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Wednesday, 02 August 2006 03:21 |
EDITOR??S NOTE: This column was written before trainer Greg Anderson was released and asked to testify.
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| | Erik Rhyne |
BOONE ?? In case you have not watched the news, Barry Bonds is back in baseball??s spotlight.
No, he did not surpass Hank Aaron in career home runs. No, he did not step forward and speak truthfully about his alleged use of steroids. Instead, the focus was on his possible indictment by a grand jury.
Will the Bonds act ever end?
I mean,
come on! I am tired of the situation wherein whenever baseball is
mentioned, Bonds will be talked about. Most of the time, it involves
him and steroids. For me, it is beating a dead horse.
However, rather than going on and on about Bonds and steroids, I am going to discuss the most recent events.
First there is Greg Anderson, Bonds?? ex-trainer who was sent to jail because he refused to testify in front of a grand jury.
If I had the opportunity, the following is what I would say the ex-trainer:
?®Mr. Anderson, if you have nothing to hide, please open up and talk to
investigators so that a step forward will be achieved on Bonds and
steroids. Only you, as well as Bonds, Victor Conte and a handful of
other people, know if and what Bonds took to beef up.
?®Instead, Mr. Anderson, you refuse to talk and, as a result, go to jail. It is obvious you have something to hide.?∆
The grand jury had to adjourn so Anderson would be released. When
Bonds?? lawyer told him that Anderson would be freed, the slugger
reportedly said he was happy his buddy was out.
I saw where Bonds was asked what he thought about the whole situation ?? and said he just was concerned with his friend.
However, I do not think Anderson will be released and, if he is, it could only be for a few days.
As soon a new grand jury steps in, officials intend to ask him to
testify. Of course, Anderson will keep his mouth shut and then it??s
back to prison for you, man.
Enough about Anderson, though. Instead, let??s talk about Mr. Bonds.
This grand jury has been spending time trying to find a way to indict
Bonds. It looks like he will be indicted ?? eventually ?? on tax evasion
and perjury.
I believe the perjury is from when he ordered to testify on Balco. The
tax evasion was reported to be on merchandise he sold, but never
claimed.
Reportedly, Bonds?? lawyers were preparing everything for when he would
be indicted. I mean it seemed so close. It looked like you would hear
it sooner or later that Bonds was arrested and charged.
It even came so close that ESPN reported that Major League Baseball
Commissioner Bud Selig was considering suspending Bonds if he was
charged.
It is getting kind of ridiculous. Investigators have tried repeatedly
to find something on Bonds, but the effort always seems to fail.
It is like someone saying he will do something for you, but everytime you come back to check, he comes up with a new excuse.
However, do not misconstrue the aforementioned assertions to think that
I am saying I support Bonds at all. In fact, I do not believe he is
good for baseball.
Ultimately, if Bonds does break the career home run record, what will that do to baseball?
The most treasured record in baseball ?? held by a cheater?
In my mind, I??m starting to compare Bonds to another great, Pete Rose.
Did your jaw drop? Maybe it actually made you consider it.
No doubt I need to hasten to explain what makes me think this way. Both
Rose and Bonds were/are big-name players during their respective eras.
Both made the All-Star game multiple times.
While Rose clinched the record for the most career hits with 4,256,
Bonds could set a new home run record ?? if he surpasses Hank Aaron??s
mark of 755.
To me, it always seemed that baseball??s top brass was out to get Rose,
as people now seem to have their sights set on ?®getting?∆ Bonds.
Rose was charged ?? and pled guilty ?? to tax evasion for not paying
income he made from autographs. Bonds is charged with doing the same
thing.
Both should be members of the Baseball Hall of Fame ?? based off their hitting, of course, and not their morality.
The only thing missing to truly compare Bonds and Rose is that Bonds is not banned from baseball.
While I am not saying Bonds will be thrown out of baseball, there is no
denying there are eery similarities between Rose and Bonds.
It could be said that baseball needs Bonds ?? and Bonds needs baseball.
However, baseball needs Bonds just to help keep the sport in the minds of everyone ?? nothing else.
Bonds needs baseball for more than that. If Bonds is left without
baseball, he may as well just fade away. And it is highly likely that
that would be the best for the both of Bonds and baseball.
Until then, why can??t baseball and everyone else just stop talking about Bonds?
?ÿ
Erik Rhyne, who writes a weekly column for the Daily Planet, is the
sports editor of The Appalachian, the twice-weekly student newspaper at
Appalachian State University.
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