[vincesanity82]

It's impossible to set foot in AT&T Park without feeling the inescapable presence and aura of Giants star Barry Bonds.
As surely as spanking new Yankee Stadium in 1921 became the House That Ruth Built, because of the Babe's huge influence in rejuvenating a moribund New York franchise, so too could this wonderful, understated jewel, opened in 2000, be labelled Barry's Ballpark by the Bay.
Entering through the AT&T gates into this uniquely Bonds-centric, currently losing but seemingly content baseball environment with all the Barry signage and palpable love for Bonds, you wonder how the rest of the world could be so wrong.
Nevertheless, love him or hate him, it's impossible not to respect what Bonds has accomplished in his hall of fame career, which in his 40s and with single digits to go to catch and pass the legendary Hank Aaron, is winding down very quickly.
"Barry's being pitched very carefully and that's never going to change," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said of his slugger, who had hit one homer since May 8 prior to taking the Jays' Josh Towers deep last night for No. 747. "I had to sit him down a couple of games with shin splints. It's a tough game when you're not 100 per cent.
"Last year, they counted him out and he came back strong in the second half. He'll be back. We've gotten over the hump with what's been giving him the problem with his legs. He is almost 43 and it may look like Father Time is catching up, but don't count out the great players."
When Bonds emerged from the dugout yesterday to stretch with his teammates on the lush lawn of foul territory, he seemed the picture of relaxation. While teammates grunted and groaned with stiff, unresponsive muscles, Bonds lay sprawled in the grass, head propped on his hand on one elbow, chatting. Of course, none of those words of wisdom ever reached the media. He was taking this series off from press conferences, resting up perhaps for the hordes of unwashed scribblers in Boston on the weekend.
As hard as it is to actually like Bonds as a human being, it's impossible as a fan of baseball not to be excited by seeing him swing the bat four or five times in person. It will undoubtedly be the same feeling, when he ties and passes Aaron, as it was watching Mark McGwire tie and surpass Roger Maris in 1998.
Therein lies the great divide in American culture and its feelings towards Bonds. There is a hard-to-shake perception that any time Bonds is criticized in the media that it is a racial thing. Bonds is black. McGwire is white. Why was McGwire let off the hook when everyone knows he was a cheater, too? The fact is that if McGwire was accomplishing his home run feat in this current environment of public awareness of performance enhancers gone wild, he would be feeling similar heat.
One thing that should never be done is any odious comparison, citing the '95 reaction of the African-American community to the O.J. Simpson acquittal linking it to the Bonds chase of first Ruth, now Aaron. Nobody will die in this chase, this case.
As for the seeming finality of Bonds' negative image with the majority of Americans, take heart. There have been other dramatic turnarounds in the history of sports. Muhammad Ali, when he joined the Nation of Islam and was stripped of his title for refusing to serve in Vietnam in early 1966, was the most hated athlete in America, considered a loud-mouthed bully, a draft dodger and traitor. Now he is perhaps the most beloved figure in American sports on both sides of the racial divide.
There's hope.

TheStar.com - Sports - Can Bonds become another Ali?

[Neopet_Girl]

He's not pretty enough and he does not rhyme so how can he?

[EmpireWF]

Bonds doesn't have the personality to even get non-Giants fans on his side. No, he won't become "another Ali."

Plus he's looked at as a cheater, a selfish and bad person. Ali may have dodged the draft but I'm sure a good number of folks respected him for staying true to his beliefs to such an extent.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

I guess if he takes on Smokin Joe and George Foreman, not to mention Sonny Liston and Floyd Patterson and does as well...he would still be short on charisma...

I odn't think you will ever see another Ali...

[simple simon]

he could admit what he has done and perform community service speaking to teens about roids for the next 20 years and still not smell like roses

[LSC9901]

NO .

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by LSC9901

NO .

What, ran out of exclamation points there LSC?...used them all up on Neo did we?...

[LSC9901]

Originally Posted by Gotham Dark Knight

What, ran out of exclamation points there LSC?...used them all up on Neo did we?...

Nah ... just savin' them up for something like this !!!!

Better ?

[legend]

The more time passes, the more things look rosier. Bonds will never be on the pedestal that Ali was put on, but there is plenty of time for him to change his image after he leaves the game to be looked upon differently than he is today.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Originally Posted by legend

The more time passes, the more things look rosier. Bonds will never be on the pedestal that Ali was put on, but there is plenty of time for him to change his image after he leaves the game to be looked upon differently than he is today.

...hmm...good take. We are usually forgiven of fallen heros as time gentles their ways.

[simple simon]

Originally Posted by legend

The more time passes, the more things look rosier. Bonds will never be on the pedestal that Ali was put on, but there is plenty of time for him to change his image after he leaves the game to be looked upon differently than he is today.

he never talks to anyone now, how will he change his image once he leaves the game ?

i think he will become a hermit when he is done playing and hope this all fades away ........ if he isnt in jail for something or other

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by legend

The more time passes, the more things look rosier. Bonds will never be on the pedestal that Ali was put on, but there is plenty of time for him to change his image after he leaves the game to be looked upon differently than he is today.

Originally Posted by Gotham Dark Knight

...hmm...good take. We are usually forgiven of fallen heros as time gentles their ways.

George Foreman is a great example of this. During a lot of his career, he was a beast, a total villian. Now he's the cuddly old teddy bear type figure hocking his Indoor Grills all over the place. So, yeah, there's definitely plenty of time for Bonds to turn around him image as the years pass by. If he wants to, that is.

[legend]

No matter what he says now, nobody wants to be remembered as Bonds is viewed today outside of the Bay area.