As we approach the second opening day AB—that is, After Bonds—the seven-time MVP is looking for work he probably won't find and awaiting a trial for BALCO-related perjury.
Although many are gleeful to see big bad Barry get what they think has been coming to him, in truth, Barry Bonds is demonized far more than he deserves, is not given the level of respect he merits and belongs in Baseball's Hall of Fame. He was by far the best player of his time, and is assigned almost all of the blame for the steroid use that was an institutional rather than individual transgression.
The first charge levied against Bonds is that he was arrogant, rude and often mean, a dominant aspect of his personality that is usually talked up but rarely examined.
Bonds learned from his father Bobby, usually referenced simply as a talented player who never lived up to others' expectations. No one looks at Bobby as an absentee alcoholic whose misdeeds made newspapers and brought his son shame. Furthermore, Bobby taught Barry not to trust the media that bred a stand-offish attitude in many of his relationships.
The irony is that testimonials about Bonds take two views on him. The vast majority describe him as an egotistical ass, but there are some that simply call him one of the nicest people they've met.
What does this tell us? That Bonds may have a lot of interpersonal issues, but it's not like he's pure evil. Now mix that background with his massive talent, which easily bred disingenuous affection and attention, and his obnoxious demeanor seems almost unavoidable.
And does that even matter?
Plenty of high-profile athletes, past and present, were intensely egotistical and unbelievably unpleasant. Look at people like Ty Cobb and the 1986 Mets, possibly worse than Bonds but remembered as part of some imagined rich tapestry of baseball lore.
And then there was the cheating.
Yes, Bonds used performance enhancing drugs. So did McGwire. So did Sosa. So did Aaron, and he admitted it.
If we want to cast out cheating, then almost every player from the '90s, '80s, '70s, '60s and maybe even '50s should be under suspicion. The use of steroids and amphetamines spanned all those decades.
Many portray Bonds as the central figure of the steroid era and act as if his departure will signify its end.
Simply put, that's wrong. If the steroid era taints anything, it must taint everything. From the home run mashers to the 25th man who juiced to keep a major league salary (looking at you FP Santangelo, a bottom-of-the-roster guy for several major league teams).
Enough players have testified to its prevalence that fans and media members must stop looking for a scapegoat and accept the true nature of what they witnessed.
In that juiced world, Bonds was the best.
His numbers from 2000 to 2004 were unfathomable, strides better than not only past players but also his peers. What set him apart, however, was the fear he inspired.
Managers across the league deemed him so dangerous that he was intentionally walked 120 times in 147 games. In the era where many teams boasted an arsenal of juiced up weapons on the plate and on the mound, Bonds stood taller than them all.
Throw in the fact that even before the 'roids Bonds was a three-time MVP and likely Hall of Famer, he should not, nay, cannot be denied his rightful place.
Now some will hearken back to baseball's imagined pristine (some even call it sacred) history and say the cheaters are never allowed into the Hall of Fame.
Well, if cheaters must be kept out of Cooperstown, then someone should head over and start removing the busts of Gaylord Perry (spitballer), Whitey Ford (made a habit of doctoring balls) and Hank Aaron (admitted using PEDs) just as a start.
Wait, that's not happening? I guess the world will just have to accept that the last 20 years of baseball, warts and all, happened and respect one of the greatest hitters of all time.
Even if you call Bonds baseball's antichrist, the steroid era and all its faults should not be his cross to bear.
Are you gearing up to share some angry and profane opinions while lambasting Ben for his thoughts on Bonds? If so, the e-mail is breiner@wisc.edu.
