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It's never Bonds' fault
Baseball's home run king is out of work and not happy about it.
His agent, Jeff Borris, hinted this week that the reason Bonds was not playing this year was because of collusion.
Not because the aging slugger will turn 44 this month.
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Not because he could soon be in the middle of a federal trial to defend himself against perjury charges.
No, in Barry's world, someone has to be responsible when things aren't going well, and it's not going to be him.
On Tuesday, commissioner Bud Selig said Borris' suggestion that Bonds was being blackballed was "without basis." Of course, that won't stop the players union from intervening.
Any team that signs Bonds gets more than the baggage that contains his clothes. The media circus that has surrounded Bonds over the last five years would be attached. That means a horde of reporters asking the same questions about performance enhancing drugs Bonds has deflected since his head and home run numbers swelled while passing Hank Aaron's mark.
Not even the most dysfunctional team in the baseball would look forward to that situation.
Bonds has not been in uniform since he filed for free agency after last season. He had a productive season with the San Francisco Giants, hitting .278, belting 28 home runs and driving in 66 in 126 games. But you got the feeling the Giants kept him purely because of the home run chase. They did little to try to keep Bonds after he broke the record.
Other numbers in Bonds' future might not be so impressive. He is facing 14 counts of lying and one count of obstruction in the federal perjury case that is set to begin next year. Bonds could receive a maximum of 30 years in prison if convicted on all charges.
There is another reason why Bonds' career is finished and it has nothing to do with numbers, trials or collusion. No one is going to cut him a break. While he is baseball's home run king, Bonds has built little, if any, good will among his peers or management. He is just not a likable guy.
Bonds has lived a life other people can only dream about. His father, Bobby Bonds, was an outstanding five-tool player and Barry had a childhood that gave him access to some of the great players in the game. How many kids have that opportunity?
It's sad that baseball's most cherished record is held by a player whose chase to reach it left him bitter and angry.
Don't worry, Bonds will find someone to blame.
Assistant sports editor Joe Tuscano can be reached at jtuscano@observer-reporter.com
