Bonds Indicted

Undoubtedly we will be hearing much more about this story for the following week, months, and probably even years. Career home run record holder Barry Bonds was indicted today for perjury and obstruction of justice, charged with lying when he told a federal grand jury that he did not knowingly use performance-enhancing drugs. This indictment comes as a surprise to few people. There has been plenty of evidence against Bonds and he has been the target of possible steroid use for several years now. He has also been investigated on possible tax evasion charges, but that has not been pursued. This is a huge sports story, but it is more than just a sports story.

Growing up I always looked at professional athletes in awe, but I've come to realize that they are just people like you and I. Barry Bonds is arrogant and selfish and he is now in serious trouble. When the feds issue an indictment on perjury charges it is serious business. Unfortunately, athletes and other people in the position of power often think that they can get away with anything. Bonds also gives the impression of being extremely selfish especially as he was chasing the home run record. He is always trying to turn the attention to himself and belittling the accomplishments of others around him or before him. He is always trying to persuade us (or himself) that he is the greatest player of all time. He is always trying to get us to love him, while at the same time doing things that prevent us from loving him. This sort of arrogant and selfish character is becoming more and more common and it is getting old fast.

The Bonds story is just beginning. We will be hearing more information about Bonds and his involvement in performance-enhancing drugs. As much as I am against the fact that Bond's used steroids, I'm more upset at his arrogance, his lying, and his selfishness. I'm not naive enough to think that Bond's is the only one to use performance-enhancing drugs. His greatest fault was not his using drugs, but his constant denial and his ego. We are a forgiving people and we will forgive mistakes and give people second chances. I will forgive Bonds, but it will not be easy. It's so much easier to forgive those who are apologetic, honest, and sincere. Bonds has not been apologetic but hostile, he has not been honest, and he has been anything but sincere. This act of arrogance and selfishness may appear to exist exclusively in sports, but it exists in every industry at certain levels. Bonds is the perfect example of a bad example. Hopefully this story will change the arrogant and selfish culture currently seen in sports. Hopefully, we will be able to once again look up to athletes for the positive impact they can and have had on numerous lives.