The Mitchell Report Starts a Steroid War: Barry Bonds Amid Many Suspected of Use

With the release of the Mitchell report last week by former US Senate Majority Leader, George Mitchell, an interesting conversation has erupted on talk shows around the country. On shows such as Mike and Mike in the Morning on ESPN Radio and the David Stein Show on Sporting News Radio, there has been little sympathy for Barry Bonds, who has already been convicted in the court of public opinion of his steroid abuse. Bonds, the all-time leader in home runs for a career is one of if not the most hated persons in the sport today. On the other hand, in Mitchell's report, Roger Clemens who is arguably the best pitcher in our generation had his name included. Shocking to many, the fact that Clemens had his name mentioned over 82 times in Mitchell's report brought the steroid debate to a screeching halt as baseball fans had to decide if Barry Bonds was guilty then so did the beloved Roger Clemens.

What has occurred in sports bars and taverns around the country has been a protracted conversation on ethics in sports. Not something the game does well, baseball fans had to decide that if they had convicted Bonds even though there is no evidence of his drug use available to the public, then a conviction must be in order for Clemens whose personal trainer testified that he had administered the steroids to Clemens personally. At least on Bonds' case, his personal trainer spent a year in jail and refused to testify to federal prosecutors thereby maintaining the appearance that Bonds has never used performance enhancing drugs. But with Clemens' trainer testifying a problem has occurred.