Fact or Fiction: Barry Bonds will be a first ballot Hall of Famer
 

Steroid use controversy. A swollen head (figurative and physical). Public enemy number one. But above all, one of the greatest players to ever play the game.

Do you believe that Barry's stats (pre and post crisis Bonds) warrant him to enter the Hall of Fame on the first ballot? Or do you think he'll turn into another Pete Rose, and never quite make it for one reason or another (whether or not he'll be banned is a different story)? As a former sports writer, there is no way I can justify voting no for Bonds to be entered into the Hall of Fame. Does controversy surround his career? Yes, but controversy surrounds every nationally known figure.

Whether or not he used steroids, one key piece of information to remember is that it was not against baseball regulations at that time. If he used them now? Yes, ban him. But at the time, nothing stopped ANY player from using them. So if sports writers punish Bonds by not voting him in, you better take out any player voted in from 95 to 2000, because I guarantee you at least 1/3 of the active players used performance enchancing drugs in one way or another.

Bonds Will Get IN
 

I don't necessary think Bonds should be in but like you said how many guys have used the last 10 years and will get voted in. How about mark Mcgwire and Sammy Sosa

steroid use
 

Along with pumped-up muscles and unshakable confidence, anabolic steroids can damage the heart and liver, stunt bone development and cause extreme mood swings, acne and weight gain, researchers say.

Coming off them can be just as dangerous, experts add.

Adolescents more vulnerable
Anabolic steroids are synthetic substances related to testosterone, a male hormone that occurs naturally in the body. The drugs are legally used by medical doctors to help patients with muscle-wasting diseases such as AIDS.

Although designated a controlled substance by the U.S. government in 1990, athletes and bodybuilders take steroids to increase muscle mass and strength. Because the effectiveness declines after continuous use, experienced athletes will inject or pop them for 8-12 weeks in patterns known as "cycles," allowing their bodies to rest for several months before beginning another round.

New research suggests the drugs can cause a powerful psychological dependency and stopping them safely requires careful medical oversight. Withdrawal can lead to severe depression lasting for months.

Courtesy of msnbc

Just because Barry has put on some pounds, had his head grow three hat sizes, become a HR machine rather than a quick footed leadoff batter, and is getting injury after injury while yelling at anyone with a camera does NOT mean he used steroids!