Perjury, Bonds, Law, and the Court of Public Opinion

UPDATE: Alex Rodriguez was found to have tested positive for anabolic steroids in 2003, when he won the AL MVP with the Rangers. A-Rod apparently was informed about the results, along with the other 103 players who tested positive that year. The 'survey tests' of 2003 carry no punishment, as they were meant to help decide whether mandatory random testing would be necessary. Obviously they are. More on A-Rod HERE.

Big news yesterday. Court documents linking bond to steroid use have been unsealed by the federal court in San Francisco that is hearing Bonds' perjury case. To get you caught up, some years ago the government went after BALCO, the notorious steroid distributor for not only baseball but other sports as well. During the grand jury testimony, notable ballplayers were called to the stand. Among them were Barry Bonds and Jason Giambi.

Giambi seems to have told the truth during the grand jury and in the course of his public statements. Who can forget his 2007 comments, "I was wrong for doing that stuff," that set off a small firestorm in New York. But then the Mitchel report was released, and new names emerged. The likes of Andy Pettite and Roger Clemens, as well as Bonds, were squarely in focus. Meanwhile, the BALCO case continued, and it seemed more and more likely that Bonds did knowingly lie in his grand jury testimony.

Yesterday, the government's case was unsealed. There is sworn statements, recorded conversations, and most damning of all, positive drug tests. This may seem like the end for Barry, but let me propose this, physical evidence is good for both sides. Remember this is a perjury case. The government most prove byond reasonable doubt that Barry Bonds knowingly and wittingly lied under oath. Physical evidence is extremely daunting to overcome when presented in the court of public opinion, but in federal court, it can be attacked. Did Barry Bonds know that he tested positive? Maybe he never got the results of the test. Were the test compromised? Were they tainted? What was the chain of custody? All of these things can come into question.

No matter the trial, guilty or innocent, one thing is clear. Bonds definitely used steroids for his most productive years, knowingly or unknowingly. Even if the evidence is thrown out in court, it doesn't make it not true in the court of public opion. The question that interests me most is how will this effect Bonds' chances at the Hall? McGwire has had trouble and has fallen off the face of the earth. Sosa is due up soon, and we can't forget about Clemens. Will any of these people now be worthy of the Hall?

The voice I am waiting on is Bud Selig's, 18 million dollar Bud. At some point he needs to speak up. We need him to say it was wrong what happened, and that he feels personally responsible. But most importantly, there is one thing that Bud can do to make things right, fix the records. Aaron is the HR king at 755 and Marris is the single season champ at 61. Toss out Sosa's 60+ HR's seasons and McGwires as well. Get rid of bonds homers. Get rid of them all. Fix this mess, and bring closure to the worst scandal (yeah i said the worst) in baseball history. Steroids have fouled the game, cast doubt over a 20 year period, and it is time to finally put it all to rest.

It doesn't matter if Bonds is guilty by law, the public has decided. The entire baseball establishment was guilty, but now is our opportunity to make things right and move the game forward into the 21st century. All eyes are not on Bonds, they are on you, Bud Selig. It is time for you to talk, and it better be sooner rather then later.