Come Clean Barry Bonds

Barry Bonds: Come Take Your Bath of Shame

Mark Fainaru-Wada and Lance Williams’ book, “Game of Shadows” provided Americans with the finite information needed to determine their own verdict in the ongoing drama of the allegations Barry Bonds used steroids. For some odd reason, this book didn’t provide enough information for Bonds to come clean.

This all seems a bit wrong. When thinking back about people who have disgraced their profession through lying, stealing and all things unethical, it seems Bonds’ actions are light years away from the precedents set by everyone’s favorite public liars: Milli Vanilli, Stephen Glass and Jason Blair.

In 1990, as Milli Vanilli performed “live” on MTV, their pre-recorded song, “Girl You Know It’s True” began skipping and their careers began sucking. Shortly thereafter, the two came clean to the American public and became the only artists to have their Grammy’s revoked. Since then, the two never returned to the fame they once loved so much.

In 1998, Adam Penenberg exposed a young reporter at “The New Republic,” Stephen Glass, for fabricating the story “Hack Heaven.” At that point, all the cows in Glass’ stable of lies came running through the fences.

Further research by “The New Republic” showed Glass had fabricated information in 27 of the 41 stories he had written during his tenure. “The New Republic” fired Glass and his lies have yet to grace the pages of any more publications.

And finally, in 2003, the “San Antonio Express-News” exposed Jason Blair for plagiarizing one its stories. Obviously, Blair paid no attention to the ill fate of Glass, and watched his career crumble like the nose of the Sphinx. Four days after Blair’s name became synonymous with the terms liar, crook and thief, he resigned from “The New York Times.” Blair now bathes in shame daily.

After examining these other cases of fraud, I can’t help but see a connection among these people and Bonds.

If a journalist catches you lying and thus corrupting the ethical fabric binding all of us to our professions, then you must admit your mistakes, resign and be prepared for a daily bath of shame next to Milli Vanilli, Glass and Blair.

Hey Barry! Come on in, the water’s seeming with shame and calling your name. Yet somehow, I have a feeling Bonds won’t be diving in any time soon. After “Book of Shadows” was released on March 23, Bonds and his legal team to tried to tie up the earnings of the book. According to an Associated Press article published on March 25, Bonds has gone to court to “stop authors of the book from making money from it because he believes the grand jury system needs to be protected.”

When preparing for their court appearance, Bonds and his legal team forgot to even mention the idea of libel – the only defense which would help support the idea the books’ facts are false.

So instead of suing for libel or just admitting he’s more of a juicer than Rafael Palmeiro and Jose Canseco combined, Bonds decides to star in a reality series, “Bonds on Bonds.”

After hearing Bonds had his own TV show I assumed he would take time each week to address the truth about his steroid use. Instead Bonds spends most of his time discussing his childhood and all things not related to steroids.

Give me a break.

As Bob Kravitz wrote in “The Indianapolis Star,” Bonds needs to come clean about his steroid use. And I couldn’t agree more. Bonds might want to consider following in the footsteps of his fellow brothers-in-lying and be prepared to take the bath of shame.

Barry, it’s your last chance to get in, the water’s getting colder and we’re all out of hot water.

© Zack Sampsel 2006

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