Why is Barry Bonds So Hated? Is because of his color?

Question

Many people dislike Barry Bonds for supposedly using steroids, however nobody has proven anything. According to a poll:

"...However, race plays a unique role. Black fans in the survey are more than twice as likely to want Bonds to break Aaron's record (74 percent to 28 percent), and 37 percent of black fans think Bonds used steroids, compared to 76 percent of white fans."
http://www.postchronicle.com/news/original/article_21279908.shtml

This is what I see. Whites used to lead the MLB, because there where not Blacks of Latins at the beginning playing on the MLB. Now, 2 blacks are leading the 700 mark, while 2 Latinos, are already on the the way there, Alex Rodriguez, and last but not least Alberto Pujols. Alex Rodriguez is the youngest to be in his Home Runs number, and Pujols too. This means that at least 2 blacks and one Latino will lead the MLB home run. Hank, Barry, Alex and probably Pujols.

Mark McGwire has not been attacked by the media as have been Bonds and Sosa.

A book does not prove anything. Anyone can write a book. But are they reliable?

Answer 1

It is not a race thing. If you notice the record he is chasing is that of an African American. The issue is basically 2 fold.

1. It is basically accepted that he has taken steroids - be that true or not.

2. The guy is not really that likable.

My guess is if Ken Griffey Jr. was in position to break the record(which sans injuries he might have been.) He would be a media and fan darling in the chase.

In this case it is not the race but the man himself.

Answer 2

I don't sincerely believe that Barry is hated because of his color. I think this is a statement made by race-baitors. The fact of the matter is this- Bonds has never been well-liked by his teammates, media, or fans because he has always had a me-first, to-hell-with-you attitude. Secondly, he was always a great baseball player, but not a transcendant player until after Sosa and McGwire proved that if you have a little something extra in your "diet," you can hit home runs by the dozens and receive more adulation and more money. If you look at his home run stats, you would see that he very rarely approached even 40 home runs and now all of a sudden has inflated numbers since that time.

Answer 3

Bonds has had a history of being hated by the media since he was a 30/30 guy years ago in Pittsburgh. I really don't think that race plays that big of a part. Since he isn't breaking a record held by a white person. I do believe that the media creates alot of the perception. The fact people don't like cheaters or want cheaters to win. If he has cheated or not the perception (created by the media) is that he has taken steroids. Look at what happened to Pete Rose he is white. Players are role models to children whether they want to be or not and are expected to play clean.

Answer 4

I'm pretty sure Hank Aaron's problem isn't with his race:

Once a supporter and admirer of Barry Bonds, all-time homerun king Hank Aaron is now disturbed to hear Bonds' statements to a grand jury investigating a California lab for illegal steroids distribution, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Sunday.

Bonds testified to a grand jury that he used a clear substance and a cream given to him by a trainer who was indicted in a steroid-distribution ring, but Bonds said he didn't know they were steroids, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

"First, since I played the game myself, I know that you can't put something in your body to make you hit a fastball, changeup or curveball," Aaron told the Journal-Constitution on Saturday.

"The only person who can do that is the good Lord. But, at that age [40], you have to ask: Did he accomplish all of this by rejuvenating his strength from day to day with those substances? I know that when you reach a certain age, you just don't bounce back as quickly as you think you can when you're playing all of those games.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1939208

I'm with Hank.

The media's to blame for not going after McGwuire and Sosa they way they (supposedly) are going after bonds, although from what I've read they're up for him "breaking" the record. Personally, I think all 3 of them (bonds, mcgwire & sosa) are useless.

Answer 5

I don't care if he's green. What color is the person who's record he's going after? Same. I think he's acts like a jerk, is known to be cheating, and alienates his teammates. A total prima donna and a great example of what is wrong with professional sports today. McGwire has not been attacked because he dropped out of the public eye, mostly due to the media's efforts. This type of question is why racism is a problem, any time a black person is involved with something negative the racism card gets played.

Answer 6

Barry Bonds does not like the press and rarely entertains them. The press/media have the 7 day a week/ 24 hour a day job of writing material for mass consumption so that they can make ad revenue.

This is a battle that the individual is ill-equipped to win. Not even Rupert Murdock or Randolph Hearst can win such a battle. Well, maybe Hearst could have in his time.

Who is Barry Bonds anyway? Can he affect public policy or lead the masses any one way? No, he cannot. No matter what he does he is simply a vehicle for the Press to sell more papers or get mindless troglodytes to watch their sports shows for advertising money.

America is all too happy to participate. Americans LOVE to point the finger at "The Bad Guy". The real truth is, America IS the Bad Guy.

Americans are outraged by the Enrons of the World. These are the same folks that participate in ARMs to buy their homes and mortgage their children's futures in order to buy SUVs with big rims. THEN they claim ignorance and EXPECT a "break". Thus throwing the economy into further turmoil. Americans are critical of dictators but knowingly buy the cheap labor products sold at Wal Mart. I won't even DISCUSS Diamonds and Cocaine!

America loves to be critical of Barry Bonds for the SAME REASON they love to watch Jerry Springer. They get to point their collective, crooked little fingers at people and draw attention away from their own MAJOR SHORTCOMINGS at the same time. It's a feel good session in the comfort of one's living room.

Answer 7

About as many black people think OJ was innocent too. Bonds has admitted to using steroids he just said he didn't know that was what it was when he was using them.

McGwire isn't playing or chasing any records. If your theory was correct Rafael Palmeiro would still be playing. He was attacked even more than Bonds and was driven from the game.

I used to be a Bonds fan when he was just a jerk but now he's a cheater and a jerk and that's why he's being attacked.

Answer 8

McGwire isn't beeing attacked by the media/fans? Are you blind? The removed his name from teh highway in St. Louis. The papers all got on to him for making an idiot of himself infront of Congress. The NY Post had the headline of "Tears of a Clown" with his picture on it.

Take your blinders off. He's a HUGE jerk, and he's a cheater. If Griffey was about to break the record, people would cheer for him. It's not about race. Expecially since Aaron WAS BLACK!

Answer 9

Nobody likes liars. The govt., though they lie alot, doesn't like them either. If you lie, they go after you any way they can. See Dennis Quatrone, Ken Lay and Martha Stewart for example. Hell, they couldnt' prove anything on Al Capone, but knowing he was a liar, they got him on tax evasion too!

I don't know why race has to enter into it, regarding if people want him to break the record or not, because the guy he is chasing is black too!

Answer 10

at the start you have a super form of a@@ backwards non baseball followers quite often that have judged this guy on the heresay of what the media has instructed them that's many times a damaging one sided view element of this guy. Barry is now finding out to purchase being a occupation long a@@hollow to baseball and the media. that is their way of having back at him for all of those those that he has annoyed interior the previous. The worst he has carried out is used short term which he did admit to. maximum folk of his occupation is respectable so human beings incredibly need to recover from it. I believe Romulus. he's not extra to blame than the different short term person. And had he used in the previous all of us could understand approximately by making use of now and Barry could be in penitentiary.