Even more ridiculously, people call him "mean" or "self-absorbed". That's just absurd. Anyone who expects decorum from professional athletes is a fool. In fact, I like the fact that he is a scowling, menacing black man who walks around with a severe chip on his shoulder.

it isnt absurd at all. are there only two states of being for a black professional athlete, scowling bastard or uncle tom?? seems a little extreme... this guy is a total, a-class jerk, theres one in every family. i wont even go into the fact that hes probably on steroids as that would dilute the argument.

have you heard that when he hits his 660th, they are planning on stopping the game, wherever it may be, for an 'impromptu' ceremony featuring uncle willy, passing a torch (yes, literally) to him? well, opposing teams' players think it's bullshit, as its their ballpark, and he isnt even tying or setting a record of any kind. home run 660 has no bearing in the record books. but mays and bonds have said, and i quote, "it's not about anyobody else, it's about two men." bonds cares nothing for his teammates either, hes just a whiny bastard, who happens to be a great, great player.

Bradley R. Weissenberger wrote:"Steroids" is such a non-descriptive term that it makes the person using it look foolish to me. So Barry Bonds built himself into a monster. Who cares? All I care is that he did so in a way that does not put himself at future risk, which to me doesn't seem likely considering his health and performance at forty years of age and his ridiculous exercise/stretching/nutrition routine.

how do you know that he "did so in a way that does not put himself at future risk?" we have no idea what the results of taking these new steroids are...maybe they wont hurt him, maybe he'll be dead in two years but right now we have no idea...

andyk

no, no, andy

bonds is gonna live forever

you'll see, at least you'll see some of it

As of today:

Barry Bonds is hitting .463.

His on base percentage is over .700.

His slugging percentage is over 1.100.

His OPS is over 1.800.

These are numbers for you.

I hope some of you got to see his AB against Eric Gagne a couple weeks ago at Pac Bell. What a remarkable thing it was.

It was remarkable that Gagne struck him out looking, throwing a perfect curve ball on 1-2, but the ump did not call it a strike. It was remarkable that Bonds eventually hit a high-90s fastball into the right-center field seats for a screaming HR.

But what was most remarkable was that, 2 pitches before the jack, Gagne threw him a fastball that registered 101 MPH on the radar gun- AND BONDS PULLED IT FOUL, INTO THE WATER, BALL HIT ABOUT 500 FT.

To reiterate: Barry Bonds had a ball pitched to him at 101 MPH, and he got around on it too early. Actually, way too early; the ball wasn't close to being fair.

I saw it, but I can't believe that a human being can do that.

this was indeed incredible

it was one thing to get around early on that pitch

it was another thing to hit a 99mph fastball out

but to do the 2nd thing after the first is just nuts, with gagne throwing breaking things as well....it was not humane. or human.

Wait wait wait. Let me get this straight. Tim Midgett is white?!?!?

I have realized that I am not a certified member of baseball discussions on this board. But I will butt in again, though late.

Yesterday, amidst the retirement of Edgar, I responded to Tmidgett by saying that I'd rather see Edgar in the Hall than Bonds' "inflated jerk ass." The term 'inflated' referred to Bonds both physically and psychologically.

I was unware of the presence of this thread at the time. So now I must consider my words again.

I stand by them. But that does not mean Bonds is crap.

I find it impossible to believe that Barry Bonds has not treated his body with chemicals in order to supplement the undeniably superb talents he displayed as a skinny runt with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He is smug, alloyed, grade B beef-muscle, which enables him to walk to first base more frequently (including after hitting the ball in 50-60 instances per year) and wear an even heavier gold earring.

He is smart enough to not pull a McGwire and bloat himself to the point where a simple deep knee-bend will result in a pulled hamstring.

He is an incredible power hitter, a real prick, and I love to watch him fuck up.

I sometimes wonder how often he hits to the opposite field? Then I recall that he needn't do so.

He does not fit my definition of 'crap.' Cheater? I have only conjecture. Asshole? Undeniably. But not crap.

Suggestions for Bonds' statement to the media after hitting number 715:

"I retire, and fuck you all very much."

"I'm going to Disneyland, but only if they pay me."

"This one was for Dusty."

Barry Bonds really is an incredible jerk.

"The man who wound up with the 713 ball, Air Force serviceman Carlos Oliveras, wanted Bonds to autograph it. Bonds, who did stand for a photo with Oliveras, said no. But, of course, he did ask the fan to sign a waiver form for his TV show, 'Bonds on Bonds.'"

"Bonds asked media members when they're going home. Told a mass exodus will happen once he hits No. 715, he said, 'That's the best news I've had since my children were born.'''

The fact that Barry Bonds is a jerk is perfectly fine with me.