Barry Bonds says you should be happy when A-Rod reaches 660 homers
Alex Rodriguez is five homers away from tying the great Willie Mays for fourth on the all-time list with 660. Just what happens after that ball flies over the fence might be one of the season’s best dramas. The New York Yankees are acting like the milestone doesn’t exist — partially because it will help avoid paying A-Rod’s $6 million “milestone” bonus.
If he’s at home, Yankees fans will probably cheer A-Rod, since they’ve given him warm receptions thus far. If he’s on the road, you can expect a chorus of boos. We’ll wait and see what sort of media coverage it gets, whether folks act like it’s as real as spring-training stats or they give it “milestone” coverage.
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Despite all that, you know who will be happy for A-Rod? Another shamed slugger — Barry Bonds, who is a particularly interesting person in this matter because Mays is his godfather, A-Rod is a recent pupil of his and, like Rodriguez, he knows what it’s like to chase a milestone without the public’s support.
Bonds spoke to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale about the chase for 660 and his comments were certainly polarizing. Bonds says everybody — you, me, the Yankees, etc. — should be happy for A-Rod. Something tells us not every baseball fan is going to heed Bonds’ word.
“My godfather means the world to me. I love him to a T,” Bonds told USA TODAY Sports in an hour-long telephone interview, “but when Alex hits No. 660, I’ll be happy for him. Willie will be happy for him. Everybody should be happy for him.
“Any time anybody in the game does something that’s a great accomplishment, the game of baseball should celebrate that. No matter what. Baseball is benefiting from that person’s hard work, so baseball should at least celebrate.”
But it won’t. And neither will the Yankees.
“Why the hate?” Bonds said. “Why hate on something you’re paying to see? I don’t understand it. He’s entertaining us. I wish life wasn’t like that.”
Why the hate? Barry, you know why the hate. You’ve been dealing with that question yourself since 2007. While Bonds is talking about A-Rod here, you have to figure he’s talking about himself too. He further told USA Today:
“This guy is not running for president of the United States,” Bonds said. “He’s not running for commissioner. We’re not running for political office. We’re just ballplayers. We’re not God. We’re imperfect people. We’re human beings.”
So are fans. They’ll react from their heart, for better or worse. Some people will call A-Rod’s spot on all-time list hollow (as is their right) and others will talk about how great of a talent he is, PED issues aside (also their right).
But as Bonds knows well, there will be no shortage of opinions.
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Mike Oz is the editor of Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @MikeOz
