So how long will it take for Bonds and Sammy to fess up?

[GhostOfJackie]

McGwire finally threw this out and I am almost positive that he will never make the hall of fame because of this. He was obviously upset in his interview today and I think he did not come out earlier because of his fear of being thrown in jail for lying in Senate hearings. Sammy and Barry need to come clean too because everybody knows the truth.

It all makes me sick.

 

[was21]

asdf

 

[rebchuck1]

I don't think he understood the panel's questions

 

[Todd4State]

McGwire finally threw this out and I am almost positive that he will never make the hall of fame because of this. He was obviously upset in his interview today
and I think he did not come out earlier because of his fear of being thrown in jail for lying in Senate hearings. Sammy and Barry need to come clean too
because everybody knows the truth.

It all makes me sick.

wasn't going to get in by keeping quiet either, though. He's only getting something like 23% of the vote in recent elections. I don't think admitting to using steroids will help him either. It's a damned if you damned if you don't situation. Either they won't vote for him for not fessing up or they won't vote for him for using steroids.

I still think that the Veteran's Committee will vote him in in about 13 years or so.

 

[Johnson85]

...I think he did not come out earlier because of his fear of being thrown in jail for lying in Senate hearings. Sammy and Barry need to come clean too because everybody knows the truth...

McGuire could come clean because he did not lie to federal investigators or the Senate committee. That's what the whole "I'm not here to talk about the past" statement was about. It was basically pleading the 5th. McGuire is coming out now b/c the statute of limitations on whatever crimes he might have broken has run and (1) he felt he needed to come clean to work in baseball again, (2) he felt it would help his HOF chances, and/or (3) he legitimately felt guilty.

Bonds on the other hand has denied knowingly using steroids to federal investigators and I think could be convicted of obstruction if he came clean now; maybe also for perjury for the Senate hearings? (I assume they testify under oath?)

I don't remember Sosa testifying, but I assume he denied steroids also (so maybe perjury is in play but not obstruction?).

ETA: I think this helps McGuire's HOF chances. His quasi pleading the 5th was more or less an admission, but he didn't get credit for actually manning up and taking responsibility for his actions. (if he had, even if nobody would have been hot on prosecuting him, they would have questioned him, including about where/who he got steroids from, and any lie would have put him at risk of an obstruction charge, which the feds have proven they will bust your *** for, so that was probably the right call). Now, with a little bit of spin, he can even get credit for coming clean when he didn't have to. But I don't think it mattered as long as he came clean and acted contrite, a lesson Pete Rose never learned.

 

[thatsbaseball]

nm

 

[PineGroveBully]

And I think he couldn't care less about the HOF.

 

[Todd4State]

but I didn't think Barry Bonds was at the Congressional Hearings, but he was caught up in the Balco Hearings.

I might be being too technical here, though. We might be talking about the same thing. If so, I apologize.

 

[GhostOfJackie]

Your correct, he pretty much did plead the 5th. I'm just trying to figure out... why now? Why wait until now to come out? It has something to do with the new job he has but I don't know how this would help him or his team/family at all.

Leach, Sydney, Tiger, Newton, Meyer, and this. It's been a crazy few weeks to say the least.

 

[UpTheMiddlex3Punt]

How is what the players did a crime? If there was no crime, why was Congress questioning the athletes? There's a damned if you lie, damned if you tell the truth situation. If they tell the truth before Congress, they publicly embarrass themselves. If they lie, the commit perjury. Now if there truly were a crime, perjury would be one thing. But ultimately it came down to a 'think of the children' situation. They wanted to make sure kids' role models weren't doing drugs, so they had to bring the players before them and quiz them. Think about it. If Congress asked you to testify about a personal habit that was not criminal, but could be embarrassing, would you tell the truth?

 

[Todd4State]

It's no secret that McGwire wants to be a manager. Being a hitting coach is a very good way to do that. But, I think LaRussa wanted him to be the hitting coach contingent on him coming clean- or rather clearing the air about the situation. Tony LaRussa and Mark McGwire have a very close relationship, and I really think that LaRussa wants what's best for him. And in this case, I think Tony felt like that was coming out and talking about steroids- whether he did them or not. I really think that LaRussa expected him to deny using them, but if he did, I don't think anyone would buy it. I know I wouldn't.

I think in the long run it will benefit McGwire, and I'm not talking about the Hall of Fame either.

Plus, I seriously doubt that LaRussa or anyone else with the Cardinals wants a big distraction from all of this at any time other than spring training. This is going to be a "story", but much like A-Rod, I don't think it will drag out all season long. Go ahead and come clean, let people talk about it for about a month, and get grilled in spring training when no one gives a crap, and then move along.

 

[DerHntr]

If Congress asked you to testify about a personal habit that was not criminal, but could be embarrassing, would you tell the truth?

when exactly did taking illegal steroids become a personal habit that was not criminal?

now i agree that they should have been able to plead the 5th and tell congress to 17 off because they didn't want to incriminate themselves but to claim it is only a bad habit is silly

 

[Johnson85]

Bonds was (is?) at risk for serious jail time for allegedly lying to federal investigators during an actual investigation. (This is also what they popped the female track star with. Don't remember her name, probably b/c she was a female track star). People apparently get popped with obstruction a lot when the crime they are covering up is relatively minor and wouldn't carry time. Nobody would have tried to put the femail track star behind bars for illegally buying steroids (they might have Bonds b/c he was such an *** hole) but they get serious about obstruction. I think Bonds and the girl were lying to protect their reputation more than to avoid jail (both investigations were really looking at their sources more than Bonds or the girl IIRC), but only managed to get themselves into real legal trouble.

I didn't realize that Bonds didn't testify before Congress (I just assumed he did), but I think people that testify at committee hearings are sworn in, so I assume testimony is under penalty of perjury. (although I'm not sure how seriously they take seeing as how Palmero isn't in jail). I also assume this is why McGwire's lawyers instructed him to not talk about steroid use. His testimony could have been used against him in a trial and at the time it probably wasn't an unreasonable concern that somebody would try and prosecute him at the state or federal level for purchasing/possessing/using drugs. But if he lied and was caught he would be subject to prosecution for perjury, which I bet theoretically could carry jail time, even if it's never actually handed out. I may be wrong, but I thought there were reports about McGwire's lawyers seeking immunity in exchange for testimony and that they couldn't get it, but that may have just been speculation.

 

[hatfieldms]

Palmeiro is the only player to fail a test who was set up, and really not juicing

 

[Agentdog]

People apparently get popped with obstruction a lot when the crime they are covering up is relatively minor and wouldn't carry time.

Close. People get charge with obstruction when they are famous and involved in something that has the media's and public's focus. Everyday common folks lie to Federal Agents, Grand Jurys, and US Attorney every day in this country to save their ***. Rarely does the US Attorney charge them with obstruction. It has to have a huge effect on the case and/or if the AUSA feels like persuing it (lazy, cares about the case, etc.)

reports about McGwire's lawyers seeking immunity in exchange for testimony and that they couldn't get it, but that may have just been speculation.

Mike&Mike said something about that this morning. His lawyers tried to go to A.G. Gonzales but had no luck obtaining immunity.

 

[maroonmania]

Raffy is a just a poor victim. B12 ain't what it used to be.

 

[fishwater99]

BALCOUKU.....