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Post by dyf7 on Mar 7, 2006 15:00:37 GMT -5
Updated: March 7, 2006, 2:36 PM ET Report: Bonds began using steroids, vast array of other drugs, in 1998 Associated Press Major League Baseball News Wire
NEW YORK -- Barry Bonds used a vast array of performance-enhancing drugs, including steroids and human growth hormone, for at least five seasons beginning in 1998, according to a book written by two San Francisco Chronicle reporters.
An excerpt of "Game of Shadows," which provides details of the San Francisco slugger's extensive doping program, appears in the March 13 issue of Sports Illustrated.
Bonds, who testified before a San Francisco federal grand jury looking into steroid use by top athletes, repeatedly has denied using performance-enhancing drugs. Phone messages left by The Associated Press seeking comment from his attorney and publicist were not immediately returned Tuesday.
Authors Mark Fainaru-Wada and Lance Williams, who led the newspaper's coverage of the BALCO scandal, recount in remarkable detail the specifics of Bonds' drug regimen, which they write started in 1998 with injections of Winstrol, a powerful steroid also linked to Rafael Palmeiro.
According to the book, Bonds was using two designer steroids, known as the cream and the clear, plus insulin, human growth hormone and other performance enhancers by 2001, when he hit 73 home runs to break Mark McGwire's single-season record.
The seven-time NL MVP enters this season with 708 homers, seven shy of passing Babe Ruth and 48 from breaking Hank Aaron's career mark.
"Game of Shadows" is scheduled to be published on March 27 by Gotham Books.
The reporters, who based the book on a two-year investigation, included an extensive summary on their sources, including court documents, affidavits filed by BALCO investigators, documents written by federal agents, grand jury testimony, audio recordings and interviews with more than 200 people.
This story is from ESPN.com's automated news wire.
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Post by DavidL on Mar 7, 2006 15:02:45 GMT -5
Seems to me that if this is well enough documented, his records go bye-bye.
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Post by goodad on Mar 7, 2006 15:18:02 GMT -5
This is gonna be huge.
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Post by dyf7 on Mar 7, 2006 16:15:42 GMT -5
Another article..... Updated: March 7, 2006, 3:43 PM ET Book details Bonds' steroid regimen ESPN.com news services Barry Bonds used a vast array of performance-enhancing drugs, including steroids and human growth hormone, for at least five seasons beginning in 1998, according to a book written by two San Francisco Chronicle reporters. Beginning in 1998 with injections in his buttocks of Winstrol, the same steroid used in the 1988 Olympics by Ben Johnson and last year by Rafael Palmeiro, Bonds' massive doping regimen grew more sophisticated as the years went on, according to "Game of Shadows," a book to be released later this month written by reporters Mark Fainaru-Wada and Lance Williams. Fainaru-Wada and Williams write that "more than a dozen people either had been told directly that he was using banned drugs, had seen him using the drugs with their own eyes, or had been provided with information that made the conclusion he was doping inescapable," according to a book excerpt in this week's Sports Illustrated. The book, written in narrative style, is said to be based on more than a thousand pages of documents and interviews with more than 200 people. Bonds, who testified before a San Francisco federal grand jury looking into steroid use by top athletes, repeatedly has denied using performance-enhancing drugs. Phone messages left by The Associated Press seeking comment from his attorney and publicist were not immediately returned Tuesday. Bonds said Tuesday at Giants camp in Arizona that he was not aware of the book. When asked if he would read it, he said, "I won't even look at it. There's no reason to." Among the items detailed in the excerpt: • Bonds was motivated to take performance-enhancing drugs by the Mark McGwire-Sammy Sosa chase of the single-season home run record in 1998 and he had never taken any before 1998. • Through research, Bonds developed a deep knowledge of performance enhancers. He even talked, through third parties, to medical authorities who advised him not to use steroids. • He began with Winstrol after the 1998 season. He also worked out extensively, sometimes spending 12 hours a day at the gym where he met the Weight Guru, who turned out to be Greg Anderson. • He also took Deca-Durabolin. By 2001, the authors allege, he was using two designer steroids referred to as the Cream and the Clear, as well as insulin, human growth hormone, testosterone decanoate (a fast-acting steroid known as Mexican beans) and trenbolone, a steroid created to improve the muscle quality of cattle. That's the same year Bonds broke Mark McGwire's single-season home-run record (70) by belting 73. • He got the substances from Anderson, his personal