While Barry Bonds is known as an incredible baseball player, it is other things about him which may eventually be what he is remembered for. Bonds won four MVP awards as an outfielder, four years in a row. He played in the 2007 World Series and is one of the most widely known players in the sport. In 2006, he surpassed even Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron in home runs.
Sadly, there may be an asterisk next to all of these records. Bonds has admitted to steroid usage (although he denies having willingly or knowingly taken the drug), something which was long rumored. Bonds did not exactly have a rapport with the fans, despite his performance on the diamond. Many hated him and he gladly returned the favor. Bonds burned so many bridges that no team was willing to sign him on for the 2008 season (and he has no contracts lined up for the 2009 season at the time of this writing), despite his holding the record for career home runs at 762 and most home runs in a single season at 73.
Having already broken many records and his financial future in no doubt, Bonds was investigated in relation to his steroid use as part of the Bay Area Laboratory Cooperative case and has been charged with perjury and obstruction of justice for lying about his use of steroids.
This case cast considerable doubts on his career. Obviously, his MVP awards and his other achievements were questioned heavily by the public as well as by the governing agencies of the sport. Baseball fans and baseball team owners now frown heavily on achievements recognized during periods when steroid use has come into play.
A pall has been thrown over a career in baseball which began in high school, when Bonds was courted by the Giants while still a senior. He did not end up signing on with the Giants, choosing to pursue a college education. Bonds played in college as well, where in a single year he scored seven hits in a row in the College World Series and was picked as All American selection of the year by the publication Sporting News.
In March 2009, Bonds will appear in court to face the obstruction of justice charges related to the BALCO investigation. Bonds still insists that he never took steroids knowingly - but this is a matter which has yet to be resolved in court and is sure to be closely followed by baseball fans.
Off the diamond, Binds has become involved with working with sick and terminally ill children. Bonds has an honorary chair with the Macy's Tree Lighting Committee, which fundraises for the children's hospice UCSF Children's Hospital Palliative Care Program.
Sadly, there may be an asterisk next to all of these records. Bonds has admitted to steroid usage (although he denies having willingly or knowingly taken the drug), something which was long rumored. Bonds did not exactly have a rapport with the fans, despite his performance on the diamond. Many hated him and he gladly returned the favor. Bonds burned so many bridges that no team was willing to sign him on for the 2008 season (and he has no contracts lined up for the 2009 season at the time of this writing), despite his holding the record for career home runs at 762 and most home runs in a single season at 73.
Having already broken many records and his financial future in no doubt, Bonds was investigated in relation to his steroid use as part of the Bay Area Laboratory Cooperative case and has been charged with perjury and obstruction of justice for lying about his use of steroids.
This case cast considerable doubts on his career. Obviously, his MVP awards and his other achievements were questioned heavily by the public as well as by the governing agencies of the sport. Baseball fans and baseball team owners now frown heavily on achievements recognized during periods when steroid use has come into play.
A pall has been thrown over a career in baseball which began in high school, when Bonds was courted by the Giants while still a senior. He did not end up signing on with the Giants, choosing to pursue a college education. Bonds played in college as well, where in a single year he scored seven hits in a row in the College World Series and was picked as All American selection of the year by the publication Sporting News.
In March 2009, Bonds will appear in court to face the obstruction of justice charges related to the BALCO investigation. Bonds still insists that he never took steroids knowingly - but this is a matter which has yet to be resolved in court and is sure to be closely followed by baseball fans.
Off the diamond, Binds has become involved with working with sick and terminally ill children. Bonds has an honorary chair with the Macy's Tree Lighting Committee, which fundraises for the children's hospice UCSF Children's Hospital Palliative Care Program.
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