Barry Bonds joins Giants' outfield reunion

[cboy4]

:bounce: :bounce:

:loveya:


SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Barry Bonds told Giants fans Saturday night during a pregame ceremony honoring the team's former outfielders that he's not retired.

Bonds, a free agent, was a surprise participant in festivities that were part of the Giants' yearlong celebration of their 50th anniversary in the city.

Bonds, who was indicted last November on charges he lied when he told a grand jury in 2003 he didn't knowingly use performance-enhancing drugs and is set to go to trial in March, did not appear at a pregame social gathering, instead choosing to sign autographs outside the park.

His name was left off the official list of confirmed outfielders, although it was rumored Friday night that he would appear.

After the first 24 former outfielders were introduced, Willie Mays walked through the center field gates unannounced. The crowd rose as he walked slowly toward the infield.

A few moments later, Bonds jogged through the left field gates and joined his godfather on the slow walk. He was greeted by a thunderous ovation. :loveya:

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gGe1_G9_lyoHjzeKmOTPBeD9a3vgD92F86SO0

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

1. ...while his head is content to orbit the park.

[cboy4]

2. Look how many of the usual suspects have refrained from

posting in this thread.

I think they're coming out of their denial and realizing that Barry is in fact the Home Run King!

[tsstranger]

3. No Proof

I'm not saying that Bonds is innocent of steroid use and I'm not saying he's guilty, either, but the Steroid Era happened and MLB let it happen.

The Bonds haters want to make Bonds the poster boy for the Era, because he's arrogant and can be a jerk to some people, but it's not fair.

Bonds is the home run king and nothing can be done about, nor should anything be done.

I have had Bonds haters say that they would approve of the entire Steroid Era being wiped off the books, just to get Bonds. Does anyone have any idea how many Hall of Famers that would affect?

Henry Aaron passed Babe Ruth under horrific conditions of racism and death threats and he did it with class and dignity. But Aaron and thousands of others played during the Amphetamine Era of the '50's thru the '70's. Are we going to exclude them for MAYBE using speed? No big deal, right? Everyone was doing it, right?

Babe Ruth and many others openly drank during Prohibition, in direct violation of the laws at the time. What about them? No big deal, right? Everyone was doing it, right?

Ty Cobb was a gigantic prick and avowed racist, yet he's in the Hall.

Bonds should be in on the first ballot. If he's not, they should just board the place up.

[Forkboy]

5. Being drunk, seeing prostitutes, being a gigantic prick, and being a racist...

...doesn't make one better at the game they play through an illegal and unfair way.

Bonds allegedly did something that changed how he was able to compete against people who didn't use the same substance. His bad actions were reflected on the field. The people you mention, though their attitude and beliefs suck, didn't gain any playing advantage because of those sucky beliefs. That's the difference.

The reason he gets the most attention is because many believe he broke baseball's greatest record through unfair means. It's not always because it's Bonds himself (certainly not in my case at least). People would be upset regardless of which player broke that record if it was under the same cloud of suspicion that Bonds has been under. If it been Giambi or Canseco or whoever I'd feel the exact same way as I do about Bonds. It's not his attitude, it's wondering if he broke that record by cheating. Hell, I'm a Patriots fan and it pisses me off that they did what they did, too. There's a ton of athletes that I wouldn't like personality wise, but I can still respect their actions on the field. I can't respect that if they cheated to do it though.

For me, if all Bonds is found guilty of is perjury than I say he should definitely be in the Hall of Fame. If he didn't use steroids and did what he did than he deserves all the accolades he gets. I think any sport's Hall of Fame should deal strictly with actions on the field (or rink). I think OJ should be the NFL Hall of Fame, for instance. Despite his extreme level of shitheadedness off the field, he was one of the best RBs in NFL history. If we start only accepting good upstanding citizens to the Hall of Fame they'll all be near empty. Like you pointed out, look at the beliefs and actions of players considered to be the best ever like Ruth and Cobb.

I think the best bet for MLB at this point is just acknowledge this era for what it was and move on.

[tsstranger]

7. Juiced Pitchers?

Actually, ForkBoy, you need to know that a great number of pitchers were juicing during the Era, so how many pitchers were on the juice when Bonds faced them?

A lot of racists won't recognize Aaron or Bonds because their excuse is that Babe Ruth did it in fewer games and at bats, far fewer than Aaron. But Ruth played in an era of no night games, no travel west of St. Louis, he faced some pitchers 4 and 5 times a game, unlike today. He never played against some of the better players of the era, blacks and Latinos.

Also, the Amphetamine Era certainly did give an advantage to the users.

