It's hard to feel sorry for guys when they could simply take a test and set the record straight.  But since they don't take these tests... because Mark McGuire refuses to 'talk about the past.,' because Sammy Sosa develops a miraculous case of sudden amnesia during the Congressional Hearings, and Rafael Palmeiro waves his finger at cameras saying, "I never used steroids.  Period!"  It's hard to cut these guys any slack.  A few bad apples spoil the bunch, and the reality of the situation in today's climate is, you are guilty until proven innocent.

If clearing your name is that important, just take the test, get it over with, and get on with hitting your home runs and collecting your multi-million dollar paychecks.

Greg Anderson will return to jail after an angry judge found him in contempt of court for refusing to testify on whether or not Barry Bonds used illegal steroids.  Some of the questions Anderson refused to answer include, "Whether Anderson knows Bonds or Gary Sheffield" and whether or not he injected Barry Bonds with steroids.  As I've said before, Anderson's refusal to answer these questions is in essence, an admission of guilt.  Let's get real.  Anderson is protecting his clients, and willing to be a jail dog for them. 

If the game being "clean" involves being 100% clean, I don't think baseball, nor any sport for that matter will ever be clean.  It may become more clean, and probably already has with the new more stringent drug policy in baseball, but with HGH not being tested for because of blood testing, guys will continue to cheat as long as they know they can cash bigger paychecks and not get caught. 

As much as I don't like steroids in baseball, the bottom line is, each team needs to go out there and play to win.  Teams that appear to have "advantages" whether it be payroll or umpires calls or whatever have you don't always win.  I may sound naive in saying this, but I still believe it is usually the best teams that win it all in the end - not the best assembledge of talent, but the best team - period. 

When I see the amazing ineptitude of prosecutors nailing obvious liars on perjury charges - guys like Rafael Pamleiro and Barry Bonds, the little conspiracy theorist in me wonders if prosecutors actually really want to bust these guys.  Do they want to get these guys , or are they just playing games to put on a good show of effort to look good?  I sometimes wonder. 

I sincerely believe when you really want something, you will find a way to go out and get it done.  These guys are wide open to get nailed, yet prosecutors look feeble and foolish at every turn.  I just can't help but wonder...

Is Sammy Sosa coming back?  He claims he will next year - for the right offer.  He got a paltry offer from the Nationals, but it wasn't enough to get him back to the bigs.  He felt the offer was not worthy of his reputation, so... he took the year off. 

I cannot help but believe Sosa may have had other motivations to take time off.  Could it not have been his desire to escape the limelight of public scrutiny after coming down with a serious case of amnesia duing the Congressional hearings?  Possibly.  Interesting how former teammates Sosa and Pamleiro just disappeared after all that.  They got the message. 

As I've said before, Greg Anderson, Barry Bonds' personal trainer, must love prison because he is likely going back after a new grand jury has assembled to demand Anderson testify.  Anderson simply will not talk about whether or not he gave Barry Bonds performance enhancing drugs, which pretty much means he did. 

Sorry.  Pleading the 5th makes you guilty in the court of public opinion.  That's why McGuire will probably not get into the Hall of Fame.  I suppose it is possible Anderson is getting a nice palm greasing by Bonds to keep quiet.  Just a hunch. 

It is fun to debate, but I guess we won't know for sure until the time comes.  McGuire has not tested positive, but had Andro at his locker and pleaded the 5th when his feet were put to the fire by Congress.  His tears were used by him to get around the hard questions, but McGuire remains in the minds of many, a fraud.  So does Sammy who doubled in size over his career, then suddenly shrank after the 2004 season with decreased power numbers. 

Raffy?  Well, he tried to throw his teammate Tejada under the bus by saying he may have tested positive for steroids through a Vitamin B12 injection he allegedly received from Tejada.  He later backtracked and claimed it was his wife who game him Vitamin B12 injections.  Whatever the story, both he and McGuire have destroyed all credibility and have likely severely damaged both their cases for Hall of Fame consideration.

