Book Report: Game of Shadows

by Charlie77 on Feb 12, 2009 1:41 PM MST

I am a voracious reader and usually can be found indulging several books at a time; including on my lunch break, before bed, or an audio book on the commute to work. This winter I began to be drawn by the sirens call of baseball books. So I would like to share them with everyone so as to open discussion about different views on the book, and to discover other books worth reading. Reading is usually a solitary action, but sharing the stories and lessons from each book is a fun way to feel connected after hours of private reticence.

BOOK

Game of Shadows, by Mark Fainaru-Wada and Lance Williams

DESCRIPTION

Steroid scandal revealed through the story of Barry Bonds and how he partnered with BALCO to illegally become the greatest hitter of all time. In depth interviews with the people closest to Bonds reveals the seminal point of choosing to use steroids. He was upset after being bested by Mark McGwire in a 3 game series where Big Mac hit 4 HR’s to Bonds 1. The book goes into great depth using Grand Jury testimony and information from the federal investigators in the BALCO case. The book also describes how BALCO created steroids which would not be detected in its Olympic athlete clients. The designer steroids allowed Bonds to avoid positive tests when he switched from steroids to HGH.

Game of Shadows presents in-depth evidence to prove Bonds used steroids including; (1.) admissions of guilt by VP Jim Valente that BALCO provided steroids to Bonds and independent drug tests by BALCO to confirm he would test clean for MLB. (2.) Gary Sheffield admitted in testimony under oath that he was given the Cream and Clear from Bonds dealer and he had witnessed Bonds taking the same drugs that he had. (3.) Bonds girlfriend Kimberly Bell, whom Bonds had purchased a home for in Phoenix told the Grand Jury under oath that Bonds admitted using steroids to help him recover faster (4.) In 1997 Bonds weighed 207 lbs at 8% body fat, in 2002 at the age of 38 Bonds weighed 228 lbs with 6.2% body fat.

HOW IT APPLIES TO THE COLORADO ROCKIES

Former Rockie Bobby Estalella is mentioned in the book as being indicted for purchasing steroids and was forced to testify in the BALCO case. Estalella played for the Rockies in 2002-2003 hitting 15 HR’s in 84 games. In the two years that Bobby played in Colorado the team was ranked 14th in the MLB in homeruns with 350.

IF YOU LIKED THIS BOOK, YOU SHOULD READ THIS LITERARY CLASSIC

The Jungle, by Upton Sinclair

Written in 1906, the book reveals repulsive practices within the Meat Packing industry leading to Congress passing the Meat Inspection Act and organizing the Food and Drug Administration.

MY FAVORITE BASEBALL POINTS

The book illustrates a set of tables at the end of the book that compare Bonds to the greatest hitters of all time. One illustration uses Bill James, Runs Created formula to demonstrate how great a hitting season Bonds had in 2001, it was the second best performance of all time.

_________YR___Age__HR___RBI___BA___OBP_____RC

RUTH…....1921…26…..59…..171…..0.378…..0.512….243

BONDS….2001…36…..73…..136..…0.328..…0.515.....228

The book acknowledges a table created by Lee Sinins, creator of Baseball Sabermetric Encyclopedia who shows the 10 greatest Runs Scored seasons of all time. Look at the difference in the ages of the greatest hitters, only Bonds has multiple seasons over the age of 30 at; 36, 37, 39.

__________YR____Age___ RC

RUTH…......1921…..26…..243

BONDS…...2001.….36…..228

RUTH…......1923…..28…..227

RUTH…......1920…..25…..216

GEHRIG…..1927..…24…..215

RUTH…......1927.….32..…211

FOXX…......1932.….24......211

RUTH…......1924.….29......209

BONDS…...2002.….37…..206

BONDS…...2004.….39…..204

GEHRIG…...1936….33......204

HORNSBY..1922.…26.…..204

Eat. Drink. Be Merry. But the above FanPost does not necessarily reflect the attitudes, opinions, or views of Purple Row's staff (unless, of course, it's written by the staff [and even then, it still might not]).

