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Sporting News, The, Dec 1, 2003

(1) THE STATE OF BARRY

It's business as usual for Bonds--he comes first

Barry Bonds is within two homers of Willie Mays, 56 of Babe Ruth and 97 of all-time leader Hank Aaron. He's coming off his third straight National League MVP award and the sixth of his career.

I can barely restrain my ambivalence.

My excitement over Bonds is muted by his association with a Bay Area lab owner accused of distributing THG, a new and illegal steroid. And it's muted by his latest act of selfishness, his decision to withdraw from the Major League Baseball Players Association's group licensing program starting next season.

Bonds' possible use of performance-enhancing drugs is far more disturbing than his marketing preferences. Then again, he's setting a precedent that could prove harmful to a union that helped make both him and his late father, Bobby, wealthy.

One player agent says union head Donald Fehr appeared "crushed" by Bonds' decision at a recent agents meeting. "From a personal standpoint, obviously it was disappointing" Fehr says. "He made his decision, and we'll go from there."

Bonds says that by gaining control of his name and likeness, he will be in better position to perform community and charitable work. Frustrated by his "bad guy" image, he adds that he also wants to show fans and licensees "that I am not a difficult person to deal with."

The truth is, he always has had that opportunity but rarely has taken advantage of it. The union's group licensing program applies only to marketing deals--such as baseball cards and video games--that involve three or more players. No one has ever prevented Bonds from pursuing his own individual endorsements or reaching out to fans.

Bonds' decision probably won't cost the rank-and-file unless other stars follow suit, making the union program less appealing. Players receive less than $100,000 per season in licensing money, being paid more only if they are highlighted in campaigns. Still, Bonds' individualism is unsettling for a group that prides itself on unity. The union often withholds a percentage of its group licensing proceeds for its strike fund.

Michael Jordan could justify removing himself from the NBA union's agreement; he transcended the sport. Bonds is not at that level. His accomplishments are clouded by suspicions that players are using performance-enhancing drugs. Next season will be the first time in MLB history that players face penalties for using steroids. Until now, they've broken no rules. But me, I keep a mental asterisk beside virtually every slugging feat of the past 10 years.

Bonds is scheduled to testify next week in a federal grand jury investigation of the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative (BALCO), a nutritional supplements lab. His personal trainer, Greg Anderson, also is a target of the investigation. Bonds has used BALCO supplements and last June praised the company in a fitness magazine.

None of that means Bonds has used using performance-enhancing drugs. I just find it ironic that if he ever tested positive for steroids, it's the union that would defend him in a grievance. The same union that no longer is good enough to market him.

Great player. But don't expect me to buy any Bonds souvenirs.--Ken Rosenthal

(2) SALARY CRAPS

Cowboys regret not rolling the dice on Stephen Davis

This is how close the Cowboys are from being a Super Bowl team this season: Stephen Davis. The decision by the Cowboys to pass on making a serious effort to sign him has become the biggest blunder of the past offseason.

Davis would fit perfectly into Bill Parcells' pound-away offense. Instead, the Cowboys are stuck with Troy Hambrick, the underachieving successor to Emmitt Smith. But the Cowboys, including Parcells, made the now-mistaken judgment last spring that their team wouldn't be very good, so they hesitated to court a high-priced running back with a history of injuries.

Owner Jerry Jones wishes he could have a doover. "You look back now and see the way Davis is playing," he says, "and more important, you look where we are right now record-wise and with the offensive line playing well, and the need we have at running back. If I had known it would work out this way, would we have backstopped ourselves with Davis in case Troy wasn't there? Probably so. But we held out the promise that Hambrick might be better than (Davis)."

The Cowboys had plenty of cap room to make a strong run for Davis. Now, with Hambrick, their running game is woefully limited. This winter, they will be forced to sign a high-profile free-agent running back or draft one in the opening round, moves they could have avoided if they had pounced on Davis when they had the chance.--Paul Attner

(3) JERRY PALM'S BCS ANALYSIS

Making sense of the two-team race to be No. 2

Southern Cal breathed a huge sigh of relief when Ohio State lost to Michigan, but the Trojans shouldn't make travel arrangements for the Sugar Bowl just yet. Even if the Matt Leinart-Mike Williams combo hooks up for a dozen TDs December 6 against Oregon State, there is still a chance LSU could pass USC in the BCS rankings--even if the Tigers stay third in the voter polls.