FanNation - The Republic of Sport

Was it really a shocker this morning when Barry Bonds was indicted on charges by a Grand Jury stating he lied about using steriods?  I mean come on.  Everyone new Bonds was doped up.  The question is why is he being banned from MLB?  Let's all catch our breaths and take a quick minute to think about this.  Yes, he took steriods, yes he owns the all-time home run record, yes it is a disgrace to the game.  But what about all the executives who knew all along that not only Bonds but an estimated 35% of all Major League Players were using performance enhancing drugs.  Is it fair to crucify one man for the sins of the entire league?  Take a look back for a moment and remember when the steriods issue was first brought up.  Remember Bud Selig saying that MLB would handle the issue.  Yet for some reason they never had rules in place banning the drugs.  It took Congress stepping in and going after these players for the good of the game.  "The good of the game" in the executives eyes was the Almighty Dollar that was being generated by all the Home Runs at a time when baseball ratings were at an all time low.  So they turned their heads.  Then all of the sudden these players are committing unthinkable sins against the game. 

Don't think for a moment that I am defending Barry Bonds.  I think his actions are shameful and he deserves to be remembered as a cheater.  I also think that his talent level should keep him in the Hall of Fame.  I wonder out of the 10's of thousands of baseball players that played from the late 80's until today, how many were using these drugs.  How many pitchers did Bonds face that were using performance enhancing drugs?  How many others that were doped up had 762 Home Runs?  I believe steriods and baseball go way back.  Remember Jimmie Fox.  The description that best fit him was "Jimmie Fox even has muscles in his hair"

Unfortunately, we as fans, have to except the fact that steriods were ok in the eyes of those who made the rules in the game of MLB.  Its a shame, but to ban one player for the sins of the fathers is a shame in itself.  Baseball created this problem.  Not Barry Bonds.  Bud Selig should be removed from his nice little office for letting these players cheat the greats of the game.

Someone like Roger Goodell should be installed as Commissioner of Baseball.  To restore sanity and trust in the game.  This game has had problems with its stars for years.  Even Babe Ruth was a drunk.

So what to do with Barry Bonds?  He is retired now (he has no other option), put him in the Hall, mention that he cheated.  Change the leadership of MLB and try and restore trust in the fan.  Somehow take this mess and make it into a positive.

Give us back "America's Game"