The Deadly Sins of Barry Bonds

Of course, it goes without saying that Barry Bonds, like everyone else, is Innocent until proven guilty. Yet, if the reports are true, then Barry Bonds fell prey several of the deadly sins. He exhibited the same character flaws that fall upon individuals everyday.

1) Envy

If the reports are correct, then Barry Bonds began using steroids because the attention that both Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa received in 1998. In 1998, he hit a pedestrian 37 home runs. This was pedestrian compared to the 70 and 66 for Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa. We can only assume that Bonds knew that both Sosa and McGwire got to their totals through cheating. All the attention showered on the two was something that Bonds yearned for. As such, began cheating nearly immediately following the 1998 season. By 2001, Bonds had broken the home run record himself when he hit 73 homers. By 1998, Bonds was already a hall of famer, and one of the greatest of all time, but that wasn't enough. He was envious of the two new superstars and that envy caused him to compromise the game that gave him everything.

2)Pride

His grand jury testimony was sealed. Furthermore, he would have received full immunity for any crime he would have admitted to under oath. Yet, Bonds couldn't bring himself to admit to cheating. Instead, he claimed that he took steroids unknowingly. Rather than coming clean at the most important moment, he had far too much pride to admit that he did anything wrong. It was this very pride that now puts him on the brink of jail.

3) Gluttony

By 1998, Bonds was on his way toward 500 career home runs for certain. He had a good chance to get to 600 home runs. He even had an outside chance to break 700 and become the all time home run king. This, he could have done without cheating. His career was already remarkable. He was a certain hall of famer, and he would have been on every one's short list for all time great outfielders. Yet, this wasn't enough. He wanted even more. He wanted something that even his great skill couldn't reach naturally. So, he cheated. His gluttonous desire for more greatness than he already had was his final deadly sin.