Posted on 11/02/2007 8:04:47 AM PDT by dead
NEW YORK - Barry Bonds would boycott Cooperstown if the Hall of Fame displays his record-breaking home run ball with an asterisk. That includes skipping his potential induction ceremony.
"I won't go. I won't be part of it," Bonds said in an interview with MSNBC that aired Thursday night. "You can call me, but I won't be there."
The ball Bonds hit for home run No. 756 this season will be branded with an asterisk and sent to the Hall. Fashion designer Marc Ecko bought the ball in an online auction and set up a Web site for fans to vote on its fate. In late September, he announced fans voted to send the ball to Cooperstown with an asterisk.
Of course, the asterisk suggests Bonds' record is tainted by alleged steroid use. The slugger has denied knowingly using performance-enhancing drugs. Fans brought signs with asterisks to ballparks this season as he neared Hank Aaron's career home run mark.
Bonds has called Ecko "an idiot."
"I don't think you can put an asterisk in the game of baseball, and I don't think that the Hall of Fame can accept an asterisk," Bonds said. "You cannot give people the freedom, the right to alter history. You can't do it. There's no such thing as an asterisk in baseball."
Hall of Fame vice president Jeff Idelson declined to comment Thursday night.
Hall president Dale Petroskey has said accepting the ball doesn't mean the museum endorses the viewpoint that Bonds used illegal substances. He said the museum would be "delighted" to have the ball.
"It's a historic piece of baseball history," Petroskey said in September.
So, if the Hall goes through with the asterisk display?
"I will never be in the Hall of Fame. Never," Bonds said. "Barry Bonds will not be there.
"That's my emotions now. That's how I feel now. When I decide to retire five years from now, we'll see where they are at that moment," he added. "We'll see where they are at that time, and maybe I'll reconsider. But it's their position and where their position will be will be the determination of what my decision will be at that time."
Giants general manager Brian Sabean reiterated Thursday that the team won't bring back Bonds next season. The seven-time NL MVP, who has spent 15 of his 22 major league seasons in San Francisco, was asked whether he will retire as a Giant.
"Yeah, it's my house. No matter what that's my house, no one's going to take that away, no one ever," Bonds answered. "No one's going to take the love of that city of me away, ever."
Bonds, who has 762 homers, broke Aaron's record with a shot into the right-center seats off Washington Nationals pitcher Mike Bacsik at San Francisco on Aug. 7.
Matt Murphy, a 21-year-old student and construction supervisor from New York, emerged from a scuffle holding the ball. He said he decided to sell it because he couldn't afford to pay the taxes required to keep it.
Bonds told MSNBC he hoped to reach 764 homers because he was born in July 1964. He said he's been working out and still is considering whether to play next season.
"I may hit two home runs so I can go home. I just think that I have a lot of game left. I think that I can help a team with a championship," Bonds said. "I'm a hell of a part-time player, too."
Bonds said he won't talk to George Mitchell's staff looking into steroids use in baseball while he is under investigation in the BALCO case. A grand jury has been investigating whether Bonds committed perjury when he testified he never knowingly took performance-enhancing drugs.
"I know it ends in January, so a couple more months. But I haven't been keeping up with it. Not at all," Bonds said. "I have nothing to hide. I have said that before and I will say it now and I will look you in the face. I have nothing to hide, nothing. So look all you want to."
"That's my emotions now. That's how I feel now. When I decide to retire five years from now, we'll see where they are at that moment," he added. "We'll see where they are at that time, and maybe I'll reconsider.
In other words, he’s talking crap. If, for some reason, he manages to get elected to the Hall of Fame, he will be there as fast as his roided legs can carry him.
There is no way Barry Bonds turns down such a large stage from which Barry Bonds can talk about all that is wonderful about Barry Bonds and lambast all those who have had the nerve to say bad things about Barry Bonds.
Win-Win situation as far as I’m concerned.
(Even happier that I voted for the asterisk now.)
Sounds like a deal to me.
Who in the hell cares if Bonds shows up? I don’t think he should even be nominated if he is found to have used steroids, which is almost a dead certainty.
Yep.
Its amusing baseballs version of Hulk Hogan can still look anyone in the eyes and talk crap.
sweet!
Barry Bonds, “Boo hoo.”
makes my day
Honestly I don't care. He can have his pity party and go at it alone
I’m sorry but the man is a real p00phead. Always was, always will be. Might have broken Henry Aaron’s record, but Aaron has more class in his pinky finger than Bonds has in his whole body. (unfeminine spit)
Not sure what the problem is. He’s a drug addict and performed the batting feat while under the influence. Actually, I’m surprised they’re putting anything of his in the Hall of Fame since he did it while under the influence. I also don’t know why they let him play AT ALL last year.
Pete Rose! Call Cooperstown! Maybe they’ll let you in NOW . . . with an asterisk!
Don't matter anyway. A-Rod will pass him soon enough.
Don't let the screen door hit you in the steroids on the way out!
[SLAM!]
Note that he did not issue a Shermanesque statement. He did not say that he would not allow his name or likeness to be used by the Hall of Fame. He just wants to have his petulant little show. Once again, it’s all about Barry Bonds.
Where does this 'roid-head moron think the idea of branding the ball with an asterisk came from in the first place?
He can alll the waaaaammmmmmmbulance for all I'm concerened. I feel like telling him, "Don't let the door hit ya where the good Lord split ya."
Hey the designer guy owns the ball. He can do anything he wants with itwhtionbt the constraints of the law. The hall can choose to take the ball or not. Bonds might be elected or NOT. and if ever elected he can choose to show up or NOT.
That is what makes this a wonderful country. Bonds doens’t get to dictate everybody elses business (and hopefully neither does Hillary).
Besides, after Bond’s retirment, we will see what five years of living in relative obsurity (after all that attention) does for the guy’s attitude. It will probably turn him into a veritable Chuckie Schumer.
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