Do you respect Barry Bonds?

Question

I do not respect Barry Bonds but not because of the steroid issue.

I do think there was a good chance he took steroids but then again, baseball basically allowed steroids in the 80's and 90's because baseball wasn't getting many fans...a lot due to the strike in 1994. Baseball was low in attendance and needed some help so steroids took over and brought the fans back to the game for the long ball.

Anyway, I do not respect Barry Bonds because of the way he plays. If you have watched any of his games, he does not hustle AT ALL. If he hits a ground ball, he walks to 1st. Just today, he was on 1st and there was a double play ball. Most baseball players run as hard as they can to try to screw up the throw. Barry Bonds just jogged to 2nd. There is no excuse for that. You are trying to win ball games. You have to put full effort out there. And don't give me the, "He is getting old" or the "His team stinks" crap. You play the game at 110% and try to win. You don't just try to break a record.

Answer 1

I've gone to a batting cage.

Anyone able to hit a ball that far and keep it fair, deserves respect just for that, especially 753 times in game time situations.

And he made AT&T look like a hitters' park. The 2007 ASG and Home Run derby showed it's not the friendliest left hand park.

But I do hold the Babe and Aaron to a higher respect for doing it right.

Answer 2

You must not respect many players because most don't hustle. And have you ever considered he didn't want to get hurt? A couple of weeks ago Griffey didn't dive for a ball that he could of caught he just let it drop he didn't give 110%. He didn't do it cause he didn't want to hustle he did it because he didn't want to risk getting hurt. Barry is "getting old" and is more prone to injury so he can't go all out trying to break up double plays and run out a groundball in the infield. He's already hurting, thats why he missed a few games last week, and he doesn't want to go on the DL with a pulled hamstring or quad. He wants to break the record as fast as possible. Also his team "stinks" its not like the Giants are going to come back in the west. He's not concerned with making the playoffs this year he is just worrying about breaking Aarons record. Then maybe next year if he plays for San Fransico and they are actually in the chase maybe then he will hustle when the only thing he is chasing then is a World Series ring.

Answer 3

I have mixed feelings about Barry Bonds. On one hand the numbers jump out at you and are outstanding and conversely I always wonder whether or not he willingly used performance-enhancing drugs (i.e., steroids, HGH etc.) to outdue the competition. Until the facts are out there and all is crystal clear, one has to assume his innocence and to answer your question, yes, I do respect Barry Bonds as a baseball player. He may not be the greatest guy in other facets of the game such as his relationship with the fans and media, but I do respect him and think he is one of the greatest baseball players of all-time and will subsequently be in Cooperstown someday.

Answer 4

Hey give him a little break. He's 43 years old. How many 43 year olds do you know that could even play a wohle major league game, let alone over 100 of them? Look he doesnt give 100% out there now, but he sure as hell did when he was younger and his body had the capability to do so. I respect Barry Bonds cause even without the steroids, he's one of the greatest hitters ever, has the greatest strike zone knowledge ever, and has one of the sweetest swings ever.

Answer 5

there is a difference between liking a person and respecting. you dont have to like barry bonds but you gotta respect the skills and the level of competition he puts on throughout his long years. regardless if he used steroids or not, he would have been an outstanding player because he had so much potential when he was younger. im not a giants fan, nor have i ever watched him play in a game. but damn it, give some credit where credit is due. stop bitching about the ****** steroids. its getting old you freaking whiners.

Answer 6

No.

He is never for the team

He is the type of guy who will buy a plasma screen T.V. and will never let the team watch it.

He just cares about hitting his #756 home runs and getting milllions and millions of dollars.

I would have some respect for him if he just went out and said he took steroids and admitted he has done something wrong instead he has to act like a jerk and deny everything.

Answer 7

I know that there is speculation about Barry and steroids but let's keep a couple of factors in play while we debate this.
1-the ballparks are smaller [Cincinnati, Milwaukee, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh etc]
2-the pitching sucks, expansion has deluted pitched pitching like water into some kind of concentrate chemical.
3 the biggest factor, there has been no proof Barry took steroids and in this country, the evidence must fit or you must acquit, Words from a very famous but now dead attorney backsome 13-14 years ago

Answer 8

No I do not respect him or his crappy attitude. I am sorry that he is going to break the record. He is a disgrace to Major League Baseball and there will always be questions about his integrity. Isn't someone still in jail for contempt of court for refusing to answer questions about Bonds and BALCO? They guy is still sitting in a cage and Barry goes on. Something is very wrong with this picture.

Answer 9

Well, he is old. Remember that he did win 8 gold gloves. How many active players could you name off the top of your head who have as many gold gloves? If Bonds had been a poor defensive player his entire career, your case would hold water.

As to playing at 110%, you think Hank Aaron was playing at 110% when he broke Ruth's record? Cal Ripken Jr Played crappy defensive games during his run at the streak.

Answer 10

I respect the skill but not the person.

Just one example:
He doesn't allow his likeness to be in baseball video games unless the game makers pay him extra money. Doesn't he make enough $$$ already? Sure, it's his image but what message does it send?

Baseball is a game we play as children. What guy would not want kids to idolize him and pretend to be him in a video game? They can be A-Rod or Jeter or Vladimir, but not Barry. The guy just does not see the bigger picture.

Answer 11

I don't respect Bonds because I've seen him being interviewed and he's just downright rude to reporters, he rants and raves over nothing and just makes it uncomfortable for them.
Blame it on 'roid rage if you want, but there's no excuse for being ill-mannered.
I've also seen him being lazy on the field as if he is so amazingly spectacular that the rules of play don't apply to him.
He is so big-headed at times that I just wanna spit on him!
Ugh! I get a migraine just thinking about how he's supposedly going to "break Aaron's record"! HAH! Never will that cheater be a winner in my book!