Customer Reviews

Asterisk: Home Runs, Steroids, and the Rush to Judgment

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I am not a baseball fan, or follow the stories about athletes using steroids. I was very surprised, and found myself turning the pages and inhaling the information. I enjoyed this book because its entertaining, and informative.

Ezra certainly did his research before writing this book. It is clear that there is a strong case to make that Barry Bonds never once used a steroid, and an even stronger case that if he did use them, that they did not lead to his extraordinary success. The author backs each of his arguments strongly, using quotes, facts, and statistics that keep the reader engaged. He also doesn't hesitate to bash the book "Game of Shadows," and I think he brings up several interesting points. Bonds has always been a complete jerk, so many of us would love to see him go down in infamy. Unfortunately for such people, the facts just don't line up. Why would Anderson lie? Why has no one ever seen Bonds with steroids? Why did Novitzky fail to record his conversation with Conte? With so many out to get Bonds, I do not understand why we still do not have clear-cut evidence linking Bonds to steroids. Overall, a great, fast read for any baseball fan, and anyone who feels Barry Bonds does not belong in the Hall of Fame.

This was a GREAT book. It does not sugar-coat Bonds instead it challenges the beliefs/charges. It gives very clear and obvious flaws to the "evidence" and "belief" that Bonds cheated. We will not know if he cheated until he admits it. The trial will not bear out whether he actually cheated. Read this book and open your eyes to the possibility that we witnessed one of the most amazing athletes that every played the hardest game every invented. Under no circumstances should any man, woman or child be "convicted" just because they are the biggest jerks on the planet. Ted fell into that category and he was not nearly as revered as he should have been. Unfortunately, once the bell has been rung...it cannot be UNrung.

I've read almost all of the books out there that deal with steroids in baseball, and this one really is the most interesting of them all. Ezra is able to mount a very convincing defense of Bonds, without resorting to typical 'lawyer' techniques like taking incriminating evidence and trying to come up with some reason it shouldn't be included. What amazed me was how much of the 'evidence' against Bonds has been grossly exaggerated, or even fabricated.

The author looks at reports that Bonds gained 40 pounds of muscle in one year and that his bones have increased in size (among other purported evidence), and those reports are almost categorically shot down. The author also points out that no one has ever claimed to have given Bonds steroids, injected him, or even seen him taking anything suspicious.

Whether you like Bonds or not, this is a great book to read. I've always figured it to be very likely that Bonds did take steroids or HGH. This book seriously makes me wonder whether I'd jumped the gun and declared him guilty like all too many other fans.

Here I was in the midst of a deadline for work when I was sent an advance copy of this book. I told myself I would only read the first few pages and then get back to work....well needless to say it was several hours before I could put the book down and only because my job was at stake. Very engaging book. I am a baseball fanatic and had already made up my mind about Bonds. After reading this book, there is certainly more doubt in my mind. The author provided many intriguing insights. The author like me doesn't like Bonds the person much but Bonds the player is still a once in a generation marvel and I am now willing to give him the benefit of the doubt until proven otherwise. This book is well written and worth your time.

I joined most Americans by forming the opinion that Barry Bonds was a cheat and a steroid user. All of the evidence was there, wasn't it? Well, actually no! Attorney David Ezra finally takes a look at the actual evidence and in doing so has convinced me that Barry isn't a cheater and there should be no "asterisk" next to his name and records. I was amazed to learn about Barry's intelligence, athleticism, and work ethic. This book should be read by the media, the U.S. Attorney's office, and MLB. We are to quick to rush to judgment when the person we're judging seems to be a jerk.

Well, I have changed my mind and so will you. This is must reading for all baseball fans.

Thanks, David Ezra for a great read!!!

Although fairly well written this book reads like a brief from one of Bonds lawyers. Even a person with limited knowledge of Bonds would not be in the least swayed by the arguements presented. The evidence against Bonds is overwhelming-Bonds himself does not deny that he used PED's-he simply says he didnt "knowingly use them". This book might have had some merit in in 2002 but with all that has come to light since then it is weak material indeed.