Michael Ventre

We’re living in an age of staggering developments. The Internet is one humongous research library, where our information needs are met instantly with a few taps on a keyboard. Satellites are regularly sending back awe-inspiring photos of our solar system. Hybrid cars are helping to limit our dependence on fossil fuels. Movies and TV shows can be downloaded to handheld devices.

Every day seems to bring new marvels in human achievement. Yet there is one area that seems to be doomed to eternal categorization as a lost cause, resulting in men and women across the globe throwing up their hands in despair and frustration:

Barry Bonds’ image.

Yes, Barry these days is Three Mile Island with legs. He is the Leona Helmsley of baseball. If you pooled all the intellectual resources at an image consultants’ convention on this project, the result would be something like this: “We got nothin’.”

Because of the BALCO scandal — which reached a crescendo with the recent release of “Game of Shadows,” a detailed account of the use of performance-enhancing substances by Bonds and others that has triggered an investigation by MLB — Barry’s credibility is currently lower than the proverbial snake belly in a wagon rut.

That’s not to say he is bereft of fans. There are still many, especially in and around San Francisco, who would wave their pompons for Barry even if he spit in their faces. There is no explanation for this, other than to point out it takes all kinds to make up a world.

MLB STEROID INVESTIGATION      Ventre: Elite players should speak out MLB launches probe of Bonds, others Celizic: Culture of cheating hurting baseball Commentary: Selig simply trying to save face Ventre: Hey, Barry, try saying you’re sorry Commentary: Stain of era will tar Bonds In Mitchell, MLB gets global troubleshooter Giambi: No regrets | Torre: Ask everyone Conte says new book ‘full of outright lies’ Risk of steroids |   Discuss | Vote: Probe OK? The 700 Club | Full section on Bonds

But outside of that dubious niche, Barry has taken a pounding, even admitting that his life “is in shambles.” At a salary in the neighborhood of $22 million, I have to assume the shambles come with an indoor lap pool and an eight-car garage.

Yet although Barry may be an imperious egomaniac, he is not pure evil, and therefore not irredeemable. So in the interests of compassion for my fellow man, I would like to offer Barry a way out of this maze of persecution.

He should tell the truth.

This will never happen, I’m afraid. Barry is too far gone. He is too dizzy from spin. He is like Humphrey Bogart in “The Caine Mutiny,” maniacally convinced that he is right and those hurling criticisms are jealous and bent on taking him down.

Steroid scandal videos MSNBC TV Torre speaks Mar. 30: Yankees manager Joe Torre talks with Keith Olbermann about the impending Major League Baseball steroid investigation on Countdown. Yankees' Giambi: It's first I've heard of it Giants shocked by timing of investigation Columnist Celizic wonders if probe is worth it This will be ‘a Barry Bonds investigation’ 'Troubled' Selig announces investigation MSNBC's Olbermann talks with WP writer 'Game of Shadows' authors on 'Today' show

Unfortunately, he’s committing the same error in judgment Pete Rose made. He mistakenly believes he has amassed enough baseball capital over the years to withstand any assault on his place in the game. Barry has tried it all, from denial to silence to playing the sympathy card (remember “You guys wanted to hurt me bad enough, you finally got me”?). Now he is at a crossroads, unsure how to proceed.

This should be a time for celebration. Instead, Barry enters 2006 trying to break the home run marks set by Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron, but each day brings more scrutiny and pressure and embarrassing news.