Durango53
05-12-2006, 06:01 PM
I normaly dont even read this kind of stuff and I aint that big of Tracy fan but I did read this one and liked it. Some insite to Bonds past
Ringolsby: Bonds' image is well-earned
HOUSTON - ESPN broadcasters spent a chunk of time the other day moaning about the media not allowing Barry Bonds a chance to enjoy his pursuit of Babe Ruth's 714 home runs.
Say what?
Suddenly, the cable/satellite network is making Bonds out as the victim of an unfair media, trying to build up his image as if it had a stake in Bonds becoming a popular public figure.
Oh, that's right, ESPN does have a stake in making Bonds popular. It is airing Bonds on Bonds, a reality show featuring the Giants left fielder.
Haven't seen Bonds on Bonds, but it is amusing when the guys putting the show together approach a local member of the media, asking him or her to appear on the show because they want to get writers from the various cities on the show.
Guess they think it will provide credibility, but aren't these the same guys whom Bonds routinely refuses to speak with, and when he does, makes sure they realize he sees them as pond scum or something of a lesser light?
Yeah, Bonds on Bonds. That's the show that got a signed release from Carlos Oliveras, 25, the man on his way to Iraq as a member of the Air Force, who came up with the ball Bonds hit for home run No. 713 in Philadelphia on Sunday. The show will focus on Oliveras and Bonds shaking hands. But will it include Bonds refusing to autograph the ball for Oliveras?
Bonds is a great player. When he had his health, in fact, he was among the best to play the game. But he is living proof that athletic greatness doesn't make for greatness as a person.
He was a brat as a kid. His father's teammates were known to lobby managers to ban children from the clubhouse because Bonds was such a pain.
He is a guy who, in high school, would sit in his van, listening to music, refusing to take batting practice with his teammates when scouts showed up.
He was the Arizona State Sun Devil who became such a distraction to his college teammates that when he was suspended from the team and the school was headed to the NCAA tournament, the players voted not to reinstate him.
The late Jim Brock, then the Arizona State coach, overruled, though, and put Bonds back on the roster, which undermined Brock's credibility with his team.
This image of being a petulant brat is not a recent development that has been created by a media jealous of anything Bonds has accomplished. It's a reputation Bonds has earned over the years, beginning in his youth.
Pujols overshadowed
Once Bonds hits No. 715, the media circus will calm down for a while, then the public focus can turn to St. Louis first baseman Albert Pujols, who has supplanted Bonds as baseball's greatest active hitter.
"Everybody's overshadowed by Bonds and the whole Ruth chase," Cardinals second baseman Aaron Miles said. "They're showing every at-bat by Bonds on ESPN. It would be pretty exciting to throw in Pujols' at-bats every time, too."
Rockies manager Clint Hurdle is quick to point to the most telling recognition of the abilities of Pujols, who has played third base, left field and first base during his career with the Cardinals.
In his five major-league seasons before this year, Pujols has never finished lower than fourth in the National League Most Valuable Player voting, and that was in 2001, his rookie year.
He was second in the voting in 2002 and 2003, third in 2004 and won the award in 2005.
And Pujols keeps getting better.
He hit home run No. 18 in Game No. 35 on Wednesday against Colorado.
Only one player hit his 18th home run more quickly, Cy Williams in Game No. 34 for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1932.
Remember 1998, when Mark Mc- Gwire hit 70 homers, breaking Roger Maris' single-season record of 61? McGwire hit No. 18 in Game No. 43. Remember 2001, when Bonds hit 73, breaking McGwire's record? Bonds hit No. 18 in Game No. 42.
Well-protected
One final thought on Bonds: What seems to get lost in all the talk about steroids is how Bonds has been allowed to wear the excessive amounts of body armor, which means he doesn't have to have any fear of getting hit by a pitch, allowing him to hang over the plate.
Neither Ruth nor Hank Aaron were given such an edge on pitchers.
In their days, home run hitters had to answer to pitchers.
