What to Think About Barry Bonds

Let's face it: Barry is not a very likable guy. He is the #1 fan of a ballplayer named Barry Bonds; he is a jerk, by all accounts; finally, it appears that he is a steroid user.

We can forgive athletes, politicians, and celebrities for faults of all sorts, IF WE LIKE THEM. Look at Mark McGwire. Won the great McGwire-Sosa home run derby in '98 (Saved Baseball! by some accounts). The Sosa-McGwire hugfest was all over TV. We know now that both Sosa and McGwire were using "The Juice." Like Bonds. Like Rafael Palmeiro. Like so many who play the game. Since McGwire played for my St. Louis Cards, wasn't a horse's ass, and doesn't play anymore, I don't feel a burning need to thrash him and spit on him.

Out of all the big-name offenders, only Bonds seems to be (a) in denial, and (b) still playing the game. And still an asshole.

I thought Barry had seen the light when he spent most of last season on the DL; ease out of the game with an injury. Apparently, however, the lure of breaking baseball's biggest record, and becoming the All-Time Home Run King, was too much for him. Boo for you, Barry.

Boo also for Bud "I Ruined the All-Star Game" Selig, who apparently didn't know Bonds was doing anything wrong until the recent book came out. By taking action now, Selig looks like the racist that Bonds and others think he is: out to stop Barry from beating out Babe Ruth.