trainer who became a San Francisco Giants employee. Anderson got them from BALCO labs, headed by Victor Conte. Anderson's employment by the Giants irked the team's training staff, according to the excerpt. The Giants also did a background check, discovering that "World Gym was known as a place to score steroids and that Anderson himself was rumored to be a dealer. But the club decided it didn't want to alienate Bonds on this issue, either. The trainers stayed." • Despite seeing a big change in Bonds' physical appearance, Giants officials did not challenge their star for fear of upsetting him. "The Giants, from owner Peter Magowan to manager Dusty Baker, had no interest in learning whether Bonds was using steroids, either," the excerpt contends. "Although it was illegal to use the drugs without a prescription, baseball had never banned steroids. Besides, by pursuing the issue, the Giants ran the risk of poisoning their relationship with their touchy superstar -- or, worse, of precipitating a drug scandal the year before the opening of their new ballpark, where Bonds was supposed to be the main gate attraction." • Anderson kept meticulous records on Bonds' program, many of them on a computer. At times, Bonds gulped as many as 20 pills at a time. He also learned to inject himself. • Bonds had a relationship with Kimberly Bell, a woman he met in the Candlestick Park parking lot in 1994 while he was married. Bonds even put a downpayment on a house for Bell in Arizona from monies he made from card-show appearances (and didn't report as income). She claims he later threatened to kill her. • According to the excerpt, Anderson told an acquaintance who was wearing a wire in 2003 that: "The whole thing is, everything I've been doing, it's all undetectable. The stuff I have, we created it. You can't buy it anywhere else; you can't get it anywhere else. You can take [it] the day of , pee, and it comes up clear.
"See, like Marion Jones and them -- it's the same stuff they went to the Olympics with and they test them every f------ week. So that's why I know it works, so that's why I know we're not in trouble. So that's cool."
• Bonds had immunity in grand jury testimony from everything but perjury. He claimed in testimony that he didn't know what Anderson was giving him. "At the end of [the] 2002, 2003 season, when I was going through my dad died of cancer.... I was fatigued, just needed recovery you know, and this guy says, 'Try this cream, try this cream,'" he said. "And Greg came to the ballpark and said, you know, 'This will help you recover.' And he rubbed some cream on my arm ... gave me some flaxseed oil, man. It's like, 'Whatever, dude.' "
Later, Bonds said: "You know me, I'm 39 years old. I'm dealing with pain. All I want is the pain relief, you know? ... I never asked Greg," according to the excerpt. "When he said it was flaxseed oil, I just said, 'Whatever.' It was in the ballpark ... in front of everybody. I mean, all the reporters, my teammates. I mean, they all saw it. I didn't hide it ... . You know, trainers come up to me and say, 'Hey, Barry, try this.' "
The book is scheduled to be published on March 21.
Information from The Associated Press is included in this report
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Post by johnnyyankee on Mar 8, 2006 8:04:42 GMT -5
In a Steroid Age it's not difficult to understand how a guy who is slim can bulk-up and become an Arnold Schwarzenegger overnight. Barry Bonds can deny everything until the day he dies, and everyone knows this guy was "dirty." It will be interesting as he approaches Ruth and Aaron and also the records that he has gotten since he became "Arnold" with the Giants, to see how the Commish handles his case. Mark Mac.'s case will look small compare to this one....
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Post by Deleted on Mar 8, 2006 9:02:39 GMT -5
I think the best is yet to come. There now appears to be enough evidence, at least cirsumstantial, but at most quite damning, that Barroids lied to the Grand Jury and also avoided paying income taxes on his memorabilia revenue.
Gee, how many of us would be saddened to see him pay for these misdeeds with prison time, banishment from the game and eternal shame....
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Post by goodad on Mar 8, 2006 11:11:25 GMT -5
I cancelled all subscriptions to Sports Illustrated some years back when they came out with Allen Iverson on the cover of Sports Illustrated for Kids. But I may go out and pick up this issue.
For those of you with the time, go to the CNNSI site and click on the cover story. Figure about 20 minutes to read it all.
They've got this guy 3 ways from Sunday. It's also interesting Bonds' actual personality in dealing with friends and employees. I'd last about 3 minutes with this bird before I put a 2x4 over his head.
Last night this was national news across the board. Kurkjian said there is little doubt left that he will be able to vote for Bonds based on these new revelations. Verducci said there is no way he could justify voting Bonds into the hall now.
