COSELLOUT: Still Tellin’ It Like It Is

August is Barry Bonds Media Month at COSELLOUT 

Resident  ESPN “Sports Distorter”  Mitch Albom recently said about Barry Bonds:

“But there are a few things this is not. It is not about race. It is not about personality. If you cannot get past those stumbling blocks on such an important issue, you don’t deserve to be discussing it. You really don’t.” 
 

…Albom’s opinion on the role of race and personality in media coverage is flat-out wrong, yet still forgivable. His arrogance and dismissiveness is not. While his attitude behind his claim shows that he might be the very last person who  “deserves to be discussing the issue”, his claim itself shows that he must not be acquainted with the coverage over the last few months on Barry Bonds by The Starting Five.

The very fact that The Starting Five’s catalogue of Bonds articles contain so much unreported and underreported information makes two powerful statements: TSF is committed to tell ALL sides of a story, and sadly, the mainstream sports media is not. For example, just recently I first learned about the:  swept-under-the-rug 1988 Olympic report that implicated Carl Lewis and others for drug violations; that the BALCO raid basically turned up ZMA pills you can find at your local GNC store; and that we are not so clear about “the clear”. TSF’s record serves as Bonds 101 primer on sports reporting omissions. While there is no guarantee that TSF will change how you view Bonds himself, that point is incidental.  What most likely will change is your faith and trust in how mainstream sports media  gives you “the news”.  In summary, if you want to know about sports public opinion on Bonds or any other story, click ESPN or CNNSI; if you want some new facts and truths, click The Starting Five.

StopMikeLupica recently wrote how “The Starting Five are on Fire” and assessed some of their recent posts around the Bonds 755 and 756 home runs. In a piggy-back effort, COSELLOUT has reviewed 24 posts (and countless invaluable sub-links)  of pre-requisite reading for any sports fan, whether they are lost with “Albom in Wonderland” or not.

1.         The Real Dope on Barry Bonds and Those Who Would Pursue Him: Part 1 This piece describes the BALCO raid. It shows us what was lost (many of the author’s previous internet links/exposes), and what was found (mostly ZMA, but absolutely NO illegal performance enhancing drugs). The article also exposes the anti-Barry Bonds personal motivations behind federal investigators Jeff Novizky and Iran White, and Game of Shadow’s authors, Mark Fainaru-Wada and Lance Williams.

2.         The Real Dope About Barry Bonds and Those Who Would Pursue Him: Part 2  This must-read article is chock-full of research and content that won’t be found on ESPN’s website. You will find out examples of hypocrisy and selective punishment that bring a historical perspective of how our federal government and media handle steroid use. This includes: A) a history of steroid use in the United States and its relationship to media;  B) our federal government’s historical role in promoting steroids; C)  the mainstream media’s virtual ignoring of steroid allegations for some athletes but not others (Prime examples: 1992 “Operation Equine” implicating Mark McGwire; 1988 Olympics’ drug violations that include Carl Lewis and Alexi Lalas)

3.         Barry Bonds: A Step Closer to Aaron, A Step Farther from America’s Hearts revisits the BALCO raid again, gives readers the scoop on “the cream” and “the clear”, and adds the press coverage of Ted Williams to today’s context.

4.   Not Exactly a Love-fest, But… how other players have far more favorable opinions of Barry Bonds than the media and even the fans. The article also shows some of the emerging rationality coming from select mainstream media members, perhaps, as a backlash to the overall treatment of Bonds.

5.   Storm Clouds in Barry Land indicts unethical (and, perhaps, criminal) behavior on the part of federal prosecutors looking to nab Bonds. Just as revealing it indicts virtually every daily local newspaper in America for not covering this important story. This fact only reaffirm’s TSF’s own valuable in the process.

6.   …How Good was Bonds before the Mess? reminds us just how good the best baseball player of the 1990’s was before any steroid allegations surfaced.

7.   The Unforgiven: Jack Johnson and Barry Bonds highlights Dave Zirin’s article on the common parallels between former heavyweight champion Jack  Johnson and Bonds. This sports history lesson includes quotes from Booker T Washington and WEB Dubois from close to 100 years ago doesn’t seem all that dated when applied the modern media drama that is Barry Bonds.

8.   The Interview: St. Louis Post-Dispatch Columnist Bryan Burwell Most revealing part was how Burwell was heavily criticized for pointed out inconsistencies between the local fan’s hatred of Bonds vs. their love for Big Mac when both had steroid allegations. Burwell continues: “After the Congressional hearings, those same people changed their minds and said ‘My bad’.”  

9.   …Barry Bonds and the Burden of Proof  should be read by Curt Schilling and anyone else who has ever rhetorically asked: “if Bonds is innocent why didn’t he sue the co- authors of “Game of Shadows” for libel instead of for their profits from the book?”

10. “The Media Trial of Barry Bonds: Tried by his Peers?” explains the dripping irony of how aging sports JOURNALISTS look for unethical performance enhancing edges by any means necessary.

11. The Wonderful World of Mike Greenberg and Barry Bonds discusses the disingenuous and inaccurate use of Hank Aaron as a saint-like tool to discredit Bonds. The parallels between Aaron and Bonds are made that show that their experiences have similarities than differences with one another.

12. Conversation with Bobby Baseball (from Michael Tillery.com): This exchange between Michael Tillery and fictional character “Bobby Baseball” on Barry Bonds might give Mitch Albom a clue about how race might factor into the equation from a perspective outside of his own bubble. While “Bobby” is a product of the author’s various water-cooler discussions, he could just have easily been selected from any “ESPN Conversation” comments section. 

12 MORE: LET’S PLAY BALL!

Recent (many covered in StopMikeLupica post)

1.         Sports Journalism and Perspective: Bob Costas compares steroids and segregation

2.         Barry Bonds: 756 with a Bob Costas add and a new addendum - “The Sickness Among Us” (self-explanatory)

3.         Neyer/Stark/Caple Exchange: Bonds, Aaron, and Ruth comparisons & role of race in media coverage

4.            Golic Goes To Town  and brings much-needed sense to Bonds circus and exposes media divide between ex-athletes & ex-couldn’t-make-the-JV-squad reporters 

5.         Barry Bonds Goes 755, Bud Is Not a Bard and Reporters Act Like Actresses: Selig as Used-Car Salesman 

6.         Reading SI (and Bonds hits No. 755): A couple of updates: Selig keeps on Stumbling

Older:

7.         Barry Bonds’ Feet Grew? More Like Buster Olney’s Nose Grew: …about Barry’s hat size…

8.         Hank Aaron Makes Hating Barry Bonds Real:  Aaron and Selig add fuel to the circus

9.         Michael O’Keeffe Interview : O’Keefe discusses Bonds, McGwire, and responsibility of sports journalists

10.       On Barry Bonds, Greek Gods and Sports: The complex REALITY of fan-reactions to Bonds and more

11.       Is Barry Bonds’ Attorney Playing a Dangerous Bluff Game?: Kimberly Bell Back in the Game (self explanatory)

12.       BALCO Chemist Claims Bonds, Sheffield Took Steroids and More (More = contrary to popular authors there are many other HOF-type players including Ted Williams who aged like fine wines)

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