Barry Bonds and 5 Recent Shameful Sports Developments

Do we live in a sports world where our past heroes are suddenly being vilified? Sure seems like it.

We used to collect their sports cards, wear their jerseys and seek their autographs back in the day, but here's a short list of guys we wouldn't want to be caught in the same room with today—as well as some current phenomenons that affect us all.

Barry Bonds Perjury Trial

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SAN FRANCISCO - OCTOBER 19: Former San Francisco Giants outfielder Barry Bonds acknowledges the crowd prior to Game Three of the NLCS against the San Francisco Giants during the 2010 MLB Playoffs at AT&T Park on October 19, 2010 in San Francisco, Califor

We all know the back story here.

Two MVPs with the Pirates and we thought he was just another good player with his 15 minutes of fame.

Little did we know what the future would bring.

Bonds then takes that casual home run trot over to the West Coast and posts astronomical numbers well into his late 30s.

LT the Sex Offender

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4 SEP 1992: NEW YORK GIANTS LINEBACKER LAWRENCE TAYLOR RELAXES BEFORE THEIR 13-10 WIN OVER THE LOS ANGELES RAIDERS AT THE LOS ANGELESCOLISEUM IN LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA. Mandatory Credit: Ken Levine/ALLSPORT

You simply can't discuss great defensive NFL players without mentioning Lawrence Taylor.

A 10-time Pro Bowler, Taylor was the second player in NFL history to record over 20 sacks in a season.

At the pinnacle of his career, he was a two-time NFL champion and a three-time Associated Press NFL Defensive Player of the Year—one of which he won as a rookie.

10 years after he was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame however, his life started to crumble.

Taylor recently pleaded guilty to one count of sexual misconduct and one count of patronizing a prostitute in the third degree. As part of the plea deal in avoiding jail time, LT will also have to register as a sex offender.

The NFL Lockout

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NEW ORLEANS, LA - MARCH 21: NFL commissioner Roger Goodell addresses the media during the NFL Annual Meetings at the Roosevelt Hotel on March 21, 2011 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Despite a NFL owners imposed lockout in effect since March 12 the league is c

Money, money, money. Seems like that's always what's at stake whenever pro sports shuts down.

The NFL last had a lockout in 1987, replacing players with what were routinely called "scabs" the first four to six games of the shortened season.

Almost a quarter of a century has passed since then, and the NFL still can't seem to get it right.

Relocation, Relocation, Relocation

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MIAMI, FL - FEBRUARY 22: DeMarcus Cousins #15 of the Sacramento Kings brings the ball up the floor during a game against the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena on February 22, 2011 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agree

The Sacramento Kings are the latest in a recent handful of pro sports teams considering a big move to another hot spot.

Sacramento mayor and former NBA star Kevin Johnson calls the impending move "a slow death," much like how Seattle fans felt when the Sonics moved to Oklahoma City and how Montreal fans felt when the Expos high tailed it out of Canada to Washington, DC.

Everyone's Now a Critic

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LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 15: In this photo illustration a laptop computer displays a page from the London Olympics 2012 Scedule on February 15, 2011 in London, England. A full schedule of events for the London 2012 Olympic Games was released today, wit

In a world of 24/7 media, anything and everything a professional athlete does, says, wears or reacts to will gain some sort of exposure—especially if they are high-profile players or legends like Bonds and Taylor.

Social networking mediums make everyone a critic toward their own favorite athletes and others.

The internet has become the incessant plight of criticism every athlete faces today—past or present glory.