Barry Bonds Guilty

I have watched with interest the case involving the slugger Barry Bonds, who was found guilty yesterday of a federal crime: Obstruction of Justice. In listening to Mike and Mike in the morning on ESPN, I find it interesting that they say this is a case that is all about whether Barry Bonds took steroids. I think that is incorrect. This is a case about a federal crime and obstruction of justice, which is a serious crime. It's what President Nixon was accused of, what President Clinton fought as well, and, all in all, a serious felony. Baseball is a game, obstruction of justice is a crime. Cheating is a serious issue, but violating the Constitution is even moreso. This story, from the Daily News, shows that the jurors applied the legal issues in acquitting Mr. Bonds, but knew that he had steroids in his body due to the tests. However, they felt, and rightly so, that the prosecution didn't prove their case that Mr. Bonds took them knowingly. They applied the law. And they did so in finding Mr. Bonds guilty of obstruction of justice as well. It's too bad, that, apparently, Mr. Bonds flouted the law so grossly. It hurts sport, baseball, and professional athleticism. In this case, our legal system worked, and it rose above the dirt that is apparently enfolding professional sport.