Last Thursday Barry Bonds was indicted on four counts of perjury and one count of obstruction of justice by the federal government. This is all stemming from his testimony concerning his alleged steroid use.

We can only hope if Barry Bonds is found guilty he gets the maximum sentence. Barry’s selfishness goes beyond his need to be king of the hill of the home run derby. The selfishness goes beyond contributing to the destruction of the credibility of professional sports. Barry Bonds and other professional athletes who use steroids ruin sports for all levels of competition.

If a high school athlete wants to compete in college sports the message that is being sent is you need to be willing to use a performance enhancing substance. At the college level the need for steroids continues if you want your ticket punched to play professional sports.

Steroids are a gamble worth taking for many athletes at all levels. You gamble your future physical and mental health for the reward of ego, winning and potential big bucks. Many athletes are not willing to risk the gamble and the end result is not being able to go toe-to-toe with steroid-using, bionic mutants. The big reward for athletes who do not use steroids is they have personal integrity and will never be labeled a cheater.

The ultimate payback for everyone who would like sports to be about fairness, competition and an even playing ground would be this. The gods of sports have set Barry Bonds up for the ultimate fall from grace. You give him two of the most hallowed records in sports. The single season home run record and career home run record. You go from being a wiry rookie to a puffed-up beast. You give him seven National League Most Valuable Player awards. You inflate his ego to monumental proportions where he feels untouchable. That’s when you end his career and put him in prison, which will put out the message. Play fair.

The gods are happy and hopeful.

John Holyoak

Natchez resident