Author: Peter Portero

Date: 4/28/2006

Bonds On Bonds: Is It Worth Your Time?

Every time there is talk about baseball, it seems as if Barry Bonds is right in the middle of the conversation. At least, this is how it has been for the past year or so at least. Now, Bonds is providing his own television show for viewers who still respect his opinion and strategies to review. While critics are not quick to praise the show, they are not bashing it yet either.

The main problem with the show is that Barry Bonds cannot always be taken seriously. Therefore, what he says is often seen more as entertainment than factual. With his untruthful record of discussing drug use and sports, there is reason to feel a little distrust when watching his commentaries. The show does reflect how tough the fans and the officials have been on Bonds throughout his controversy. However, he does seem to be calm and collected through it all, which almost makes one think he does not feel bad at all. When the show zooms in on his home life, he is portrayed as a calm individual with a normal (if celebrity life is normal in any case) life. Is it all to clean up his image? Who knows, but in any case, it is somewhat entertaining.

Fan Still Upset About Bonds Controversy

The scene was quite comical when Mark Greggersen decided to throw a tube of what officials thought was toothpaste onto the field at player Barry Bonds on Monday. The incident happened during the San Francisco and Arizona. The tube did not hit Barry Bonds, but instead landed several feet away. It was ultimately removed by security.

Greggersen, who is 23 years old, was indeed charged with disorderly conduct. He was arrested and taken off to jail. The whole incident apparently spurred not from the Bond’s physical enhancing drug controversy the whole world is aware of, but instead of a personal controversy between the player and the fan. Greggersen’s mother claims her son threw a tube of muscle cream at the player because of a situation that happened ten years ago when Greggersen was trying to get a Bond’s autograph. Apparently Bonds had not been polite to Greggersen during the signing and the boy took it personally.

While the MLB officials say they will not tolerate this type of behavior and want it to cease immediately, it cannot be that surprising that fans are so upset about the lack of character Bonds has shown over the past year or so. Fans feel professional players have an image to uphold and apparently get very upset when the players don’t live up to their expectations.

Friends Of Barry Bonds

Although Barry Bonds is getting a lot of heat over his alleged use of steroids, there are some people coming to his defense. One of the loudest voices sticking up for Barry Bonds is Jim Leyland, Bonds’ first MLB manager. Leyland is letting the media and the rest of the world know that the fact Bonds is being singled out is unfortunately.

Leyland really feels as if those who are “attacking” Bonds on the issue are doing so to personally and professionally hurt Barry Bonds and his career. With the emergence of the book by the reporters who detailed the process Barry Bonds used for training and his alleged steroid use, it can be difficult to do anything but blame Bonds for these outbreaks. However, Leyland is coming out to say the treatment is unfair and that everyone should leave Bonds alone. The interesting thing is that Leyland has been quoted saying he is not defending Bonds, he only thinks they should stop talking about it in the media.

At least there is someone out there who still believes in Barry Bonds and thinks he is worthy of respect. While fans are still out on their verdict, it is true that many fans agree they could live without hearing anything else about the played out issue.