Dear Barry Bonds,

I've got two word for you: get out. Congratulations, you're the new T.O., the new bad boy, the new guy everyone loves to discuss but everyone hates to hear about. Cale discussed Bonds' waffling as to whether or not this is his last season, but I just can't see him sticking around for 2007; although, I believe he secretly enjoys the media frenzy and playing public enemy #1 (otherwise the only thing preventing his retirement is the homerun record).
Anyways, the hot topic is the new steroid accusations that went public. Whether we like it or not, he's all over ESPN again and everyone seems to be weighing in on the issue--why should I be any different? I used to not care, but the more I think about it the more serious the issue becomes, especially as he prepares to pass The Babe on the all-time HR list. I haven't read the book, but I've heard a lot about it and it supposedly has very credible sources. It's just too bad the two accusers are journalists because it feuls Bonds' argument that the media is out to get him. However, in all the public statements from both Bonds and his agent, they never once claim that the information is untrue. Instead, he keeps blaming journalists and pointing fingers at Mark McGwire and refusing to even read the book that calls him a liar and fraud. Personally, I don't think focusing on McGwire is such a good idea considering everyone assumes his guilt after the hearing in which he refused to deny the aligations and didn't want to "talk about the past." You'd think Barry might realize that taking his own vow of silence would incriminate him just as much as it did Mac. I don't think playing the "he got away with it so why can't I" card will get him anywhere. Besides, I don't think Mac really "got away" with anything--his HR record ended up being broken (by Bonds) and he decided to retire before he was forced out via steroid accusations and league punishments. Bonds is different because he persists to stay in the spotlight and keep playing while chasing Ruth and Aaron. (I will point out I'm not defending McGwire, despite I was a big fan of his, but rather saying two wrongs don't make it right.) According to reports, numerous players have used illegal drugs and some have even failed the new league policies, but noone can argue they compare to the magnitude of Bonds. They are all just as wrong to use the stuff, but can you imagine if the all-time homerun leader in the history of baseball was using steroids to get there? What a huge black eye on the entire game.
Michael Smith on Around The Horn said there is nothing we can do, that we can't go back and review/alter past statistics and banning Bonds to prevent him from breaking records is too extreme. (Although the current issue is whether or not Bonds lied about receiving illegal enhancers "unknowingly," and we all know what happened to the last guy that broke league policy and lied about it. If they can ban Pete Rose for life, why not Bonds?) Jose Conseco went on TV and claimed everyone is targeting Bonds (instead of McGwire, I guess) because he's black. This idiot thinks we should welcome the Steroid Era. I disagree with every one of these fools. I think the league really is trying to implement and enforce effective policies and we should give it a little time to see the outcome. Perhaps we are even passing out of this crazy "era" and returning to baseball in a more pure form. If you get tired of ESPN Sportcenter constantly debating this nonsense, then flip the dial to ESPN2 to the WBC and view what baseball was meant to be.