Tracy Ringolsby
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/sports_columnists/article/0,1299,DRMN_83_4693416,00.html
Ringolsby: Bonds' image is well-earned
HOUSTON - ESPN broadcasters spent a chunk of time the other day moaning about the media not allowing Barry Bonds a chance to enjoy his pursuit of Babe Ruth's 714 home runs.
Say what?
Suddenly, the cable/satellite network is making Bonds out as the victim of an unfair media, trying to build up his image as if it had a stake in Bonds becoming a popular public figure.
Oh, that's right, ESPN does have a stake in making Bonds popular. It is airing Bonds on Bonds, a reality show featuring the Giants left fielder.
Haven't seen Bonds on Bonds, but it is amusing when the guys putting the show together approach a local member of the media, asking him or her to appear on the show because they want to get writers from the various cities on the show.
Guess they think it will provide credibility, but aren't these the same guys whom Bonds routinely refuses to speak with, and when he does, makes sure they realize he sees them as pond scum or something of a lesser light?
Yeah, Bonds on Bonds. That's the show that got a signed release from Carlos Oliveras, 25, the man on his way to Iraq as a member of the Air Force, who came up with the ball Bonds hit for home run No. 713 in Philadelphia on Sunday. The show will focus on Oliveras and Bonds shaking hands. But will it include Bonds refusing to autograph the ball for Oliveras?
Bonds is a great player. When he had his health, in fact, he was among the best to play the game. But he is living proof that athletic greatness doesn't make for greatness as a person.
He was a brat as a kid. His father's teammates were known to lobby managers to ban children from the clubhouse because Bonds was such a pain.
He is a guy who, in high school, would sit in his van, listening to music, refusing to take batting practice with his teammates when scouts showed up.
He was the Arizona State Sun Devil who became such a distraction to his college teammates that when he was suspended from the team and the school was headed to the NCAA tournament, the players voted not to reinstate him.
The late Jim Brock, then the Arizona State coach, overruled, though, and put Bonds back on the roster, which undermined Brock's credibility with his team.
This image of being a petulant brat is not a recent development that has been created by a media jealous of anything Bonds has accomplished. It's a reputation Bonds has earned over the years, beginning in his youth.
Pujols overshadowed
Once Bonds hits No. 715, the media circus will calm down for a while, then the public focus can turn to St. Louis first baseman Albert Pujols, who has supplanted Bonds as baseball's greatest active hitter.
"Everybody's overshadowed by Bonds and the whole Ruth chase," Cardinals second baseman Aaron Miles said. "They're showing every at-bat by Bonds on ESPN. It would be pretty exciting to throw in Pujols' at-bats every time, too."
Rockies manager Clint Hurdle is quick to point to the most telling recognition of the abilities of Pujols, who has played third base, left field and first base during his career with the Cardinals.
In his five major-league seasons before this year, Pujols has never finished lower than fourth in the National League Most Valuable Player voting, and that was in 2001, his rookie year.
He was second in the voting in 2002 and 2003, third in 2004 and won the award in 2005.
And Pujols keeps getting better.
He hit home run No. 18 in Game No. 35 on Wednesday against Colorado.
Only one player hit his 18th home run more quickly, Cy Williams in Game No. 34 for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1932.
Remember 1998, when Mark Mc- Gwire hit 70 homers, breaking Roger Maris' single-season record of 61? McGwire hit No. 18 in Game No. 43. Remember 2001, when Bonds hit 73, breaking McGwire's record? Bonds hit No. 18 in Game No. 42.
Well-protected
One final thought on Bonds: What seems to get lost in all the talk about steroids is how Bonds has been allowed to wear the excessive amounts of body armor, which means he doesn't have to have any fear of getting hit by a pitch, allowing him to hang over the plate.
Neither Ruth nor Hank Aaron were given such an edge on pitchers.
In their days, home run hitters had to answer to pitchers.
Tracy Ringolsby
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/sports_columnists/article/0,1299,DRMN_83_4693416,00.html