Allegations of steroid use resurface for Barry Bonds

(3-7-06) Boston, Mass.� San Francisco Chronicle reporters Mark Fainaru-Wada and Lance Williams are again shining the spotlight on Barry Bonds alleged steroid use releasing details in their new book "Game of Shadows". Expert and Director of the Center for the Study of Sport in Society at Northeastern University Peter Roby is available to comment on the implications of the release of their new book and the excerpts to be published in Sports Illustrated.

"This is the shoe that we hoped would never drop that baseball's most prolific hitter was using performance enhancing drugs. This calls into question his career from 1998 until today," said Roby.

"It's unfortunate because Bonds was a hall of fame caliber player even before the start of his alleged steroid use," said Roby. "It's also remarkable the damaging effects ego and the need to be the best has on some players. Another dark shadow has been cast over the game of baseball."

"This also illustrates the difference between playing for the love and beauty of the game and playing it for the money, the celebrity and the ego that comes with being the best. It boils down to being the best opposed to knowing you did your best," said Roby.

"It highlights what we've said about putting people on a pedestal, it doesn't make them immune to error. We should admire them for their ability to play the game but not pretend that we know them. Our true heroes in life are much more likely to be the people we eat dinner with every night or we have contact with every day," said Roby.

Peter Roby is an expert on societal issues related to the sporting world, violence in sports, gender and youth issues, and urban sports issues. Formerly vice president of U.S. marketing for Reebok International, Roby has 20 plus years of experience in athletics and marketing. As an expert, he has been frequently referenced in The New York Times, The Boston Globe, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times, The Palm Beach Post, Indianapolis Star, and Sports Illustrated. A regular television, his credits include ESPN's Outside the Lines, The NBC's Nightly News, CNN's Paula Zahn Show, ABC's The Larry Elder Show, CN8's SportsPulse, and NECN's Newsnight.

About the Center for the Study of Sport in Society
The Center for the Study of Sport in Society at Northeastern University is the world's leading social justice organization that uses sport to create social change both nationally and internationally. The flagship organization located in the heart of Boston, Mass. was founded in 1984 by Dr. Richard Lapchick and touts branches in Baltimore, Md. and Phoenix, Ariz. Through research, education, and advocacy the center promotes physical activity, health, violence prevention, and diversity among young people and college and professional athletes. Sport in Society's innovative programs are all staffed by former college or professional athletes and have been awarded America's most successful violence prevention program by Lou Harris, the Peter F. Ducker Award as the most innovative non-profit program in the social sector, and have been cited as the National Crime Prevention Council's 50 Best Strategies to Prevent Violent Domestic Crimes. For more information please visit http://www.sportinsociety.org.