There’s not much to say about Barry Bonds and the legal situation he’s wrapped up in. The former “best player in baseball” and current home run champ has been under the microscope of Congress since he claimed to never knowingly use steroids during his 22-year career.
This was back in 2003 and Bonds is finally facing four counts of perjury along with other charges some seven and half years later.
Former trainers, former mistresses and former teammates have emerged over the years as major players in the “Bonds Perjury Case.” Whether those key figures pose any threat to Bonds and his future engagements with Congress has yet to be seen.
It’s utterly sad that the career of a man who seemed to be the greatest hitter of all-time has publicly spiraled to the depths of the media. However, at this point, Bonds’ main concern is proving that what Congress is calling “the clear” and “the cream” was not knowingly consumed by the former San Francisco Giant.
The case, which will take place over the next week or so, is more or less a battle of he said, she said. Bonds has been cementing his argument that the anabolic steroids in which Congress strongly believes he voluntarily received, was nothing more than what he thought to be arthritis balm and flax seed oil.
One of the most prominent figures in the case is Bonds’ former trainer, Greg Anderson, who has strongly decided to stay silent time after time. Anderson’s role in the case, or for that matter his lack there of, has culminated into a battle of will. Having already served 14 months in prison, Anderson is prepared to keep his mouth shout and back Congress into a corner.
Anderson’s refusal to testify has more or less diminished any chance the government has in using steroid test results from the BALCO screenings a few years ago. Only Bonds’ former trainer can testify that the results were in fact from Bonds himself.
Therefore, no Anderson, no BALCO evidence. With no BALCO evidence, Congress has been forced to rely on key witnesses throughout Bonds’ career that have heard or had conversations with the former all-star about his “alleged” steroid use.
For now, it seems as if the government has its work cut out for them. They have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Bonds lied about knowingly taking steroids and that those lies impeded on their Congressional case against Major League Baseball.
As the defense is concerned, almost everybody involved in testifying against Bonds, could be viewed as “money hungry,” “publicity hunting” and “out to make a name” key witnesses. It will be extremely difficult for the prosecution to prove that Bonds lied. Without the BALCO test results and without Anderson, Congress with be forced to rely on oral accusations, which usually becomes a battle of hearsay.
Regardless of the outcome to this case, the legacy and lifetime achievements of one, Barry Bonds, will forever be tarnished. Will he find a way to be acquitted from all the charges?
Possibly, but Bonds will never be forgiven in the baseball community and in the eyes of the public. The life of Bonds has been publicized over the past 10 years, in and out of hatred, pushing the home run king to the front-line of the MLB‘s steroid scandal.
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