Check out the article. The chronological detail, and the hard eveidence to back it up is quite impressive.
And the motivation that led Bonds to begin using these "things" after the '98 season is also telling of this once great player, and the depths to which he has allowed himself to fall.
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Post by Yankin'It in Beantown on Mar 8, 2006 12:02:02 GMT -5
Jealously will always make a mouse out of man if you allow yourself to succumb. We now know Bonds motivation for taking all those roids...Big Mac and Sammy Sosa.
What was Big Mac's ultimate motivation?
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Post by DavidL on Mar 8, 2006 12:55:57 GMT -5
And Sosa's?
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Post by johnnyyankee on Mar 8, 2006 13:17:37 GMT -5
It's incredible that the player that is considered by many the greatest baseball player of all time, Barry Bonds, although not by me, is and has been, a cheat. Big Mac, Palmeiro, and Sosa now have company, although many people have always suspected them, especially Bonds, of using Steroids. Barry Bonds, with all his fake records, will find it tough to be elected to the Hall, as will the other three Musketeers. Bonds will eventually become the greatest Steroided player of all time. To include him with the likes of Ruth, Joe D., Ted Williams, Mickey, Willie, Clemente and all the rest, is sacrilageous. They should make a different Hall for these dudes and also include the other type of cheaters, like Pete Rose. They all belong in the Hall of Cheats!
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Post by johnnyyankee on Mar 9, 2006 9:33:54 GMT -5
Bonds will eventually enter the HOF one day, but I dare bet that he won't make it on the first try. He will get some votes from writers who feel that he would have had the numbers anyway to go in, but there will be enough of them to hold their "Ayes" until another time. If Barry goes in, then Big Mac, Sosa, Palmeiro should also go in. I wouldn't vote for any of them, if I could vote!
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Post by dyf7 on Mar 9, 2006 18:15:55 GMT -5
Updated: March 9, 2006, 5:06 PM ET Vincent calls for Selig to hire investigator Associated Press Major League Baseball News Wire
NEW YORK -- Former commissioner Fay Vincent and the lawyer who investigated Pete Rose for him called on commissioner Bud Selig to hire an outside investigator to research allegations of steroid use by Barry Bonds.
"I think he should hire somebody like John Dowd or set up a committee," Vincent said Thursday in a telephone interview. "He needs to do that, maybe headed by Mario Cuomo or George Mitchell, somebody of that ilk."
Vincent hired Dowd in 1989 to investigate Pete Rose, who agreed to a lifetime ban from baseball after it was found that he bet on the Cincinnati Reds. Rose publicly admitted in 2004 that he did bet on the Reds while he was the manager.
Bonds is accused in an upcoming book of using steroids, human growth hormone and insulin for at least five seasons beginning in 1998, according to Sports Illustrated, which published excerpts this week. Baseball did not ban performance-enhancing substances until after the 2002 season.
"If you do nothing, you leave a cloud on the game." Dowd said. "What needs to be done is a fair, honest, thorough investigation of the facts. Then you go from there."
Bonds' agent, Jeff Borris, declined comment.
Speaking Wednesday, Selig wouldn't commit to an investigation, saying only: "I will review all the material that's relative in every way." He said baseball will await publication of the book, "Game of Shadows," which is due out March 27, then decide how to proceed.
"One of the first things to do is talk to Bonds," Vincent said. "Will he cooperate? If he doesn't, I think that leads to disaster for Bonds. The union would make a big mistake by being too defensive here. Congress could step in."
Under pressure from Congress, the union agreed to toughen drug testing rules and penalties for 2005 and again this season.
This story is from ESPN.com's automated news wire.
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Post by johnnyyankee on Mar 10, 2006 7:40:37 GMT -5
Bud Selig now says that Bonds may face suspension. I don't know if the Player's Union would side with him on this, since no investigation has been made by his office since these allegations appeared or resurfaced. This Bonds crap is really upsetting a lot of people and something should be done already to put this to rest. Maybe a committee should be formed, including the Union, the Commish's Office and a selected group of Baseball fans to address this matter and come to a decision. It already stinks!
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Post by DavidL on Mar 10, 2006 7:51:36 GMT -5
My guess is that unless MLB makes its own findings, any suspension would be grieved, and the grievance would stand a good chance of success. MLB has to determine on its own that Bonds used steroids, and did so after they were banned. The book should give them plenty of leads, however.
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