Well boo-hoo.   Sammy's crying he was left off the list of the top 5 players of all time in Chicago Cubs history.  That's just too bad.  In my opinion, anybody who finishes their career with a team by ditching their teammates early on Fan Appreciation Day and lies about it should not be on the list.  Sure, he hit a bunch of meaningless home runs, gave countless heart-taps and kisses to the camera, and sprinted out to right field each day for the "Sammy Sosa Show." 

But let's face it, with his disappearing act from baseball after the 2005 season, almost as sneaky and wierd as his disappearing act from Wrigley Field that last day of the 2004 season when the Cubs once again went into the toilet, there is too much on this guy to be suspect of.  The corked bat.  His physical metamorphosis from a 160 pound 5-tool guy to a 230-pound musclebound slugger with his head appearing three times the size it was when he was a rookie.  His subsequent dramatic dropoff in his power numbers suspiciously associated with his diminished physique in 2005... the list goes on. 

Sammy never failed a drug test.  But was he ever subjected to take one?  No.  The Player's Union protects its guys, even when they are scoundrels, quitters, and cheaters.

Mark McGuire is not cooperating with former Senator George Mitchell's investigation into performance enhancing drugs in baseball.  It doesn't surprise me McGuire has refused to meet with Mitchell and his investigators.  He already pleaded the 5th before Congress.  I guess he's at least consistent.

McGuire can shed his tears all he wants for the youth and the dangers of steroids, but his tears are meaningless because he hides behind investigations.  If he had nothing to hide, he would speak.  He obviously has much to hide.  But Mark will weasel his way out once again by saying, "I'm not here to talk about the past." 

Somehow the grand jury investigating perjury and tax-evasion charges against Barry  Bonds were unable to indict the Giants' slugger, but prosecutors are going to push forward to see that he will be indicted at a later time.  Since perjury charges are very hard to prove, I'm not entirely surprised with the result, but I am wondering... if they couldn't get Bonds indicted on perjury and tax-evasion charges before, how do they plan on getting that done now?  I suppose one way or another, we will learn the answer to that question in time.

It would at least appear on the surface that Barry Bonds just might be indicted for perjury before a grand jury - and possibly very soon.  The saying, "Treat your friend as if they might one day become your enemy" is apt in this case with Barry Bonds. 

Steve Hoskins, Barry Bonds' friend since childhood, says he is prepared to testify if subpoenaed.  He apparantly has direct information about Bonds' alleged steroid use, which he claims was heavy, and that Bonds was prone to 'roid rage,' or angry outbursts which put a further strain on their friendship.  This does not surprise me when watching some Bonds press conferences in which he points fingers and attacks the reporters. 

The noose appears to be tightening on Barry, and he might not finish out the season if he is to go to jail as his trainer Greg Anderson did after being found in contempt of court July 5.  His refusal to testify and all this nonsensical activity around Bonds virtually proves Bonds is a liar and a cheater.  If others go to prison to cover his hide, maybe it wouldn't hurt him to do the same.  His ego may need to be knocked down a few pegs.  Prison seems as good a place as any to get that job done...

Either Greg Anderson likes jail, or likes it more than the consequences of telling on Barry Bonds.  I suppose once you reach icon status in any endeavor, you are immune to much of the outrageous fortune of everyday Joe's like me.  It's not fair, but then again, who said life was fair?

It was reported today that Greg Anderson, a personal trainer of Barry Bonds is refusing to testify to a federal grand jury investigating perjury charges against Bonds.  Anderson's attorney, Mark Geragos claims Anderson should not have to testify because he claims the federal government conducted an illegal wiretap revealing Anderson's recorded voice stating he gave Bonds drugs that cannot be traced or tested for.  Judge William Alsup, who will hold the hearing next week to decide if Anderson should be found in contempt of court, said the alleged wiretap was "not a wiretap, but a privately recorded conversation with a witness."

Either way it goes, the real question is, "What is Greg Anderson hiding?"  That should be obvious.  If he would rather go back to jail than testify, it is obvious he has something to hide concerning Barry Bonds.  That in itself makes Barry guilty in the court of public opinion.  If there is nothing to hide, Anderson testifies, doesn't do more jail time than he already has, Barry is okay, continues to hit more home runs and all is well, right?

