Barry Bonds Needs a Hug

The story out of San Francisco today is about Barry Bonds talking out of both sides of his dumbass mouth.

Read between the lines with his teammates' comments. Now get ready for the phrase 'Barry being Barry' (which something similar was used in thetitle of a Sports Illustrated feature years ago) only without the intrinsic entertainment value of Manny's insanity.

First, he tells that paragon of American journalism, USA Today, that he's tired of playing, that he's doped up on painkillers and that the joy is gone from playing the game. To this I say, then quit, you little bitch, sounds like someone is setting up an alibi for the impending failed drug test this summer and then quit, you little bitch.

Then, he says in an MLB.com interview on the same day that he wants to play in 2007, his body and family willing. To which I say, then quit, you little bitch. I don't trust this juicer for a half second and think it was all too convenient for him to take a season off last year in the middle of Congressional hearings and Giambi taking hits daily in the Balco case leaks.

Then, he props his kid up on a bench and bitches about how all the writers tried to force him out and they should be happy now. Well, I hope he has a computer and I hope he stumbles across this as he narcissitically Googles his own name, reads this and gets his feelings hurt. Then I hope he quits tomorrow and we never have to hear from his cheating ass again.

I wish things could have been better in the Bonds saga - he was practically born into baseball royalty with Willie Mays as a godfather and a pro player dad. Had he not been a contender for the all-time HR record, I would have hoped he'd at least have a degree of respect for those who came before him. He doesn't seem to give a damn about anyone but Barry and that's pretty disgusting in the long run.

Baseball hsitory is rich with men who just 'got it' and as a result of its deep roots, a case can be made that baseball greew out of a time when players made a normal day's wage to play the game. Humilty, country boys and new additions to America who found better opportunities in the game were all building blocks through the 1950s. Long roads through the farm system (as in hockey) seems to breed a bit more respect in players.

Something tells me Barry never had to worry about much of that.

In any case, Bonds never 'got it' and I doubt he ever will. It's got to be tough to be a supremely talented ballplayer and Mays' godson. I just wish there was some charity I could give to to ease my own pain about it.

(Jeff Chiu/AP/MLB.com)