The Steroid Debacle

It gets tiring writing about steroids, because it's a no-win situation. As I have written several times, I think it's a pretty safe bet that Bonds took steroids, and among the biggest ways that seems true is he hasn't sued the writers of Ghosts In The Shadows, or anyone else who has accused him of such.

And if anyone starts to suggest he was roiding the last two years or so, after genius Bud Selig finally got around to making steroids illegal in MLB, that's one thing. But they haven't even said that.

Athletes of all types - any competitive athlete, that is - does what it takes to give himself or herself the edge. Cardinals legend Bob Gibson has said frankly that if they'd be available and not illegal in his day, there is no question he would have done it. And then there is this, from Tim Keown in espn.com:

Well, if that ain't full circle: This week's Nation magazine, in one of the many Barry vs. Babe comparisons leaking in from outside the sports world, cites a section of a book titled "The Baseball Hall of Shame's Warped Record Book" stating that Ruth once fell ill after "attempting to inject himself with extract from a sheep's testes."

There is a legitmate concern about steroids in terms of their long-term consequence to your body. But a professional athlete basically has to think that way of their entire career. Football players are cripples as adults, and none have regrets. Baseball players are less impacted, but all they focus on each and every day is winning the next game. And that's what you want from players on whatever team you root for. Love Barry, hate him, whatever - but the guy did whatever he did not JUST for personal fame, but because he's a competitive athlete. I can't quite fault him for that.