Steroid issue from a "personal" viewpoint

[Jihad]

Yes I understand that this has been done a million times, and no I don't care. If you're too tired of the issue, please skip reading this. I will tell you that what I am about to discuss is very rarely discussed, and it includes a personal experience.

First off let me preface this with my undying love for both Barry Bonds and the Giants, and the effect of those sentiments on my own take of this situation. But my input comes from personal experience. Not with steroids, but with growth in general.

Sometime during my Sophomore year at USNA, I completely ripped my right shoulder out of its socket. Being a midshipman, I was obviously in at least decent shape, but nothing spectacular. After my surgery, I spent a full 6 months completely physically inactive.

One morning I woke up, realized how weak I had become, and got very upset, very determined. I started working out for 3-4 hours a day, pretty insane intensity levels. After about 6 months, I had gone from 220 lbs and very weak (6'1") to 200 pounds with power #'s that I'm sure would rival Barry's.

Along the way, I hit some plateau's and used some supplements to help me. I took one full cycle of creatine, and one bottle of Ripped Fuel, but no others whatsoever.

Yes, I had to wake up at 5AM to sneak in cardio before military/academic obligations kicked in. Yes, I was borderline insane. Yes, I was going on 2-5 hours of sleep for a full 6 months. But guess what? I did it without steroids, and I was a totally different person. People would look at me exactly the way I assume they look at Barry, with a sort of reverant amazement and definetely disbelief. People would constantly ask me in the gym what I was supplementing with or what special secret I have, the answer was none. Just a ton of time, and a lot of hard work.

My point to all of this is not that Barry didn't supplement. I, just like every other clown in the world besides 1, don't really know the answer, but it looks like he may have. My point is that it can be done, and when people constantly use the argument of his "incredible gains" being impossible without steroids, I knowingly laugh my ass off.

Listen guys, for the his entire career, Barry's work ethic, motivation, and drive have absolutely never come into question. During the first half of his career all of that work was poured into speed and pure hitting. Then the game changed, and so did his body. Is there anybody who will really argue that it is impossible, or even really that difficult, to gain 10 or even 30 pounds of muscle in a year? What about with the help of a full time nutritionist and fitness/strength coach?

That's all I got.

[TheNoodleMan]

you lost weight, barry gained weight.
apples and oranges.
-noodles
p.s. how about your hat size?

[fryKing]

also, Sophmore year vs. 30+...

[slickpoppa]

do you now have a swollen head?

[Green Kool Aid]

wow--

this was totally enlightening. i no longer think barry bonds used steroids, even unintentionally!

[Kneel B4 Zod]

I gained 20 pounds my freshman year too, but that was mostly b/c of Golden Anniversary Light. Imagine how much I would have gained if I was drinking regular beer!! It boggles the mind.

[tolbiny]

[ QUOTE ]

My point to all of this is not that Barry didn't supplement. I, just like every other clown in the world besides 1, don't really know the answer, but it looks like he may have. My point is that it can be done, and when people constantly use the argument of his "incredible gains" being impossible without steroids, I knowingly laugh my ass off.

[/ QUOTE ]

You went from a guy who was in "decent" shape, to a sloth for 6 months to a guy who worked out like a mad man for 6 months. Barry was already an elite athlete working out for years, his baseline was much higher, in fact it wasn't even really a baseline, he was in peak physical condition.
Barry also did this when he was in his Mid- thirties. A period in which most hitters are in serious decline. Everything about his story is freakish.

[RedBean]

Good point, Jihad. I feel the same way, but good luck trying to convince those who already made up their minds and just fill in the facts to suit their needs.

For what it's worth....the Giants equipment manager has stated that Bond's hat size hasn't changed since he was acquired in 1993.

Anybody have any definitive evidence on the head size issue?

Hater: "But I see with my bare eyes on TV that it is bigger."

Me: "Well, you must have some sort of amazing eyesight."

Hster: "No, not really, I just believe whatever people in the media tell me to believe, and parrot it back as fact."

[HubertCumberdale]

Are you serious? His head is clearly much bigger than it used to be.

[DCopper04]

[ QUOTE ]
After about 6 months, I had gone from 220 lbs and very weak (6'1") to 200 pounds with power #'s that I'm sure would rival Barry's.


[/ QUOTE ]

Your argument is based on your personal experience, and your belief that you can achieve similar results as Barry without using supplements. But saying you're "sure" your numbers rival his is no different than others saying they're "sure" he used steroids. How can you be so sure that your numbers stack up to his? If you found out that his numbers blew yours out of the water, would your opinion change? And lastly, do you think you could sustain your strength over a 162-game season, like Barry does?