2008 Woodie Awards
Why I know Bonds didn't do it
Vince Ochoa
Issue date: 3/21/06 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
Last week Sports Illustrated excerpted passages from the book Game of Shadows by Mark Fainaru-Wada and Lance Williams, supposedly demonstrating substantial proof about Barry Bonds use of steroids. The authors of this book make skepticism into facts. The problems are the facts; they change, but my opinions never do.
In Bonds' first 13 seasons in the majors he averaged 32 homers and 34 stolen bases. He averaged 94 RBI, 104 walks, and .289 batting percentage. He won Gold Gloves and three MVPs. This man has no faults!
Okay, maybe his lack of integrity, character and sportsmanship can be his faults. But who cares? Big deal!
Between 1999 and 2005, Bonds hit 292 home runs and no one knows how many those, if any, were byproducts of steroids. Bonds may have used a bat made from a tree struck by lightning and that's what made him hit those home runs. There are endless possibilities regarding why Bonds hit 292 home runs in six years. Accusing him of using steroids is misleading; it's like accusing O.J of committing murder. If the glove doesn't fit, you must acquit; if the needle doesn't apply, you must comply.
What I don't understand is how people think steroids are the only thing used by athletes as performance enhancers. Mark McGwire had poor eye vision and he began to use contact lenses when he hit 70 home runs in one season. It wasn't the alleged use of anaerobic steroids that made him hit 70 homers, it was the contact lenses, and I don't see the MLB outlawing the use of contacts!
Ball players need good hand-eye coordination and you don't get that from steroids. You develop that talent or you cheat and use contact lenses. Bonds acquired his hand-eye coordination and other skills through long hard hours of grueling training.
Bonds received special training and began to bulk up when he received help from his friend Greg Anderson. With Anderson's help, Bonds was able to gain 15 pounds of muscle mass in 100 days. What an amazing trainer he truly is. He should expand his business to kids in high school who want to be in better shape and develop the same work ethic as Bonds.
Bonds didn't use steroids, and if you have a problem, take it to the big guy up stairs.
In Bonds' first 13 seasons in the majors he averaged 32 homers and 34 stolen bases. He averaged 94 RBI, 104 walks, and .289 batting percentage. He won Gold Gloves and three MVPs. This man has no faults!
Okay, maybe his lack of integrity, character and sportsmanship can be his faults. But who cares? Big deal!
Between 1999 and 2005, Bonds hit 292 home runs and no one knows how many those, if any, were byproducts of steroids. Bonds may have used a bat made from a tree struck by lightning and that's what made him hit those home runs. There are endless possibilities regarding why Bonds hit 292 home runs in six years. Accusing him of using steroids is misleading; it's like accusing O.J of committing murder. If the glove doesn't fit, you must acquit; if the needle doesn't apply, you must comply.
What I don't understand is how people think steroids are the only thing used by athletes as performance enhancers. Mark McGwire had poor eye vision and he began to use contact lenses when he hit 70 home runs in one season. It wasn't the alleged use of anaerobic steroids that made him hit 70 homers, it was the contact lenses, and I don't see the MLB outlawing the use of contacts!
Ball players need good hand-eye coordination and you don't get that from steroids. You develop that talent or you cheat and use contact lenses. Bonds acquired his hand-eye coordination and other skills through long hard hours of grueling training.
Bonds received special training and began to bulk up when he received help from his friend Greg Anderson. With Anderson's help, Bonds was able to gain 15 pounds of muscle mass in 100 days. What an amazing trainer he truly is. He should expand his business to kids in high school who want to be in better shape and develop the same work ethic as Bonds.
Bonds didn't use steroids, and if you have a problem, take it to the big guy up stairs.