Barry Bonds: Baseball's man without a country
Barry Bonds has clearly lost touch with reality. His agent, Jeff Borris, recently said that he’s actively seeking out contending teams for Bonds to sign with for next season because the 43-year-old player wants to go out a World Series winner.
Remember, even in his hometown of San Francisco – one of the few places where Bonds was cheered – he was shown the door.
So let’s review: A) Bonds is facing a federal perjury and obstruction of justice indictment (which the agent contends won’t conflict with next season); B) In many quarters of the baseball world, Bonds is a pariah for having broken the Aaron home run record under the dark cloud of steroid suspicion; C) In a week or two, the Mitchell report will come out and if Bonds’ name isn’t in it, the performance-enhancing substance bonfire certainly will be aglow.
And with all of that, Bonds and his agent actually believe that a contending team would be willing to sign a sore-kneed aging slugger who was good for 28 homers and 66 RBIs last year.
The reaction by Detroit manager Jim Leyland -- a guy with a contending team certainly -- was representative, I thought, of any sane baseball person's thoughts. Leyland politely remarked: "I certainly would like to see him play. Absolutely. I know he's been working out. I know he's in great shape. I don't know where the fit will be for him (emphasis mine), but I certainly hope there's one."
Left unsaid by Leyland: "But I’d sooner have a radioactive rabid hamster set loose in my dugout."
Photo credit: Associated Press
Comments
BERRY BONDS IS A PRODUCT OF OUR TIMES. PUT THE BUTTS IN THE SEATS "BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY."
IF YOU HAD BOBBY BONDS FOR A FATHER AND WILLIE MAYS AS A GODFATHER YOU BETTER BE THE BEST THAT YOU COULD BE "BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY." I'M A GIANTS FAN LIVED IN THE EAST BAY FOR OVER 50 YEARS AND I HATE BERRY. BUT YOU HAVE TO GIVE IT TO THE GUY. HE CAN HIT. TERRABLE OUTFIRLDER BUT HE CAN, NOT COULD, HIT.
THE HOLYER THAN THOUGH SPORTS WRITERS SELL PAPERS "BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY."
SORRY, BERRY. YOU WILL NEVER GET A RING AND NEVER GET INTO THE HALL, BUT I'M GLAD YOU ALLOWED ME TO HATE YOU.
AS A BALL PLAYER. YOU BROUGHT A LOT OF YELLING AND LAUGHING
BUT YOU, EVEN YOU, DID NOT DISERVE THIS JUMP ON THE SHARK ATTACK WAGON.
YEA, BUDDY................ THE GREATEST HITTER EVER, EVER PERIOD.
ONE OF THE TOP TEN BASEBALL PLAYERS EVER, EVER!!!!!!
OLD TIMERS, REMEMBER, 20 GALLONS OF COFFEE, GREENIES, CERTIAN COLD REMIDIES. THE BEAT GOES ON AND ON. THEY ARE SMELLING AMONIA AND CRAZY GLUE NOW FOR BETTER EYE SIGHT.
SORRY,BUDDY.
HEY, I THINK I'M STARTING TO LIKE YOU
THE GAME , YES THE GAME WILL MISS YOU.
ONE LAST THING --- " HOW MANY STUDS WERE JUICED TO THE GILLS WHEN THEY HAD TO PITCH TO HIM?"
I'D RATHER SEE A JUICED HITTER THAN A JUICED 100 MPR MAJOR LEAGUE PITCHER.
BASEBALL WILL SURVIVE. THE GAME MAY NOT
GUZA MAN
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Guza Man,
Thanks for writing and you are certainly entitled to your opinion. But it's easier for folks to read if you use upper and lower case. Just a suggestion, friend.
-- Bill O.
Posted by: guza man | December 6, 2007 4:48 PM
Why is everyone looking at steroids as the source of the problem? Do they enhance your vision? Do they make you a better contact hitter? In my opinion, NO! He has the natural ability to be a great slugger. His father was no small man, so he also has the genetics. His work ethic is one of the best in the majors. There is not a man currently playing that works harder than Barry Bonds to be the best.
Posted by: Jeremy Kabzinski | December 6, 2007 5:26 PM
Actually, one of the benefits of steroid use IS enhanced vision.
Posted by: Bob | December 7, 2007 12:48 PM