Racism Behind Bonds Investigation

That's the feeling of more than 50% of blacks queried recently for an ESPN/Seton Hall poll. Only 26.3% of whites surveyed felt that Barry Bonds was treated unfairly in past investigations, compared to 52.5% of blacks polled. 631 persons in total were polled - 311 women, 320 men.

Questions concerning the government's probe produced the same results- a 2:1 margin of blacks to whites in believing it was unfair.

As far as an asterisk on the all-time home run record, the numbers actually reduced slightly for black voters (50.4%), while increasing for white voters (34.8%). Interestingly, 45% of blacks polled felt Bonds should go to jail if found guilty of the federal charges against him, while only 34.3% of white voters felt that way.

It's our feeling that although racism certainly does still play a big part in our society, it is Bonds' arrogance and seemingly "untouchable" attitude that his driven the investigation against him. Pete Rose was certainly not targeted by Bart Giamatti for being white when his gambling was investigated. But Rose could have gotten a much better deal if not for his ego and arrogance. Bonds' attitude will most certainly cost him much more than if he had been upfront and contrite.