Charge Not Equal To Guilt
The San Francisco Giants seem to have joined the chorus that immediately assumes anyone accused of or indicted with a crime is automatically guilty. In their contract with Barry Bonds, they negotiated language that empowers them to terminate the agreement if Bonds is indicted on charges not specified publicly. (One assumes that it would be in relation to the Balco case.) Let's set aside the point that there are many athletes who are arrested, indicted, and/or found guilty who don't have their contracts terminated. We'll forget why Bonds should be treated differently than other athletes. Just a petty nuisance. Let's focus instead on the fact that an indictment doesn't mean he's guilty. In this country, you are presumed innocent until proven guilty, yet there are organizations like the Giants who set themselves up as judge, jury, and executioner. I for one believe Bonds is guilty of steroid abuse and or perjury, but his guilt has to be proven in a court of law. The Giants should have no right to terminate his contract unless he's found guilty, and the union backs me up on this one 100%.