Even before Wednesday, when the government released its previously sealed evidence against Barry Bonds, even before syringes came back with Roger Clemens’ DNA on the needles, both had been convicted in the court of public opinion.  Now it’s just legal wrangling, because the paper trail, or evidence trail, really isn’t changing anyone’s opinion. 

While the syringes with trace DNA from Roger Clemens is interesting, and possibly could lead to charges being brought against him for perjury, it’s something for the future.  Yet for Barry Bonds, the future is now.  He’s facing charges for perjury and obstruction of justice and at least circumstantially the evidence is damning. 

Much of it, no doubt, will be thrown out, and key portions of it may hinge upon testimony which may or may not be forthcoming, as former trainer Greg Anderson, has refused to testify in the past.  But whatever happens it will drag baseball through the mud as the government has expressed its intent to call Gary Sheffield, Jason and Jeremy Giambi, Benito Santiago, Bobby Estalella and possibly others to testify. 

The fact is the government wants to make an example out of Barry.  If it hadn’t been for his arrogance, his notoriety, his foul temper and general antipathy towards the media, he might still be on trial, but probably wouldn’t have been publicly cast as the ultimate villain of the steroids era. 

No, “Smiling” Sammy has slunk out of sight, Palmeiro has taken his little blue pills and retreated from public scrutiny, the Giambi brothers have come clean and been forgiven and Big Mac has admitted “mistakes” and refused to perjure himself, or discuss the issue, before a grand jury.    Others have just vanished from the media spotlight as if they never existed. 

But not Barry.  Barry made the mistake of assuming that he was above the law.  Perhaps he spent too much time admiring how O.J. Simpson got off to imagine that he’d be called to account for his stack of lies.

Perhaps it’s more about O.J. and public perception than anyone wants to admit.  It seems to most that anyone with money or fame, or a combination of the two, can get away with anything - especially something like lying while under oath or committing any type of crime from shoplifting to murder.  It’s an embarrassment to our country and a taint on our legal system - and in Barry’s case, the justice department is taking it seriously. 

They may not be able to stop what happens it the city or state level where star-struck judges hand out community service instead of jail time when deserved, but they can, as they did in the case of Martha Stewart, bring down some high-profile celebrities when they commit federal crimes, like lying to a grand jury. 

And that’s where Barry Bonds fits in.  No doubt when this started Barry believed it would blow over, like all celebrity cases in California seem to do.  But Barry crossed the wrong people and miscalculated as to the seriousness of his testimony when it came to the investigation of BALCO (Bay Area Laboratory Cooperative) and their distribution of steroids to athletes. 

Now he’s in up to his neck, and even if he beats the charges, he’s been convicted by the fans.  But the fans can’t give out jail time - and the Feds certainly will if Barry’s lawyers aren’t as good as O.J’s were when Barry’s trial begins March 2.

What does the future hold for Bonds and Clemens? Sound off in our comments section below.

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