By John W. Lillpop
Barry Bonds has experienced exhilarating highs and loathsome lows thoughout 2007. The high mark came on August 7, when Bonds smashed career homer No. 756 into the San Francisco Bay, thereby supplanting Henry Aaron as the all time leader in that most coveted record in all of professional sports.
A bitter low came on September 21, when San Francisco Giants owner Peter Magowan called Bonds into his office and advised the reigning home run champ that the Giants no longer required his services.
Bonds would not be offered a contract for 2008, notwithstanding his 762 homers, seven Most Valuable Player awards, huge contributions to the Giants over 15 years, and reputation as the most feared slugger in baseball, even at age 43.
Even after being rejected by his hometown team, Barry Bonds continued to wax confident that he would be in a major-league uniform, and under contract to play for pay, come March of 2008. Although he was uncertain where he would land, Bonds was certain that he was still a formidable power hitter who would be a huge asset to the club with the good sense to sign him.
Then came the afternoon of November 15. A devastating new low for Barry Bonds as a grand jury filed an indictment against the reigning home run champ.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA V. BARRY LAMAR BONDS, it reads and charges Barry Bonds with four counts of perjury and one count of obstruction of justice. Should the United States of America prevail in this matter, baseball's all time home run champ could face up to 30 years in prison.
Smoking Gun:
News of the indictment quickly spread throughout the Bay Area media. In short order, hysterical Barry Bonds apologists flooded Bay Area sports and news talk shows with rants and raves about the "injustices" being heaped on their deposed left fielder.
Some Bonds supporters even suggested that Bonds was caught in the cross hairs of the U.S. government simply because he is black. But if that were the case, why would the government grant Bonds immunity from prosecution in exchange for his truthful testimony during the Balco investigation?
All that Bonds had to do was tell the truth to the grand jury, and he would have been free and clear. His testimony could not have been used against him, regardless of whether or not he actually admitted using steroids.
Does that sound like an out-of-control government waging war on a black man simply because of race?
As of now, the next big day for baseball's all time home run champ is December 7 when Bonds is scheduled to appear for arraignment. How ironic that Bonds will be arraigned four months to the day after his historic home run.
What a pity that the grand jury did not release it's indictment before August 7. Had the grand jury done so, the life of Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig would have been dramatically less complicated than it is bound to be over the next several months.
As for baseball's all time home run champ, no one knows what the future holds in store. However, smart money says that Barry Bonds will never again play in an official major league game.
