REad this:



The news: Giants outfielder Barry Bonds has been ignoring the Hall of Fame during his trek toward becoming the game's all-time home run hitter. Bonds refused to send the Hall of Fame anything associated with home runs No. 714 and 715, and also from when he broke Mark McGwire's single-season record of 70 home runs.

Tracy's Take: Surprised? Don't be. Bonds has been me-first since he was a toddler. Why should anyone think that's going to change now? Remember, this is the guy who a couple years ago pulled out of the Major League Baseball Players Association marketing agreement so that he doesn't have to share any revenue from memorabilia with other players.

"I'm not worried about the Hall,'' he said recently. "I take care of me.''

The Hall of Fame is being diplomatic. "As the story plays out, we'll address it,'' said Jeff Idelson, Hall of Fame Vice President.

It's time that the teams took charge. Who says that if a ball from one of Bonds' home runs is retrieved the ball has to be given to him? It's not his ball. It belongs to the home team, which pays for the baseballs. Ditto on the jerseys that he is hoarding. The Giants pay for his jerseys. Same with his bats. The team pays for a player's bats. If Bonds doesn't have any compassion for the history of the game then the Giants need to make sure that they don't shun the folks in Cooperstown.

While Bonds snubs the rest of baseball it's refreshing to see Rockies rookie Troy Tulowitzki give the team the ball that he handled in becoming the 13th player in major league history to turn an unassisted triple play. He expects it to wind up in the Hall of Fame or at least on display at Coors Field, where, "a lot more people will have a chance to see if than if I kept it for myself.''
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Shit like this makes me hate bonds worse...

I don't think Bonds owes baseball anything. Selig has all but said he's not going to be there when he breaks Aaron's record. Aaron has stated he won't be there.

If MLB won't be there for him, and instead vilifies him, why should he do things for MLB? I'm well aware that the Hall of Fame is in theory not associated with MLB, but we all know in practice that just about everyone in Cooperstown is from the Major Leagues. Anyone who's played or been active in the last 40 years to get in the Hall either played in the majors, coached in the majors, or covered the majors (as in Peter Gammons, et. all).

Sure Bonds is an ass, but I think there is much more to this than Bonds just being selfish. I think he's trying to make a point, just like baseball is trying to make a point in how it treats Barry.

In Bonds' eyes, no one outside the Giants organization and his family has stood behind him over the last few years. His loyalty is with the Giants and his family, period. Baseball has been trying to focus their short comings in dealing with steroids on one man. Selig has made Bonds an island in the situation, when even if he did do steroids, he definately wasn't the only high profile player doing so. MLB can't treat the guy like shit and not expect him to react negatively in return.

Now, just as an example, Grey. I know you've smoked pot before (I have too, we've discussed this in the past). Say I tried to get the cops to come after you, say I gave them your name and had them come to your house to bust you. Say nothing was at your house, but the cops kept digging and digging. Say now six months later I asked you for 50 cents for a coke, would you give me 50 cents? You'd tell me to get bent.

True enough Tal,

But allow me to edit your story to the truth. The cops get to my house and find some pot. I blame it on my roomate, and tell the cops i didnt even know it was pot.

Both Selig and Aaron are ignoring him, why can't he ignore who he wants? Of course to everyone it seems he had cheated and used steroids but until something is proven he is innocent.

Of course to everyone it seems he had cheated and used steroids but until something is proven he is innocent.

Only in a court of law. He is a guilty, cheating, self-centered ass. I also couldn't really care less.

Baseball has portrayed itself in such a team-centric, wholesome, all-American, squeaky clean, apple pie way for so long it is refreshing to see a player standing out and representing what professional sports in the U.S.A on all levels are really about: ego, greed, money and success at all costs.

Which is exactly why so many people hate him: he is tearing down the myths and mystique of the "Great American Passtime" in an unapologetic and aggressive way.

Only in a court of law. He is a guilty, cheating, self-centered ass. I also couldn't really care less.


Court of law is what says if he is guilty or not. If you could care less then why do you respond?

One man can not tear down the "mystique of the "Great American Passtime""... if one man could, then Jose Canseco already would have with this such informative book and his accusations.

Every sport everywhere has ego, greed, money and success at all costs. Hell, even European Football does with that one player comin to the US to play for A-Rod type of money ( OMG he got a big contract for himself that isn't healthy for baseball! ban him for marketing himself! ) who is married to that member of the Spice Girls. What does it really matter what they do? Every person will have their own view of how the game ( whatever game it is ) works. It almost always comes down to money and helping yourself out. Think about it, almost always will you go for the promotion/perks/money if it does not hinder what you feel is right for YOUR OWN LIFE, I really do not think anyone should tell these people how they live their own lives.


PS. No, I dont condone steroids and yes I believe a whole lots of MLBers do them with no consequence ( a la barry bonds, giambi, mcqwire and sosa even tho sosa has always been built huge and worked out alot ) but with no hard evidence in a court of law it all means shit.

PSS. EFF BARRY BONDS!