Bored 0 Report post Posted October 5, 2004 http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2004/maga...1011/index.html Severing Bonds In a universe of limos, personal chefs and performance-enhancers, two stars clashed Updated: Monday October 4, 2004 8:25PM By Tom Verducci Gary Sheffield was testifying before a federal grand jury in San Francisco in 2003 when a prosecutor held up the testoterone-based steroid known as "the cream," supplied by the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative. "Do you know what this is?" Sheffield was asked. "Yeah, I do," Sheffield said. "What did they tell you it was for?" "My wounds," said Sheffield, who then rolled up his right pants leg to show a surgical scar on the outside of his knee. "It was like a cortisone to heal these wounds. I rubbed it on every night and it helped me." Sheffield says he was not told that the cream, which he used before and during the 2002 season when he played for the Atlanta Braves, was an illegal steroid. "It was like you could go to a store and find something like that. That's what was in my thoughts," he says. "I put it on my legs and thought nothing of it. I kept it in my locker. The trainer saw my cream." Sheffield says it shocked him when news broke that "the cream" and "the clear," another balm supplied by BALCO, were designer steroids. "That's why I was mad," he says. "I want everybody to be on an even playing field." Sheffield was introduced to BALCO by someone he now describes as a former friend: Barry Bonds. Sheffield says he has no knowledge of what, if any, enhancers Bonds may have used, but he did provide SI with a harsh firsthand look at the inner circle of Bonds's trainers. (Bonds, through a spokesperson, declined to address Sheffield's comments, saying only, "I wish nothing but the best for Gary. I want him to win the MVP. He deserves it.") Sheffield says he and Bonds enjoyed a casual friendship when the Giants leftfielder invited Sheffield to live and train with him in San Francisco for a few weeks before the 2002 season. "He said, 'I got guys here, they can get your urine and blood and prescribe a vitamin specifically for your blood type and what your body needs,' " Sheffield says. "And that's what I did." Bonds introduced Sheffield to BALCO president Victor Conte as well as to members of Bonds' support team, which included chiropractors, a track coach, a stretching coach and a strength coach, Greg Anderson. He and Conte were two of four men indicted Feb. 12 on charges of conspiring to distribute performance-enhancing drugs. Sheffield says he did not deal directly with anyone from BALCO after his initial meeting with Conte, but that the company gave vitamins to Anderson, and Anderson gave them to Sheffield. (Through his lawyer, Anderson declined to comment on providing Sheffield with any BALCO products.) "The only thing Greg Anderson does is what Barry tells him to do," Sheffield says. "Barry ran everything. If I'm training and if he sees Greg making me do one curl too many, it's an argument: 'I told you, don't have him do no more than he needs!' So I knew Greg was a puppet. All these guys around [bonds] were puppets. "They used to confide in me about how they hated it. I told them, 'You knew what you were getting into. You accept his money. You accept the status when you're around him. But you don't want to deal with the backlash of what comes out of his mouth, and you want to complain to me.'" Soon after Sheffield arrived in San Francisco, the friendship between him and Bonds began to sour. Bonds insisted that Sheffield stay at his house and not rent a car. He insisted that Sheffield not pay for anything, though Sheffield did bring his personal chef. "[it was], 'It's my way or no way,' " Sheffield says. "I'm not a child. I make $11 million. I can buy what I want." To thank Bonds for inviting him into his home, Sheffield arranged for the two of them to see a boxing match in Miami on Feb. 2, 2002. "I was going to pay for the plane, the flight, pay for the limo service, the hotel," Sheffield says. "He gets my mail. He looks in my mail and sees he can get better seats, so he gets better seats. He can get a better flight, so he gets a better flight. He can get a better limo service. And he can get a better hotel. So basically my plan, in trying to do something in return, he wound up doing it. And [that sort of behavior] just escalated." Another time, Sheffield arranged for a limo and tickets for him and Bonds to see the Sacramento Kings host the Los Angeles Lakers. "He complained the whole drive," Sheffield says. "'Man, I could have drove. We would have gotten there a lot faster.' The whole time. And I'm saying to myself, Never again. Never again." Sheffield says the breaking point occurred one morning when Bonds departed for their morning workout without him, leaving Sheffield to scramble for transportation to the gym. When Sheffield eventually showed up, he found Bonds laughing at him with someone he later learned was a writer for Men's Journal. "He sold me out to the media," Sheffield says. Though Sheffield says he was under doctor's orders not to run because of his knee, he did so anyway because Bonds and his trainers wanted him to. "Now all of a sudden my knee was hurting," Sheffield says. "He said something to me [about being late]. I did not respond, because if I did respond at that particular moment, I would have knocked him out. That's how I was feeling. [but] I said [to myself], No, I'm just going to walk away, and when I say walk away I mean walk away." Sheffield flew home to