Add Bonds' latest drug-related troubles to growing list
No. He's definitely not stupid. But he absolutely remains arrogant enough.
That Bonds reportedly laid it all on a teammate is extraordinarily lame, yes. It's Rafael Palmeiro saying he got some bad vitamin supplements from Miguel Tejada all over again.
But that's the pattern with this guy. Nothing is ever Bonds' fault. The Cream and the Clear, he thought that was flaxseed oil. His supposed best friend and personal trainer has been Bubba meat for the past few years in federal prison because he's lawyered up and Bonds is too interested in protecting himself to take a bullet for others.
Here's the thing: Because amphetamine testing is supposed to remain anonymous -- at least for the first offense -- there could have been 200 major leaguers who tested positive last summer. We don't know.
By definition, it is not a big deal -- at least, not until the second offenses begin and suspensions are handed out.
But in Bonds' case, it becomes a big deal based simply on who he is. And it is just one more reminder, in case he needed it, that he can't get away with anything now.
Regarding the fact that Bonds' contract remains unsigned, it would be a mistake at this point to read too much into that. Yes, he and the Giants are still working out the language -- some of which had damn well better ban some members of Bonds' posse from the clubhouse, such as his "videographer." But the Giants have not yet finished the contracts for outfielder Dave Roberts and infielder Rich Aurilia, either. There seems to be a backlog of paperwork in China Basin.
One contract that apparently has been signed is that of Sweeney. So having him and Bonds back together after this should ensure an entertaining, tension-filled and zoo-like spring training.
In other words, just what the Giants deserve for propagating and enabling the Bonds Monster.
The fun thing here is, remember that whole goofy "Giants Idol" takeoff on American Idol last spring? It was Sweeney's idea, and he's the one who coaxed Bonds into dressing up like Paula Abdul.
Paybacks are a bitch.
