Bong on Bonds

Bong on Bonds? My thoughts on Barry are ambivalent. While he wears the laundry of my favorite team, the San Francisco Giants, he's still in my mind, a cheater. I know, I know, there's only been circumstantial evidence and he's never failed a drug test. Let's just use a little common sense here folks. A multi-fold increase in production after the age of 35, the freaky growth, the marked decrease in production after media fallout following court proceedings regarding BALCO and the release of the book, Game Of Shadows. While I'll never be able to separate the home run records from the 'roid use, I'll still root for the Giants and I'll give a tempered cheer for Barry.

My own little bambinos are old enough to see and hear the news of Barry's transgressions and have asked me, "Dad, is Barry using steroids?" (without actually knowing what a steroid is).

First of all, I let them know what a steroid is and then I explain to them that yes, Barry cheated and used steroids, when in fact, he was already a great player and probably didn't need them.

"Then why did he use them anyway?"

Because steroids helped him get better faster when he got hurt and yes, they do make you stronger.

"Then steroids are good then, right?"

In the short term, yes, but in the long run, your body will be break down sooner, you'll get a lot of pimples, your gonads will shrink and you'll live a short life*. Don't you want to live a long life and give me and mom some grandkids?

"Yeah, I guess."

Alright then.

"Dad...What are gonads?"

*(Ed. note: There has been no significant study which suggests that steroids actually shorten life span. If there has been one, please let me know)