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Overlooked residuals...

In this week’s Sports Illustrated, Tom Verducci wrote an article comparing Alex Rodriguez to Bonds where he prints a quote from A-Rod, “Barry’s such a great and unique talent. Studying him is like studying Picasso.” ~Alex Rodriguez, August 4, 2007

Both players used PEDs to leverage huge contracts and the owners of baseball should fight back and sue the Players Union for $50 million. The Players Union has thrown down roadblocks over the past decade preventing the implementation of drug testing, causing salaries to grow exponentially. As a comparison the average players contract has increased 7.1% since 1998. However salaries showed monstrous growth before drug testing between 1998-2002 growing on average 15.6. According to the US Department of Labor there was only a 1.1 increase in inflation over the same time period. These contracts were signed based on past performance tainted through the use of PEDs and the owners have the right to void the contracts since they were offerred under fraudulent circumstances.

Keepin' warm by the hot stove season.

by Charlie77 on Feb 16, 2009 11:31 PM MST reply actions

Not gonna happen.

Too difficult politically. In addition, salary increases were never tied exclusively to PED-augmented performance. They were also tied to a period of record profits and growth in the sport, and much of that, as it were, was tied to PEDs — the 1998 home run chase, Bonds’ record-breaking 2001 season, etc. The players demanded (rightfully, I think) to share in those profits — and the system worked, as contracts grew organically. But as the owners saw the majority of the profits and prosperity enjoyed by the sport, I wouldn’t think they’ve got much of a case. You cannot make the argument that you entered into a fraudulent contract when you simultaneously benefited from said fraudulent activity.

We are truly in the presense of greatness here…-- unnamedDBacksfan

by DbacksSkins on Feb 18, 2009 7:24 AM MST up reply actions

I like the book report idea

I thought about doing it myself. I’m reading The Economist by JC Bradbury and have The Book by Tango in queue. I haven’t read all of your fanpost yet, but I will.

"Winning doesn't really matter as long as you win." - Vinny Jones

by Andrew T. Fisher on Feb 16, 2009 11:37 PM MST reply actions

Thanks..

I love to read and these are the current baseball books in my queue: Moneyball, 3 Nights in August, Sandy Koufax bio, some others. I encourage you to post yours, I am always looking for new books to read.

Keepin' warm by the hot stove season.

by Charlie77 on Feb 17, 2009 12:18 AM MST up reply actions

Man, The Book would be a boring report

I mean, it feels like I’m slogging through it sometimes.

Follow me on Twitter! http://www.twitter.com/rockiesmagicnum

by Andrew Martin on Feb 17, 2009 8:55 AM MST up reply actions

Well that's unfortunate

Looks like I’ll be slogging through it by tomorrow.

"Winning doesn't really matter as long as you win." - Vinny Jones

by Andrew T. Fisher on Feb 17, 2009 9:45 AM MST up reply actions

I liked the review. This was one I hadn’t read, as I thought it seemed when it came out like it was going to be a smear book, with some weak facts. That and it was against one player. I know Bonds isn’t loved, but was there anyone who thought he didn’t take steroids?

But this really made me laugh, and made me sad at the same time because I think it’s very spot on appropriate:

IF YOU LIKED THIS BOOK, YOU SHOULD READ THIS LITERARY CLASSIC

The Jungle, by Upton Sinclair

Written in 1906, the book reveals repulsive practices within the Meat Packing industry leading to Congress passing the Meat Inspection Act and organizing the Food and Drug Administration.

"Suck it monkeys, the Rockies will win this year", Rox Girl 1-11-2009

by Redhawk on Feb 17, 2009 7:15 AM MST reply actions

Bonds wasn't the only athlete in the book..

The main charactor in the book is BALCO, and all the athletes they were involved with. Did you know that in 1998 they tested most of the Denver Broncos for “mineral” difficencies? Bill Romanowski was a key player in introducing steroids into the BALCO lab. On the day the lab was raided Romo called the BALCO offices over 30 times! The book also talks about Giambi, Sheffield and many other baseball players. Some of the most damning evidence was against Marion Jones revealing how she snuck “the Clear” into the 2000 Sydney Olympics in a vial labeled flaxseed oil.

