Off the Wohl: Braun’s innocence could help Bonds

State Hornet Staff

Retired baseball legend Barry Bonds is many things to many people. To some he’s a hero of the game. To others he’s a self-righteous blowhard with a larger-than-life ego.

But in his years since leaving the game, he’s come to fill one role exceptionally well, if unwillingly: The role of scapegoat.

Bonds, baseball’s all-time home run king and a shoo-in Hall of Famer, has seen his name become synonymous with cheating and steroid use. His glory days came during an era when, by all accounts, a lot of ballplayers dabbled in the juice at one time or another.

But Bonds, more than anyone else, has had his accomplishments called into question.

Following the overturning of Milwaukee Brewers’ slugger Ryan Braun’s 50-game suspension for testing positive for elevated testosterone levels on Friday, Braun told reporters he was a victim of the process. His punishment was reversed because someone from the testing lab had waited a weekend to send the sample to the Major League Baseball offices, since he said all the FedEx branches in his area were closed until the following Monday.

To be clear, Braun’s urine had synthetic testosterone in it. He is guilty. He managed to avoid official consequences, but he was not exonerated. And he gets to keep the National League MVP award he won following last season.

Bonds, on the other hand, never flunked a drug test given by the league.

Sure, it can be implied from various courtroom testimonies and tell-all books he used performance-enhancing drugs at some point. But for those keeping score at home, the only guy between the two who was caught with his hand in the proverbial cookie jar is Braun, who resumed baseball activities on Saturday at the Brewers’ spring training facility in Arizona.

Now that this episode is behind Braun and the Brewers, fans and the media will likely let it slip from the forefront once opening day rolls around and Braun resumes blasting big flies. He’s always been a likable and well-respected player, and people probably won’t have trouble forgetting a slip-up, especially since he won’t be suspended.

Much like in the Alex Rodriguez case two years ago, when he admitted to using steroids during his time with the Texas Rangers from 2001 to 2003, there’s nothing like continued success to make people forget. His much-publicized sit-down with Peter Gammons didn’t hurt, either.

Neither Braun nor Rodriguez have been or will be vilified in the same way Bonds has. Bonds’ name might as well be replaced by “criminal,” while the other two have been allowed to go about their lives.

There are differing opinions as to why Bonds is treated differently.

Some say being an African-American plays a role. As the only black player who is both worthy of the Hall of Fame and tied up in the steroid mess, it’s easy to draw conclusions.

But the truth is, Bonds is just easy to hate. The stories of his locker room La-Z-Boy and the famous dugout scuffle with teammate Jeff Kent mean the media and the league don’t have to try hard to convince the public he’s a bad guy.

So when Bud Selig, the commissioner of baseball since essentially the beginning of the “steroid era,” needs someone to absorb animosity, Bonds is there to serve as a lightning rod.

Do players who have used steroids belong in the Hall of Fame? It’s another debate for perhaps another column. But in September when ESPN looks at Braun’s numbers and asks rhetorically about a repeat as league MVP, you can rest easy knowing the double standard is alive and well.

Alex Grotewohl can be reached at [email protected].