The Bobcat Nation

Bay,

I figured I'd announce my return to the Nation with a subject near & dear to both our hearts, but for different reasons...

Is it only obvious to ME that Barry Bonds decided to have his additional surgery only AFTER MLB decided to toughen up their steroid testing & punishment due to the pressure put on by Congress? Prior to the "hearings", MLB's steroid policy allowed them to anonymously fine players who tested positive this season; at that point, BB was rehabbing & getting ready for opening day. Then, because of national attention & pressure, Selig states that ALL positive tests will be punished with 10 game suspensions, which guaranteed any player caught would be known publicly. THEN BB decides to have another "surgery" and announces he will miss a significant portion of the season. Something smells funny here and it ain't my feet!

Why isn't anyone in the major sports media questioning this? It's all too clear that the most infamous cheater in the history of sports is sitting out long enough to "dry up", or get the roids out of his system before he continues his pursuit of Ruth & Aaron, if he decides that he can once his body returns to "normal". It will be very interesting to observe whether BB will undergo significant changes physically (ala Giambi & McGwire). I predict that he will actually do everything in his power to "maintain" his current build in order to continue to deny his roid habit. For me, the best possible ending to this story would be Barry realizing that he can't compete any longer without his chemical assistance and thus retires; it's already a disgrace that his name will appear ahead of Willie Mays' and all the other GREAT home run hitters, but it would be an absolute travesty if he passes Aaron and/or the Babe.

I'm curious, Bay, what has the local SF sports media been saying? There must be SOME aggressive local guys who are at least a little suspicious of the timing of Barry's latest surgery & rehab.

Oh, and it's good to be back!

Welcome back El Gato.

The thing that intrigues me the most is how can we prove that other great sports figures in history also didn't use any body-enhancing drugs? Don't quote me but I think steroids of some form have been around a long time.

Welcome back Gato. I couldn't agree more but hadn't really thought about the lack of media people talking about this. To me it seems pretty obvious. Maybe there is a nationwide gag order that we don't know about on Barry Bonds and his steroid use.

I think we already have an asterick by his name. Maybe he's going to do the same as McGuire and walk away knowing we think this. I hope so.

What would there be to talk about that hasn't already been beaten to death? My guess is that the return of Bonds will garner mucho media attention. Until then, what is there to talk about? The guy already admitted to taking steroids, albeit "unknowingly."

The real fact of the matter is that the majority of baseball fans don't give a rats a$$ about steroids, who uses them, or who has, or who may have. All numbers are up with respect to fan interest in the sport.

Like Colin Cowherd (ESPN Radio) said, if you want integrity in sports, look toward the PGA and NASCAR - don't look toward MLB.

Nuff said...sorry if I butted in.

Bleedinbluengold wrote: Like Colin Cowherd (ESPN Radio) said, if you want integrity in sports, look toward the PGA and NASCAR - don't look toward MLB.

Let's see, Kevin Harvick's crew chief admits he cheated in qualifying by using a gas tank that was near empty but positioned so it seemed full as required by rules. And then saying in essence he would do it again if he thought he could get away with it. Sounds like pretty much any other sport to me, win at all costs--even cheating, just don't get caught.

Well, it's a theory ... but a very confusing one. The guy had knee surgery, and anyone who follows baseball at all (in a sincere way) knows that you can say a lot of things about Bonds, but his desire to be on the field and win is never in question. He wouldn't be sitting out games unless he had to.

I don't actually understand your particular conspiracy theory this time -- if he was going to get a suspension, he would get it regardless whether he had surgery or not. He's on the IR right now (thus still subject to testing), and if he tested positive, it would be public information and he'd still have to serve a suspension when he came off of IR.

You don't like Bonds ... I get it. If you actually cared about steroids, you'd be giving equal rant time to other ball players and, oh my, Lance Armstrong.

As to local SF media guys ... who do you think printed all of the illegally (where's the Congressional investigation!!!!!) leaked grand jury testimony? That would be the SF Chronicle. Anything you have heard about Bonds and Balco has come from them.

BAC you're just another Bonds enabler.

Bay,

Up until the Congressional hearings, MLB's steroid policy allowed Selig to A) fine a player $10K WITHOUT making public the fact that a particular player did, in fact, test positive OR B) suspend a player for 10 games. You may as well have called option A the "Bonds Option" as it was clearly designed to protect MLB and it's "star" players from further steroid embarassment and negative publicity.

The only good thing about the JOKE in Washington DC a few weeks ago was the fact that Selig & MLB were shamed into removing the Bonds Option & actually getting tough with players who are caught using an illegal substance.

