James Valente and Bonds's trainer, Greg Anderson, to IRS special agent Jeff Novitzky were sealed when we first reviewed them, but they have since become part of the public file in the BALCO case. The BALCO search warrant affidavits and other court records provided significant information. We also obtained a recording made without Anderson's knowledge in 2003 by a person familiar with Bonds's trainer; in it, Anderson acknowledged that Bonds was using an undetectable performance-enhancing drug to beat baseball's drug tests. Kimberly Bell, Bonds's former girlfriend, provided legal correspondence, transcripts, audiotapes of voice mail and many documents regarding her relationship with Bonds.

We conducted our interviews about BALCO from September 2003 until the autumn of '05. The names of many of our sources appear in the text or in the extensive chapter notes included in Game of Shadows. Some sources requested anonymity to avoid interfering with the federal BALCO investigation and a related grand jury probe that continued into '05.

[marshmallow]

I think it's fair to say that the authors have been rigorous in their research here. This isn't an overnight hot scoop from some guy who met some other guy at a party.

They've taken their time and methodically catalogued this deal.

[stm]

Bonds went from flat to fluffy almost overnight. I doubt he got that way without some help and I don't mean weights and diet.

[tallhappy]

Is there anyone trying to deny this story?

[marshmallow]

Bonds has repeatedly denied it.

I'm waiting for his reaction to these latest revelations.

[tallhappy]

I thought Bonds stated he wasn't even going to read or comment on it -- that he'd act as if it didn't even exist.

[marshmallow]

That may well be how he attempts to play this.

Baseball needs to make sure he does comment on it in the form an official inquiry.

[NImerc]

I think people have pretty much drawn a conclusion about Bonds . There are those who say he used and his accomplishments should be disregarded, and those who said he used but his accomplishments should stand because he has never admitted it or tested positive for banned substances. Bonds is a despicable human being. Frankly I don't care if he breaks all the records and makes it into the HoF, or if he booted from baseball and gulag-ed to a desert island. Whichever will remove him from the public eye faster and remove him as a topic of conversation is fine with me.

[Doomonyou]

Would this guy lie?

[GLDNGUN]

I thought Bonds stated he wasn't even going to read or comment on it -- that he'd act as if it didn't even exist.

Yeah, he wants it both ways. He completely denies everything in the book, but has no idea what the book actually says because he's not going to even look at it.

Bonds is the Frankenstein of baseball. MLB allowed this to happen because it ignored the obvious steroid problems. Now, an artificially pumped-up Bonds is threatening to break the most hallowed of sports record - career home runs. This is a joke. What Bonds and others have done to the integrity of the game is worse than what Pete Rose did.

[infidel29]

[tallhappy]

I think it is horrible that he's passed Willie Mays.

[airforceF4]

I'm a type 1 diabetic. Why in the world would an athlete use insulin, assuming he wasn't a diabetic???? Needing some education, please.

[Buckeye Battle Cry]

What a shame that such a dignified and uncommon man as Henry Aaron may have his extremely hard fought for record broken by such an unmitigated ass as Barry Bonds.

[AnotherUnixGeek]

I think it is horrible that he's passed Willie Mays.

I think it's horrible that Willie had to spend so much of his career in Candlestick. If Mays had played in Pac Bell Park (or whatever they're calling it now), Bonds would be have to pass Ruth and Aaron to get anywhere near Mays.

For that matter, I think it's horrible that the 49ers still have to play in Candlestick. Worst stadium in professional sports.

[Alberta's Child]

Then let Willie Mays come out and say something about his own godson Barry Bonds. If he ain't willing to do that, then I don't really have any sympathy for him.

[tallhappy]

I think also that Ruth lost a lot of home run years as a pitcher -- an amazing one at that.

[Falconspeed]

Thank you, Marshmallow, and thank you, Free Republic. I now have access to this great article.

SI demonstrates that Bonds truly is, as Jim Rome says, "Barroid." The magazine issue will be available tomorrow 3/8. The book by the two SF Chron writers will be available 3/27. And the truth will influence fans in the future.

The SI poll shows that 66% of the 95,000 polled agree that Bonds records should be deleted from the record books. For sure.