Keepin' warm by the hot stove season.

by Charlie77 on Feb 17, 2009 10:36 AM MST up reply actions

These are just highlights from the book...

It also describes how the HGH was made. Not by a pharmaceutical company, but a home scientist named Patrick Arnold who had discovered a 1969 textbook titled Androgens and Anabolic Agents, Chemistry and Pharmacology. Arnold began creating a drug once used to treat children with growth problems but had been discontinued because of its toxicity levels. The drugs were too toxic to pass FDA scrutiny in the 60’s, but now Olympic caliber athletes were injecting it into their bodies!

Keepin' warm by the hot stove season.

by Charlie77 on Feb 17, 2009 10:42 AM MST up reply actions

Now THAT

sounds like the most interesting part to me, but then again, I like that kinda stuff.

We are truly in the presense of greatness here…-- unnamedDBacksfan

by DbacksSkins on Feb 18, 2009 5:05 PM MST up reply actions

I was suprised how much...

Pharmaceuticals were homegrown by men with very little education. It indicated that 1.) The chemicals were fairly easy to make and 2.) They were completely laking any regulation meaning it could be cut and tainted with anything, similar to Cocaine. Who knows what these guys were putting in their bodies.

The Olympians were the interesting part for me. How Balco created these World Record holders with medication that defied any current test. It really jaded my view of the Olympics.

Keepin' warm by the hot stove season.

by Charlie77 on Feb 18, 2009 9:16 PM MST up reply actions

Jaded your view of the Olympics?

As if 8 yr old Chinese gymnasts with passports claiming they’re 16 wasn’t enough? As if Jacques Rogge’s admonition of Usain Bolt but his turning a blind eye to Chinese human rights abuses wasn’t enough?

Eh… USA Track & Field has been tainted by steroids scandals for decades. That’s why the sport enjoys virtually no popularity in this country.

We are truly in the presense of greatness here…-- unnamedDBacksfan

by DbacksSkins on Feb 19, 2009 8:15 AM MST up reply actions

You really think Bolt is clean?

The Jamaican creamed the World Record while showing off. As a traditional 200m runner he came out of nowhere to all of a sudden dominate the 100m. Those two lengths are quite different.

The age thing doesn’t bother me as much, in the US people hold their kids back a year in school so they can dominate the younger kids in sports. Now its unfair that younger girls are winning at gymnastics? I don’t know how that is a disadvantage. Although it does show the lack of concern China has for its population and future health risks.

Keepin' warm by the hot stove season.

by Charlie77 on Feb 19, 2009 10:46 AM MST up reply actions

I don’t know whether or not Bolt is clean, and I don’t really care to speculate. But for sleazy scumbag Jacques Rogge to publicly condemn Bolt’s actions while turning a completely blind eye to the blatant human rights abuses committed under his nose during the Olympics smacks of a terrible sort of hypocrisy. Also, I don’t particularly buy the argument that a 200m guy can’t successfully switch to the 100m without PEDs.

The age thing doesn’t necessarily bother me in terms of competition, in that I’m not sure I really believe the “fearlessness” argument. (The “lighter” and “more flexible” arguments make more sense, though) What bothers me is the principle that not only is the Chinese team plainly ignoring the rules; it’s ignoring them institutionally — printing out falsified passports, etc. — and yet, again, Rogge thinks that one Jamaican grandstanding after winning a gold medal is noteworthy while the host country’s blatant disregard for your own rules is not. Of course, falsifying ages isn’t exactly unheard of among totalitarian countries. (It is true that it took complete idiocy on the part of the North Koreans to finally get caught, though)

Sally Jenkins of the WaPo had a truly excellent column about this awhile back that I agreed with wholeheartedly.

We are truly in the presense of greatness here…-- unnamedDBacksfan

by DbacksSkins on Feb 19, 2009 12:34 PM MST up reply actions