So my "conspiracy theory" goes like this: When the Bonds Option was available, Barry was going to be ready by opening day (or soon thereafter) knowing that if he did test positive, Selig would simply fine him the 10K. With that option gone, however, Bonds knew he couldn't start the season with the roids in his system, so he opts for another surgery (which may or may not have actually taken place) and now has time to get the roids out of his system & then see if he can still play.

You're right, Bay, I despise Bonds; he has made a mockery of the game and its records, all the while being one of the most arrogant pieces of crap in the history of sports. Then he has the nerve to blame his image problems on everyone but himself. And I disagree with you 100%; the only reason Barry wants on the field is for HIMSELF and his records; he doesn't give a rat's ass about his teammates or his team's success.

It's now very clear that a significant number of players are guilty of the same things that Bonds has committed, including the former media darling McGwire and you're right, any & all players who've cheated deserve the same treatment: NONE of them should be voted into the Hall of Fame, EVER.

Let me have it, Bay!

Bay,

I reread your response & I'm not sure that players on IR are subject to testing; if so, then my theory is obviously invalid. However, I'm betting if BB is selected while on IR and his system isn't rid of the roids yet, he'll simply retire.

I'm not a fan of Bonds at all and personally I do think he took steroids. I don't think there is a conspiracy because like just about everything else, there isn't much middle ground - you either like the guy and insist he is clean or don't like him and insist he is dirty. I think whatever he did with or without steroids will come out in the BALCO trial and any further congressional hearings. I do think he is using the surgery (and his son) to try and get sympathy but I doubt he would get a useless surgery to avoid anything. After all this is a guy who has been able to accomplish what he has because he takes care of his body and wouldn't risk damaging it - like taking something he doesn't know what it is? I had to take that shot.

On a side note being a Yankees fan it is great to see Tino in pinstripes again. I have never been a Giambi fan because he replaced Tino. What an ovation he got after the diving play in the opener!

kmax wrote:

Bleedinbluengold wrote: Like Colin Cowherd (ESPN Radio) said, if you want integrity in sports, look toward the PGA and NASCAR - don't look toward MLB.

Let's see, Kevin Harvick's crew chief admits he cheated in qualifying by using a gas tank that was near empty but positioned so it seemed full as required by rules. And then saying in essence he would do it again if he thought he could get away with it. Sounds like pretty much any other sport to me, win at all costs--even cheating, just don't get caught.

I think all Cowherd is saying is if you get caught in Nascar, you get a penalty that actually counts...same with golf...Personally, I couldn't care less about Nascar, the drivers, or whether anyone cheats in it, or not.

El_Gato wrote:Bay,

Up until the Congressional hearings, MLB's steroid policy allowed Selig to A) fine a player $10K WITHOUT making public the fact that a particular player did, in fact, test positive OR B) suspend a player for 10 games. You may as well have called option A the "Bonds Option" as it was clearly designed to protect MLB and it's "star" players from further steroid embarassment and negative publicity.

The only good thing about the JOKE in Washington DC a few weeks ago was the fact that Selig & MLB were shamed into removing the Bonds Option & actually getting tough with players who are caught using an illegal substance.

So my "conspiracy theory" goes like this: When the Bonds Option was available, Barry was going to be ready by opening day (or soon thereafter) knowing that if he did test positive, Selig would simply fine him the 10K. With that option gone, however, Bonds knew he couldn't start the season with the roids in his system, so he opts for another surgery (which may or may not have actually taken place) and now has time to get the roids out of his system & then see if he can still play.

You're right, Bay, I despise Bonds; he has made a mockery of the game and its records, all the while being one of the most arrogant pieces of crap in the history of sports. Then he has the nerve to blame his image problems on everyone but himself. And I disagree with you 100%; the only reason Barry wants on the field is for HIMSELF and his records; he doesn't give a rat's ass about his teammates or his team's success.

It's now very clear that a significant number of players are guilty of the same things that Bonds has committed, including the former media darling McGwire and you're right, any & all players who've cheated deserve the same treatment: NONE of them should be voted into the Hall of Fame, EVER.

Let me have it, Bay!

Dude, I'll just say what I've always said ... it's just a game that people pay some money to go watch because it makes them happy. I enjoy watching him play, and I put my money on the table to do so. If you choose not to in order to express your outrage, that's cool. Call up Jim Rome and enter the smack-off with Bonds as your subject -- that's what professional sports is all about. It's not sacred and it never has been -- it's entertainment.

But I think the media is doing plenty to cover the story. Outside of a braindead woman and the accompanying grandstanding politicians, it is the second biggest dead horse being whipped this year.