The epic trial for MLB Slugger Barry Bonds finally came to a conclusion. The home run king was found guilty of obstruction of justice, but the jury failed to reach a decision on three counts of perjury. Oh but wait, I highly doubt it‘s actually over. Bonds is infamous for his stubborn nature and will definitely not go down without a fight. I can guarantee an appeal is on its way.
The man has every reason to appeal when dealing with such a contraversial issue in society because the conviction is not the only penalty and disgrace he will encounter when dealing with steroid usage. He will sit and wait for years to see if he will ever be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame and most importantly, he will no longer be seen as a clean hero in the game. Yes, he has the all-time home run record, but whether you are down with ‘the juice’ or not…his public image will definitely be tainted. And don’t be surprised if he sees little to no recognition from the Hall in the next five years for his accomplishments at the plate.
I am assuming sports fans know the major details of the trial and the hotwater he is in. Baseball writers are relentless and unforgiving in these situations when it comes to votes. Mr. Bonds will be on the ballot in 2012 and with enough votes he will stay eligible through 2022.
Bonds kept his cool through the trial, knowing that he would put forth every effort to defend himself and his status in Baseball. Every appearance he made in the courtroom, he sat emotionless as he awaited the jury’s decision. Calm. Collected. Ready to pounce.
Now the question is, will he be placed behind bars? If so, how long? And does he deserve to be a Hall of Famer, despite his mistakes and faults?
Click here to subscribe to Harris' blog