Co-Author of Bonds Book: Steroid Use Taints Home Run Record

By: Joe Strupp San Francisco Chronicle investigative reporter Lance Williams, co-author of an upcoming blockbuster book detailing Barry Bonds' extensive steroid use, hopes the new book, among other things, severely taints Bonds' home run chase of Babe Ruth's and Hank Aaron's home run records.

"We all are in an exercise of denial if we celebrate it," Williams told E&P Tuesday about the expectation that Bonds will surpass Aaron's 714 home run mark this season, and potentially Aaron's 755 record in 2007. "It is asking fans to participate in something that is not on the level."

Williams, who penned the book, "Game of Shadows" with fellow Chronicle scribe Mark Fainaru-Wada, added that "fans are coming to realize the extent of banned drug use in the game and what it means."

The book, published by Gotham Books, is due for release March 27, with excerpts in the new issue of Sports Illustrated, set for distribution on Wednesday. Extracts released on the magazine's Web site today have drawn massive interest (see E&P story).

The Chronicle also plans a separate excerpt in this Sunday's paper. The book follows Williams and Fainaru-Wada's heralded 2003 reporting in the Chronicle that disclosed Bonds had used illegal steroids, basing much of the reporting on secret federal grand jury testimony by Bonds and New York Yankees slugger Jason Giambi.

The book, which the duo spent about seven months last year researching and writing, goes beyond the Chronicle reporting into further details of Bonds' alleged steroid use, including injections and alleged use of human growth hormone, dating back to 1998. (Bonds has denied all this.) In addition, the writers discuss similar use by track and field stars such as Marion Jones, football players that include Bill Romanowski, and various other baseball players.

"We hope that the book will encourage Major League Baseball to get a handle on the drug problem," Williams said. "There is substantial new material in the book, especially material about motivation, why things happened when they did. Some of the information that would not have made stand-alone news stories."

The book describes Bonds' motivation as far back as 1998, when sluggers Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa were chasing the single-season home run record, which McGwire eventually broke with 70 homers. "Bonds knew he was a better player than McGwire and decided to change his game," Williams said. "A guy who was physically quite different transformed himself into this linebacker-type body. It was important to understand his mindset, an important revelation when we got sources who could help us with that. The 'why' is really interesting."

The Sports Illustrated excerpts reveal that Bonds allegedly injected a steroid called Winstrol during five seasons, along with others. Williams said such revelations were found through various sources, including testimony from the grand jury.

"The Bonds section tries to explain why a great player would do things and how and the results," Williams said. "You will learn things you didn't know. How the BALCO scandal unfolded and the motivations of the people who were caught up in it. We think there is news in it -- the scope of Bonds drug use from 1998 to the present, the details of it have never been compiled in this way."

When Bonds first heard of the book today, he dismissed it and said he would not read it, according to Sports Illustrated. Williams said that did not surprise him, but declined to predict how it might affect the player's upcoming season.

"He is an unpredictable man," Williams said, adding that his steroid use should be a part of the upcoming discussions about Bonds and his home run totals. "My hope and belief is that there should be that conversation. In the past, baseball has been forced to confront issues because of these kinds of things."

When the reporters began their book leave in the spring of 2005, they arranged with Chronicle editors to reveal any newsworthy updates on the case in the paper. Williams said they came off their leave three or four times to write for the paper, such as when court hearings were held and other updates noted.

"We tried to take care of the paper first because we could not have done any of this without their assistance and cooperation," said Williams, who is back at his old investigative beat for the paper. "We cover BALCO as news happens."

Chronicle Editor Phil Bronstein said he had no problem with revelations in the book that did not get reported in the newspaper. "There is a level of detail that is inherent in the writing of a book." Bronstein said. "They did the appropriate reporting for us. There may be a bigger splash as a result of the book. We understood that there might be statements in the book and conclusions we did not publish. They were on leave and as with a lot of books by journalists, they may do additional reporting."

Williams added that some revelations in the book were not disclosed in the newspaper, while declining to say specifically which. He said Bronstein did not dispute the authors' decision to withhold anything for the book. "I don't think he is mad at me," Williams said. "When we saw something that was clearly a news story, we contacted the paper."

Baseball did not ban performance-enhancing drugs until after the 2002 season.

?I've read what was reported,? Bonds' agent, Jeff Borris, told The Associated Press on Tuesday. ?Barry is looking forward to playing this year and the improved health of his knee, and being as productive as he's ever been.?

Phone messages left by the AP seeking comment from Bonds' attorney and publicist were not immediately returned Tuesday.