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Bonds named in “Mitchell Report” with connection to BALCO
By Ken Gimblin and Joe Cronin December 14, 2007 |
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Former San Francisco Giants Barry Bonds was named in the Senator George Mitchell investigation into illegal use of steroids in the “Mitchell Report” that was released on Thursday. Bonds was mentioned in the report in his connection with the BALCO investigation, and also former New York Mets bat boy Kirk Radomski turned over documents to Mitchell showing documented transactions to other MLB players that he sold them Human Growth Hormones and other drugs. Bonds who is currently under federal indictment of committing perjury in his Grand Jury testimony regarding his use of steroids in December 2003. Bonds has been steadfast saying he is innocent of any connection to steroid use and says he never knowingly used the drug. Other players who were listed by Mitchell in his “Mitchell Report”, include, former Dodgers Eric Gagne and Paul Lo Duca, former Yankees Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte, Gary Sheffield and current Yankee Jason Giambi. Sheffield today said that he would talk to ESPN with his attorney present but only when his attorney is feeling better. Sheffield's attorney has been going through medical treatments. Former baseball commissioner Fay Vincent has said that when the Mitchell report came out on Thursday it can impact baseball worse than any other scandal that baseball has ever faced which would out do the Chicago White Sox 1919 World Series scandal and the cocaine scandals of the 1980s or Pete Rose betting on baseball. Some of the other players named by Mitchell include All-Stars Mo Vaughn of the Red Sox, Miguel Tejada of the Astros, and Gary Matthews Jr. of the Angels also the Indians Paul Byrd. Vincent said the full impact of the steroids era hasn't hit full circle yet and the judgment as to what to do with these players found now falls on either MLB Commissioner Bud Selig or the federal government. Vincent had suggested that those found and proven guilty of steroid use should be excused from baseball forever just in the same way Pete Rose is banned from the game of baseball today and that the game should get a grip and take hold of a new movement of cleaning up from the steroids era. Jason Grimsley the former Arizona Diamondback who was in the Mitchell report and had his home raided by the feds was found to be supplying fellow players and was a user himself. Grimsley has retired once it was established that his story was made public. St Louis Cardinals Rick Ankiel story was at first a feel good story. Ankiel came back from an injury after pitching for the Cardinals but then turned into a hitter. When making the come back to the big leagues and hitting for the Cards he wound up hitting two homers in his second game back for St. Louis. Ankiel was also named in the Mitchell Report. Mitchell also named former Athletic and Giant and current broadcaster F.P. Santangelo as a user. While with the Montreal Expos Santangelo bought HGH from Radomski. Mitchell showed a signed check by Santangelo made out to Radomski in his press conference on Thursday. Santangelo played with David Segui in Montreal and Segui recommended Radomski to Santangelo while in Montreal. Radomski was a Mets bat boy from 1985 to 1996 and made many contacts with different players from the Mets and different teams at home and on the road. Mitchell made mention of players from the Oakland A’s and San Francisco Giants who were involved in the BALCO investigation. The list included, Benito Santiago, Bobby Estalella, Marvin Bernard, Armando Rios, and Barry Bonds from the Giants. The A’s players included Former Oakland A’s Jeremy Giambi and Randy Velarde. Former Giant Matt Williams was mentioned in the report but he was connected with a Florida dentist who filled prescriptions for several players. Santangelo referred former team mate and Athletic Adam Piatt to Radomski telling Piatt "he'll get you whatever you want". Piatt sat next to Miguel Tejada when the two were in Oakland and Tejada ended up buying HGH from Radomski at Piatt's recommendation, according to the Mitchell Report. Former Giant trainer Stan Conte was mentioned in the report being told by Giants General Manager Brian Sabean to have Bonds trainer Greg Anderson to be removed from the clubhouse. Anderson had full access to the Giants clubhouse and was permitted permission by the Giants to train with Bonds. Conte asked for Sabean's support in the very likely event that Bonds would go off when Conte tells him Anderson could no longer be in the clubhouse. Sabean didn't reply and kept quiet. Anderson did stay and later these Giant players in the Mitchell report admitted getting their supply from Anderson at the BALCO trial. Ken Gimblin and Joe Cronin cover the BALCO/steroids scandal and the George Mitchell investigation. |
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