Barry Bonds Jumps the Shark

Sports Illustrated magazine is featuring a story about a new book exposing Barry Bonds and his doping scandal (here is a detailed article from SI.com). Many have already speculated Bonds usage of steroids and other performance enhancing drugs, but this is the first book that chronicals his extensive use with great detail. Written by two journalists for the San Francisco Chronicle, the book's sources include grand jury testamony, classified FBI memos, interviews, and other court documents (more about the book's sources).

This looks like the final nail in the coffin for Bonds. Even if Bonds decides to continue playing, his reputation is dead. Nobody is going to look at his recent accomplishments with awe, but just with digust. Henry Aaron, the current all-time home run leader, was half the size of Bonds when he finished his career. He took the title with only his natural talent. He was also the target of hate letters and death threats because he was black. Aaron never complained and never stopped. For me, Bonds' talent and attitude never measured up to Aaron's, even when Bonds hit 73 home runs in one season.

I don't know what the league is going to do. I'm pretty sure they knew about this for quite a while and didn't do anything about it. Now, the only thing the league can save is its own image. They surely can't save Bonds' image. That has been ruined forever. The league's problem now is will they continue to support somebody who injected himself with "trenbolone, a steroid created to improve the muscle quality of cattle?" What kind of message will that give to other players? "Eh, we don't care about you did in the past. As long as you bring in the crowds, you're immune to discipline."