Bonds dividing a nation

Barry Bonds, a 43-year-old batter, has had some remarkable years in the Major League. Most Major League players start to vanish in their mid-thirties, but this is not the case for Bonds. Since he turned 35 he has not hit less than 45 home runs each season, including an all-time season record of impressive 73 home runs.

In comparison, he only hit over 40 home runs twice during his first 14 seasons. Adding the fact that he, at the age of 35, increased his average from one home run every 16.1 at-bat to one every 8.5, it isn’t hard to understand the growing scepticism.

According to the book “Brushbacks and Knockdowns”Bonds put on almost 40 pounds (18 kg) from age 33-37, and with only 6% body fat in 2002, that is truly incredible. In the same book, muscle-cell physiologist Dr. Joey Antonio comments on the muscle growth, “unless you're a genetic freak, it's impossible to put on more than about 5 pounds (2.25 kg) of muscle a year without using steroids. That's eating five or six high-protein, low-fat meals a day, following a very strict training program and using creatine to speed recovery. After age 30 or so, it gets even harder.” 

A new millennium, a new Barry
It all started in 2000. Barry Bonds had just gone through a season with injury to his right knee and wrist, and it seemed like he was about to end a Hall of Fame career, following the footsteps of his godfather Willie Mays. But his career was not over yet. He came back strong in 2000 and had an amazing season. He won four consecutive MVPs from 2001-2004, got two batting titles, and set five single season records.

In 2003 the fairytale story started to crack. Bonds’ personal trainer Gary Anderson had been buying performance enhancing substances from Jim Valente and Victor Conte, the owners of BALCO, a nutritional supplements concern that specialized in providing undetectable steroids to elite athletes.

Anderson admitted that he had provided several of his clients with performance enhancing drugs, but he never admitted that he helped Bonds to improve his performance. However, during a search of Andersons home, the police found a calendar referring to Bonds and allegedly saying when to take what drugs. Bonds said he never knew of any calendar or of any drugs whatsoever. 

The cream, the clear and the possible perjury
Evidence from the BALCO affair also indicated that Bonds had not been truthful when he testified to the grand jury that he did not knowingly use steroids. Among the evidence are statements of confessed steroid dealers, documentary and circumstantial evidence, and a source familiar with Bonds who has specific knowledge of his use of banned drugs.

BALCO’s James Valente stated that Bonds had received “the cream” and “the clear,” two steroid substances designed by BALCO not to be detected in tests. His partner Victor Conte, independently stated that Bonds had been using the cream and the clear on a regular basis. On two occasions Conte had also told other clients about Bonds drug use. Sprinter Tim Montgomery told the grand jury that Conte said he was giving the steroid Winstrol to Bonds.

Bonds himself told the grand jury that he thought he was using flaxseed oil and a pain relieving balm. Tim Montgomery stated that Conte used flaxseed oil containers when sending “the clear.”

Due to the evidence, a grand jury is now investigating whether or not Bonds committed perjury when stating that he did not knowingly use steroids. His trainer Gary Anderson is still in jail and refuses to testify in the perjury probe against Bonds.

In spite of the vast evidence, Bonds has never tested positive in a drug test. 

Bonds goes into history
Now, Bonds holds one of the most legendary records in American sport. “I knew I hit it,” Bonds said. “I knew I got it. I was like, phew, finally.”

Bud Selig and former record holder Hank Aaron were missing at the stadium, but they both congratulated Barry Bonds in their own way. “While the issues which have swirled around this record will continue to work themselves toward resolution, today is a day for congratulations on a truly remarkable achievement,” Selig said, while Aaron sent a taped message commenting on the event “It is a great accomplishment […] My hope today, as it was on that April evening in 1974, is that the achievement of this record will inspire others to chase their own dreams," he said.

There is no doubt that Barry Bonds will go into history. The question is whether he will be remembered as a true American baseball hero or if the false ring of doping allegations will cling to his name forever.