BTW, OJ Simpson is in the Hall.

I believe that Pete Rose should be in the Hall, for what he did on the field.

Shoeless Joe Jackson, as well.

[Forkboy]

9. Disagree on Rose, for the same reason I spoke of.

His actions, like those players juicing, has an effect on the field. If Rose had been gambling on games he had nothing to do with I'd feel differently because it wouldn't have had any effect on their games at all, and no influence on anyone's play.

I know a lot of pitchers were juiced. That's why I think MLB needs to just move on and call this era the "roid days" or something. There's no way they can remove Bonds' homeruns or RBI's because it effects the stats of all those players he batted it, all those who may have driven him in, etc. It would cause pure chaos. They can't remove the stats of anyone without affecting others. It's impossible, and a waste of time.

Let me clear, I'm not asking for any special punishment of Bonds (and obviously, if he's innocent than I don't want any punishment at all). If he's guilty don't put him in the Hall. That's pretty much it. I don't want them taking his numbers away or anything like that. He can still hold that homerun record...not that it'll matter if he's guilty because everyone will know how he did it and wont take it seriously anyways. The ostracization from all things MLB will be enough punishment.

BTW, OJ Simpson is in the Hall.

I know. I brought it up as an example of shitty people who can still be in the Hall of Fame because their actions on the field earned it. If Bonds hasn't been juicing than he easily deserves to be in the HoF. If he has been, there's no way to judge just how good he really is and doesn't deserve it. You may think that's just singling out Bonds, but I promise you that Sosa and McGuire and Palmiero won't ever see the Hall because of this either. These guys are going to get more attention because of the stature of the records they broke. No one cares if some .245 hitter tried juicing and only ended up hitting .265 instead. :)

[cboy4]

13. How can you have a MLB Hall of Fame Forkboy, without

two of the greatest players' stats being represented?

It's crazy. Pete Rose and Barry Bonds not in the Hall?

They're two of the greatest players in history.

Why not let the public make their own judgment when they walk through Cooperstown?

At their display, mention what they were accused of.

If they want a color photo of Barry with fans holding up asterisks signs as part of the display, it should probably be there, because that is history. That's what he was up against everywhere on the road except in Oakland.

You don't ignore history. And you cannot ignore their huge accomplishments. It's outrageous.

[Forkboy]

14. I actually agree with you on them being represented in some way...

...and just mentioning what they're guilty of (if they're innocent no need to have any special mention of anything...they should be front and center).

Can I ask you a question? Do you think Bill Belichik should go into the NFL Hall of Fame?

[cboy4]

15. Well I don't know nearly as much about football as I do

baseball, but I think he should.

People who walk through Canton can make up their own minds when they read about his history, but I think his accomplishments are impossible to ignore.

I've been very consistent about this issue, and it has nothing to do with Bonds. I started feeling this way when I went to Cooperstown and there was no Pete Rose. It just seemed unconscionable, when there's a big 'ol display about the Black Sox scandal.

Problems in sports is part of the game and its history .. as uncomfortable as it might be for some to think about.


on edit: typo

[cboy4]

12. I will appear at Cooperstown with plywood and nails if Barry

is kept out.

[Forkboy]

4. That's not it. I just hadn't seen it yet.

:evilgrin:

[BOSSHOG]

6. Usual Suspect checking in

cboy I think we all know who is in denial. I haven't "checked in" earlier because this is the first time I saw this thread. I would also check into a thread deifying Al Capone for going to a reunion at Alcatraz.

My Home Run King is and always will be Mike Schmidt. And I don't have to be ashamed of that.

[IndianaJones]

8. c'mon boss, Schmidt admitted to using performance enhancers. nt.

[cboy4]

10. lol

;)

[cboy4]

11. You mean Mike Schmidt hit more homers than Hank Aaron,

Babe Ruth and Willie Mays? :wow:

And don't forget, Al Capone was convicted. Barry has not been convicted of anything.

[trumad]

16. Not yest at least

[BOSSHOG]

17. Never said he did

I said he's My Home Run King. And he, unlike the guy you worship, was very, very good for the game.

[madinmaryland]

18. I never really cared for Mike Schmidt. Then again I am a Pirates fan,

and always enjoyed beating the phils and schmidt in the 70's!

[BOSSHOG]

19. I was stationed in Philly in 87

and remember listening to a Saturday Day game from Pittsburgh in my garage when Schmidty hit his 500th home run. That was an event back in those good old days. Sadly today 500 homeruns is a ho-hum happening. Mike will be 59 years old next month. Think I'll go out in the garage and dust off his shrine which is located amidst my shrine to the Razorbacks.