Giants Fans, Bonds, and Steroids

For the last number of years I have heard national media from everywhere criticize Giants fans for their love and applause for Barry Bonds in spite of the mounting evidence of steroid and or HGH use.  It was amazing how Giants fans became mindless followers of Bonds who loved him for or in spite of everything he did.  At least, this is perception that was certainly given.   The truth of the matter was there were quite a few Giants fans like myself who did not particularly enjoy Barry Bonds the person and all that he stood for but, as a Giants fan,  I wanted to see the team do well and as long as he was able to play the Giants were a better team with him in there.  This is also the reason why I cheered for him when he got to the plate or made the occasional good play in the outfield.  My cheering was not an endorsement of what he had done or him personally any more than is a fans cheering for accused wife batterer is their condoning of that act.  We, as fans, root for the name on the front of the uniform and because of that we root for the name on the back.  As a general rule it is not the other way around.  I find it ironic now that after all these years where San  Francisco was the epicenter of the baseball steroid world it has become apparant that steroids were pervasive everywhere and with every team.  And most fans, whether knowingly or not cheered for a steroid abuser at some point in time in cheering for their team.  Again, as a fan I don't particularly feel horrible about that because we are rooting for the athletes between the lines.  Sure I would love everyone to have a sparkling reputation on the teams that I root for but the reality is that will never be the case.  Those who have questionable character will never be my favorite players on the team but when they have the opportunity to do something for my team I will root  for them to do well.  The truth is so would any fan!