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Barry Bonds doesn’t understand the hate for Alex Rodriguez

By Stanford Crissey

Mar 10, 2014; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; San Francisco Giants former outfielder Barry Bonds in the dugout during the game against the Chicago Cubs at Scottsdale Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 10, 2014; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; San Francisco Giants former outfielder Barry Bonds in the dugout during the game against the Chicago Cubs at Scottsdale Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Barry Bonds says he’s “excited” to see A-Rod pass Willie Mays in home runs

Over the past few years, Alex Rodriguez, once baseball’s very best players, has become its most hated. Failed PED tests, constant lies, and a steady stream of stories that paint him as a colossal narcissist will do that.

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Rodriguez is just five home runs away from tying Willie Mays for fourth on baseball’s all-time home run list with 660. But it’s likely that the milestone, when it comes, will not be celebrated the way such things usually are.

Luckily for Rodriguez, there’s a man who knows his struggle all too well: all time home run leader Barry Bonds.

Bonds was incredible at baseball. He took steroids (though not, as far as we know, after 2005 when MLB banned them). He was hated.

So if any man can relate and sympathize, it’s Bonds. Bonds spoke with USA Today recently, saying he doesn’t understand all the hate for Rodriguez.

"“Why the hate? Why hate on something you’re paying to see? I don’t understand it. He’s entertaining us. I wish life wasn’t like that.”"

Bonds says that he, at least, will be rooting for A-Rod to pass Mays.

"“My godfather means the world to me. I love him to a T. But when Alex hits No. 660, I’ll be happy for him. Willie will be happy for him. Everybody should be happy for him. Any time anybody in the game does something that’s a great accomplishment, the game of baseball should celebrate that.”"

It’s unsurprising that Bonds feels this way, as he endured a similar public trial in 2007, when he completed his march toward baseball’s all-time home run record, a record that many fans still insist belongs to Hank Aaron, not Bonds.

Bonds, at least, did have the support of his team and his fanbase in San Francisco. Rodriguez doesn’t even have that; his team, hoping to save money from A-Rods’ milestone bonuses in his enormous contract, aren’t even acknowledging their DH’s pursuit of the milestone.

Of course, Bonds did have to undergo an actual trial, in which he was convicted for obstruction of justice (he is currently appealing the conviction).

It hasn’t come to that for Rodriguez, but it can’t feel great for the 42-year-old legend that his team would rather he never played again.

It remains one of baseball’s biggest questions: what should we think of the steroid users? Should we treat them like any other players, knowing that they were simply trying to get better at their craft, and that many other players during the “steroid era” were doing the same? Or should we shun them as cheaters, and treat them as the sport’s villains?

We’l probably never get a definitive answer. It’s up to each of us what we think of Rodriguez; but whatever you think of him, 660 home runs is a major accomplishment, steroids or no steroids.

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