Rules are not made to be broken by athletes Bonds, Landis cast negative light on pro stars

Jurors in criminal cases are asked to apply the reasonable man test. The system asks people to view an issue from a neutral, non-biased position and draw conclusions that a reasonable person would draw.

Sports fans are being asked again to apply this test.

We continue with the Barry Bonds’ steroid affair. Would a reasonable man believe Bonds, who says he took steroids, but did not know what they were? No.

He should have been suspended by the Giants, his team, or MLB long ago. The fact he still plays and makes a mockery of any honesty left in sports is disgusting.

Next in line, and it is a long line … Did the Tour de France champ, Floyd Landis of the U.S., use steroids? The first test says probably. The second test is to come. He says he did not.

Austin Murphy, the Sports Illustrated writer who covered the race, says as a bike racing fan he wishes he could believe none of this went on, but he calls it the “most sordid sport” when it comes to use of performance-enhancing drugs.

What must necessarily come into issue again is whether Lance Armstrong was a user. He has become a “hero” with his charitable work in addition to the multiple cycling titles. He has made tens of millions of dollars. Is he trying to buy is way around doping problems?

Dick Pound, the head of the anti doping committee for the Olympics, has repeatedly said the tests performed on Armstrong for doping have been full of holes. Armstrong has used his positive stature in the pubic eye to dismiss Pound.

Beware Bonds’ current refrain: “It’s time to move on.” From what? Lies? Illegalities? Soiled records? As fans we either stay the course or lose the games to the best pharmacist.

Put your reasonable person hat on again. Guilt must be proven, but any whitewash is unacceptable.

The continued flush of sports down the illegal activities toilet is nowhere near its end. This is all about money. Cyclists, runners, swimmers, ballplayers etc., continue their attempt to outrun drug testers because there is money to be made, lots of it, in winning sporting events.

The danger today is that we as sports fans, the ones who provide the money, become hardened to the continuing laundry list of violations and lies. The critical surveillance must be sustained.

What must become the norm is the position of sports fans that such violations are never acceptable. Anything less and we energize the violators to continue.

Worse, we invite younger and younger athletes to emulate the acts of athletes they view as stars, or worse, heroes.

While it may be too much to hope for, – pro sports to again be played for the love of the game in addition to the dollars – it is not too much to ask that the games be played by the rules.

Old Town native Gary Thorne is an ESPN and ABC sportscaster.