This is perhaps the most damning evidence against Barry of all - the refusal of his personal trainer to testify.  What if Barry is called to testify?  If he is, he will have to do so or face contempt of court charges as well. 

As has been widely publicised, there is no testing for human growth hormone, or HGH in baseball because it requires a blood test.  It is highly unlikely the Player's Union would ever agree to such testing in a new collective bargaining agreement.  "Right to privacy" is the battle cry for those who would defend not testing blood, but is it not true that athletes by nature, by the work they do for an institution like baseball on a national and international stage have in some ways at least, given up a bit of that privacy? 

Several employers for jobs that pay a whole lot less to their workers than baseball teams do, have random drug testing as a matter of routine.   It is simply the right of employers to know whether or not its employees are under the influence at their jobs and will not disgrace the company.  Same with baseball teams, but the stakes are higher because the players are public figures that have millions of eyes glued on them.  Privacy?  Sure, but players are public figures, and baseball has a responsibility to protect the game's integrity. 

Why?  Because that's what the paying fans want.  We want to see a legitimate, competitive product on the field.  If we are told we are getting that, but learn we are not, or that the ones in charge are not doing their best to protect that legitimate competition, then we are being lied to and ripped off.  It is like false advertising.  It is not right. 

One of the sad things to learn from the whole Jason Grimsley episode was what he said about guys switching over to human growth hormone when MLB came down harder on steroids.  If that is the case, what's the difference?  How is baseball better than before?  Unless blood testing for HGH is put in place, we will never know which records are legit and which are not. 

Where do we draw the line with this stuff?  Sure, I'm not in favor of the use of anabolic steroids in baseball or any other sport.  This issue of "greenies" or amphetamines which are now banned by baseball is a bit different, at least to me.  How many people have a cup of morning coffee before their jobs?  Obviously the answer must be in the millions.  Does it give them an unfair advantage with mental alertness at their jobs over those who do not drink coffee?  This may sound like an unfair comparision, but we're essentially talking about caffeine here, a substance found in so many foods you could barely avoid it even if you wanted to - just by eating food. 

Anabolic steroids without prescription are illegal.  Caffeine is not.  I think there is a big difference between the two.  Can we be sure Lou Gehrig did not take greenies during his streak?  From what I understand, amphetamines have been in baseball for decades, and some even say there would sometimes be "candy bowls" full of them in clubhouses.  What does this alleged use of these substances do to the stats and records of players who played during that era - Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, etc?  At some point this argument becomes pointless, and is honestly debated mostly by people who have never taken greenies as a performance enhancing substance and don't know what they are talking about. 

Cal Ripken may or may not have taken "greenies" during his amazing streak of consecutive games played, passing Gehrig for the record.   Will we debunk his record because evidence comes up he drank a cup of coffee before a game, or ate a chocolate bar which contained caffeine?  When you watch this line of thinking, it becomes clear how absurd this argument becomes. 

We live in a society that loves to create heroes, and equally loves to tear them down.  That is the hypocrisy of our society.  So many writers just want something to write about, some nonsense to print.  I suppose it is a natural reaction to our ever-skeptical way of living, but it is not an excuse to tear apart the record books because of... coffee??? C'mon now!

It is a name I never though about, but one that was mentioned by my friend long before his name came out formally in the latest witch hunt of "who's on it, who's not."  Luis Gonzalez, who hit 57 homers in 2001 is under scritiny for possible steroid abuse, and soon, anybody who has a breakout season or has "off-the-chart" numbers will be suspected as well.  While we're at it, maybe we should just call this the "asterisk era" and place an asterisk beside the numbers of every ballplayer who played in the 90's and early 00s. 

It is always a red flag when a player's numbers, especially long-time veterans such as Bonds and Gonzalez have ridiculous spikes in their stats suddenly in the second half or end of their careers.  It simply defies nature.  A freak occurance or two may occur once in a blue moon, but logic dictates something other than the "same old routine" resulting in the dramatic statistical changes. Bonds averaging 35 to 40 homers per year going to the 70s is cause for pause.  Gonzo's 57 does the same.  Gonzo was not able to sustain that "new found pace" as Bonds did for a time, but you have to at least look at it and scratch your head.