There has been much media attention to the recent drugs related events in major sport, the Tour de France and Track and Field. In addition, the National Football League in the US has spent considerable time fencing the Michael Vick dog-baiting story.

None of the articles associated with these misdemeanours has left a decent taste in the mouth as sports history has gone under the microscope and the dreams of fans across sports have been tarnished possibly beyond repair.

True, sports bosses have tried to make public statements in a damage limitation way. Cyclying and Track and Field have banned competitors, while Roger Goodell, the new commissioner of the NFL, has suspended Michael Vick, the star quarterback of the Atlanta Falcons, until his case is heard in court. Vick, allegedly , has been guilty by association of involvement in gambling circles linked to dog baiting and likely will not play again until he is cleared or possibly served prison time.

'There has been fan hostility extended to Bonds on the parks as the Balco rumours became public knowledge and his home run numbers climbed'


Goodell has taken a stand on the public conduct of NFL players in a bid to tidy up the game. His actions may be based on personal belief or just linked to ensuring a clean image for arguably the most brutal sports game on the planet that of necessity must harbour its darker secrets. The NFL is ever popular and going global (see the New York Giants face up to the Miami Dolphins at Wembley in late October - if you can get a ticket).

So on Saturday, when Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants, extended his ageing back and forced out one more time those massively built up shoulders and slugged in homer number 755 against Clay Hensley, the opening pitcher of division rivals San Diego Padres, he touched on immortality by equalling the all-time home run record held by Hank Aaron. Just one more weekend and the dream is all his. Sadly for many fans around the globe, the next big slug will result in a nightmare.

Bonds' association with performance enhancing drugs has been well documented since the BALCO scandal broke in 2003 largely the result of the west coast journalists Lance Williams and Mark Fainaru-Wada whose book 'Game of Shadows: Barry Bonds, Balco, and the Steroids Scandal that Rocked Professional Sport'. But strangely, despite the continued rumours of Bonds' appearance before a Grand Jury for perjury, he has generally avoided the legal process.

The Bonds revelations also came at a time when American sports fans were fixated on the home run sluggers such as McQuire, Sosa and Giambi whose single season numbers cut through previous records. Perhaps unlike the NFL, Major League Baseball enjoyed its moment in the sun as attendance figures and TV numbers peaked.

But since the early years of the new millennium fan interest has stalled and there has been fan hostility extended to Bonds on the parks as the Balco rumours became public knowledge and his home run numbers climbed.

Now the moment of truth for the MLB Commissioner Allan H (Bud) Selig has arrived. Baseball must now face the consequences of its inertia: No doubt by next weekend Barry Bonds Junior will have proud possession of one of sports most coveted achievements, and another moment of sports innocence will be lost amongst the debris on the barber's floor.