Florida with his chef. The chef told him, "Gary, I want to confess something. [bonds] made an offer to hire me: He'll get me a car, give me a place to stay and pay off my student loan." Shortly after they returned, Sheffield says he and his chef parted ways. Sheffield says about a month later Bonds called him to inquire about why the chef was no longer working for Sheffield but made no mention of a related development: Bonds had hired him. "That's the kind of person I found out I was dealing with," Sheffield says. "To me, I don't want friends like that. I never will have friends like that." Soon Sheffield received a call from one of Bonds' team. According to Sheffield, Bonds had initially insisted that Sheffield not pay for anything, but now he was told to settle his tab with BALCO and others. Bonds also told Sheffield that BALCO would no longer supply him with vitamins. "I called BALCO. 'Do I owe you anything?' " Sheffield says. " 'Well, you have a bill ...' I told my wife, 'You write the check.' That's how I got linked to BALCO." Sheffield hit .307 in 2002 after training with Bonds, but with 25 home runs and 84 RBIs, it was a down year for him. "I had my worst year ever," he says. "I gave him too much credit. When you listen to another person on an everyday basis drill into you numbers, numbers, numbers, and you've never been that way, it doesn't work. I don't play for numbers. When I played to try to get numbers, I didn't get them." Adds Sheffield, "I never wished anything bad on [bonds]. I want him to achieve what he wants to achieve, but what I want more is that his life gets right. That he can have compassion for other people. And that's what I want the most." Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Damaramu 0 Report post Posted October 5, 2004 We all knew he was a jerk..... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
UseTheSledgehammerUh 0 Report post Posted October 5, 2004 ***To thank Bonds for inviting him into his home, Sheffield arranged for the two of them to see a boxing match in Miami on Feb. 2, 2002. "I was going to pay for the plane, the flight, pay for the limo service, the hotel," Sheffield says. "He gets my mail. He looks in my mail and sees he can get better seats, so he gets better seats. He can get a better flight, so he gets a better flight. He can get a better limo service. And he can get a better hotel. So basically my plan, in trying to do something in return, he wound up doing it. And [that sort of behavior] just escalated."*** Sounds like the plot to Single White Female 2...except they're black and make baseball players... I know Bonds is married, too, or at least has kids, from the pathetic "Please Pitch to my Daddy" signs. Bonds is a fucking dick. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DerangedHermit 0 Report post Posted October 5, 2004 I know Bonds is married, too, or at least has kids, from the pathetic "Please Pitch to my Daddy" signs. Bonds is a fucking dick. It's all his illegitimate children. Barry Bonds is the anti-Christ! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Staravenger Report post Posted October 5, 2004 Gary to Barry: Kiss my ass! Nothing new here, I think only a blind guy in Turkey has no idea abut Bonds' reputation, but it's still entertaining to read. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest whitemilesdavis Report post Posted October 5, 2004 The odd thing about this is noone likes Sheffeild either. These two guys were made for each other. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Staravenger Report post Posted October 5, 2004 Sorta like the MLB version of Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal? Anyway, why don't people like Sheffield? I've never paid attention to his popularity (or lack thereof) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest whitemilesdavis Report post Posted October 5, 2004 Basicly the same reason they don't like Bonds. He's kinda surly to the media, acts spoiled at times, that type of thing. If he had the numbers that Bonds has, he would be just as hated as Bonds. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Slayer 0 Report post Posted October 5, 2004 Yeah, well there is one thing Gary has that ol' Barry doesn't: A World Series ring Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest whitemilesdavis Report post Posted October 5, 2004 Which one of Gary's 23 teams happened to win a World Series the year he played for them? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Slayer 0 Report post Posted October 5, 2004 1997 Marlins He was actually one of the few players who wasn't brought in during the free-agent binge in '96, being sent over by the Padres in the middle of Florida's first season Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kkktookmybabyaway 0 Report post Posted October 5, 2004 Jeez, who wasn't on that '97 Marlins team?... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Slayer 0 Report post Posted October 5, 2004 I tossed a couple pitches in Game 3 of the WS that year Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Smues Report post Posted October 5, 2004 Jeez, who wasn't on that '97 Marlins team?... Barry Bonds Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Staravenger Report post Posted October 5, 2004 Jeez, who wasn't on that '97 Marlins team?... Barry Bonds and Sammy Sosa Sheffield was with the team for 5 Years (3 full years, 2 split) from the Summer of 1993 through Summer of 1998 if memory is correct. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Smues Report post Posted October 5, 2004 Sounds right to me, I remember he went over there in 93 when San Diego got rid of just about everyone except Gwinn. Then in 98 he went to LA when Florida basically did the same thing, except I don't think they kept anybody good. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mik 0 Report post Posted October 5, 2004 Gary Sheffield is my childhood hero. Whenever a username needs a number after it, I always add a 10 because of Sheffield. I wore 10 in baseball all through little league and high school. Still the best Marlin ever, IMO. I think Cabrera will overtake him in my mind in about two years, but I still love Gary. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kkktookmybabyaway 0 Report post Posted October 5, 2004 Jeez, who wasn't on that '97 Marlins team?... Barry Bonds And thank God -- one of the few pleasures in my life is him and Racist Dusty without WS rings, even though both could buy me at least a thousand times over. (Did Racist Dusty ever win a ring as a player?...) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
B. Brian Brunzell 0 Report post Posted October 5, 2004 Gary Sheffield is my childhood hero. Whenever a username needs a number after it, I always add a 10 because of Sheffield. I wore 10 in baseball all through little league and high school. Still the best Marlin ever, IMO. I think Cabrera will overtake him in my mind in about two years, but I still love Gary. I could never wear the number of my childhood hero, Dale Murphy. When I played Little League, the smallest jerseys were the single digit numbers, and I was a tall kid. Damn genetics. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bob_barron 0 Report post Posted October 5, 2004 I hate Gary Sheffield. The guy was awful in the two postseason series he played for us. I'm glad he left and went to the Yankees Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Smues Report post Posted October 5, 2004 I hate Gary Sheffield. The guy was awful in the two postseason series he played for us. I'm glad he left and went to the Yankees I can't really hate Sheffield for his 2 year stint in Atlanta. He had a decent 02 and a killer of 03. Yes I blame him for the NLDS 02 disaster (striking out with 2 on and no outs in the bottom of the 9th, shame on you) but I can't hate him for that. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bored 0 Report post Posted October 5, 2004 Personally I think the most interesting part of the story is Sheffield talking about the people at BALCO being Barry's puppets. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bob_barron 0 Report post Posted October 5, 2004 I hate Gary Sheffield. The guy was awful in the two postseason series he played for us. I'm glad he left and went to the Yankees I can't really hate Sheffield for his 2 year stint in Atlanta. He had a decent 02 and a killer of 03. Yes I blame him for the NLDS 02 disaster (striking out with 2 on and no outs in the bottom of the 9th, shame on you) but I can't hate him for that. Come on! He averaged .103!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vasarian_Brandy 0 Report post Posted October 5, 2004 Jeez, who wasn't on that '97 Marlins team?... Let's see... Charlie Nagy, Jaret Wright, Albert Belle, Manny Ramirez, Jim Thome, Sandy Alomar Jr... Basically the whole of the non WS-winning '97 Indians team. Though Jose Mesa might've been on the Marlin's payroll for Game 7. But no, I'm not bitter. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Slayer 0 Report post Posted October 5, 2004 Did Racist Dusty ever win a ring as a player? 1981 Dodgers Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Smues Report post Posted October 5, 2004 I hate Gary Sheffield. The guy was awful in the two postseason series he played for us. I'm glad he left and went to the Yankees I can't really hate Sheffield for his 2 year stint in Atlanta. He had a decent 02 and a killer of 03. Yes I blame him for the NLDS 02 disaster (striking out with 2 on and no outs in the bottom of the 9th, shame on you) but I can't hate him for that. Come on! He averaged .103!!! I hate him for that series sure, but not overall. He helped Atlanta alot toward winning those two division titles. If I wanted to hate him it would be for always bailing the Yankees out in the 9th inning. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Salacious Crumb Report post Posted October 6, 2004 Basicly the same reason they don't like Bonds. He's kinda surly to the media, acts spoiled at times, that type of thing. If he had the numbers that Bonds has, he would be just as hated as Bonds. I actually think Sheffield's reputation has improved a lot since he came to the Braves. I didn't hear any stories of him being a jerk like in LA and everywhere before. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lomasmoney 0 Report post Posted October 6, 2004 So wait Sheffield is complaining because Bonds offered to take care of this guy and invite him into his home. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bob_barron 0 Report post Posted October 6, 2004 Gary Sheffield- 0-2 Still got it! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kkktookmybabyaway 0 Report post Posted October 6, 2004 Did Racist Dusty ever win a ring as a player? 1981 Dodgers Mother Fucker. Oh well, I can always hope he never wins one as a manager. Say, didn't the '81 Dodgers have a rookie Hispanic pitch well in the playoffs -- in the COLD weather? Well, perhaps Fernando just pitched all his WS games in LA, where it's warmer than NY... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
