Love Letters: They're all Bonds ... Barry Bonds
Insider | Love Letters
Updated March 31, 2005
All Barry, all the time. And the reason these e-mails are so one-sided is that I received just one note in support of Bonds during the past week.
From: Zoogie
Boo hoo hoo, poor Barry Bonds. Seems the only one crying is him, not his kid. Goodbye, you self-absorbed punk.
Hey Zoogie, which publication do you write for? According to the big man, it's only members of the media who want to take him down.
From: Nate
Barry Bonds is threatening to sit out the season for one reason and one reason only: Due to new steroid testing policies (whatever they end up being after the congressional hearings fallout), it will be far too risky for him to be on steroids any longer.
Writer or a broadcast journalist, Nate?
From: Brandon E.
In later news from yesterday, Bonds also places blame for his problems on Internet sports readers, reality TV, the state of Delaware, and 89-year-old Francine Johnson of Tacoma. He also announces he is going to climb into his hyperbolic chamber and wrap his head in aluminum foil so everyone will stop stealing his brain waves.
Will Michael Jackson still be in there when Bonds climbs in?
From: Clint Simmons
Scott, I would tell you, but I'm TIRED.
Try picking up some flaxseed oil. I hear that helps.
From: Bryan Friedrich Sr.
The reason he is not recuperating is because he cannot take his steroids to heal. He has now become a regular 40-year-old man who goes through knee surgery and has to recuperate naturally. It ain't happening! He won't be back, and he will retire because he will not recuperate to the point of being able to play at the major-league level again. He will milk this issue for as long as he can with speculation that he will come back, but then you will hear this glorified retirement speech, and it will make everyone sick.
I swear I'm going to share these e-mails with my wife and friends -- they make me look like the eternal optimist.
From: Billy Zimmer
Why all the righteous indignation against Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire? Who actually thought that they WEREN'T on steroids? I mean -- get real. Furthermore, they weren't cheating! You can't be cheating if something isn't against the rules.
Finally -- this bunk that people are saying they won't vote for them for the Hall of Fame. Hell -- the voters of California voted for Arnold. He has admitted to having used steroids. The voters of Minnesota voted for Jesse "The Mind" Ventura. He has admitted to having used steroids. So you can use steroids and be a governor, but not be in the Baseball Hall of Fame? Give me a break.
Count me in favor of ratcheting up the steroid testing policy on governors.
From: Jim Sarto
Am I the only one who sees an attempt to fly under the "steroid radar"? Barry always took it easy during spring training, but this year he was already setting the stage. First was the "I have to do my own spring thing." Then came the first surgery (which was supposed to keep him out for the first week or so of the '05 season.) Then, lo and behold, there is another arthroscopic surgery and he "may" miss the whole season. How convenient. He can lay low for '05, work out until the BALCO thing blows over, stay off everybody's screen and then make a poignant comeback to break the home-run record. Whoever his spin doctor is, he is certainly earning his bucks. Barry was a first ballot HOFer before he started taking the 'roids, a great ballplayer, but nonetheless, a cheater. You still have to hand it to the old-timers who did it for love of the game and still had to work an offseason job.
You mean to tell me some old-time players actually worked as, say, truck drivers and didn't just sit back and load up on the clear or the cream during the winter?
From: Justin
Your article should be titled "Tough times for someone who had them coming."
Barry Bonds is first among those I blame for tainting the game that I love. I know others would argue against McGwire and Sosa because of their home-run race that "saved baseball," but mine is Bonds.
Baseball the game NEVER needed to be saved, it was Major League Baseball that needed to be bailed out. The game itself will forever be played on sandlots and rough diamonds around this country, regardless of MLB.
But if anything could have dealt a death knell to the sport, it would have been Bonds. I can only pray that he never comes back.
I have no sympathy for him, none at all. His troubles are of his own making. His problems with the media, the fans, his teammates, everything he has "suffered" through is a result of his own callous, obstinate, and egotistical outlook on life.
You people sure you're not just Dodgers fans in disguise?
From: J. Dee
If he never comes back, it will be too soon. He couldn't match Ruth's or Aaron's image if it was painted on. Where's hockey when you need it?
Why, are the hockey guys on steroids?
From: Jeff Kado
Not to be anal, but how can it be any "windier" in the Windy City with Jeromy Burnitz than it was with Sosa? Seems Sammy K's more than Jeromy does, doesn't he?
Are we talking about a healthy Sosa or a post-sneeze Sosa?
From: Frank D'Elia
How's it going? I have to say whenever I get a little down, I love to read your articles. You cheer me up. Your analysis is so laughable that my stomach hurts. I'm looking forward to watching you fall flat on your face again this year. You know as much about baseball as Jason Blair knows about citing sources.
Oh, no. I can tell you that the Tigers play in Detroit. I doubt that Blair can verify any of his sources. So there.
From: Andy Black
Your articles about the '05 Rangers are great. I personally believe the Rangers can make a big push for the World Series this year, but I am a Rangers fan, so it is probably unrealistic.
Thanks, Andy. It's all about pitching in Texas -- and that's a difficult ballpark to pitch in.
From: David Barkley
Have you ever heard of a team called the Cleveland Indians. They are in the American League and train in Florida -- some people (including my very biased opinion) even believe they have a shot at the playoffs. What do you see?
Let's see ... hmmm ... I've heard of the Cleveland Spiders. Seriously, yes, click over to my season preview package. I picked them second in the AL Central behind the Twins, but also listed them in my surprise team picks. I absolutely think Cleveland has a chance at the playoffs. Indians general manager Mark Shapiro has done a remarkable job of accelerating the rebuilding process.
From: Jeff Harman
Are the Orioles really going to be as bad as everyone is making them out to be? They have a solid lineup, and their pitching rotation is not as bad as people are making it. Is there a chance they could slide under an ailing Red Sox or Yankees team to capture the wild card or even the division?
Remember the intestinal parasite that Kevin Brown and Jason Giambi had last season? Let's just say that parasite would have to multiply to epidemic proportions in both the Boston and New York clubhouses, then connect with some good old e-coli bacteria, for the O's to have a shot at bypassing either one of them.
From: Glenn
I liked your lead (on this week's Boston column), comparing the last two defending Sox champions, in an atmosphere of baseball controversy (last time the Red Sox won a World Series, baseball was headed for the 1919 Black Sox scandal. They won last fall, and baseball is embroiled in the steroids scandal).
Thanks, and be sure to check out this next guy's point.
From: John Hadden
You have a great point. What's creepier...
Check the only other time hockey wasn't played in the NHL as well. Yep you guessed it ... when the Bo-Sox won way back when.
Damn that team for screwing up the balance.
Cheers,
J.H.
Toronto, Canada
And people say the Red Sox broke the curse last year.
From: Bob Macgilvray
I'm not sure whether you look more like Donny Osmond or Dick Clark.
Your bud, Bob.
Settle down, Bob, you've just got a case of puppy love.
