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A Giant Disappointment For Home Run Derby Fans

Published: Jul 10, 2007

Barry Bonds may leave his heart in San Francisco, but his soul is on ice.

Here he was, with a chance to touch them all, and he dismissed the All-Star Home Run Derby with a simple "Nope."

I can think of all sorts of baseball players who have blown this thing off, some with good reasons, such as it messes with their swings or it takes too long.

I can think of a hundred reasons not to want to watch it, the chance of hearing Chris Berman introducing Alex "Blame it on" Rios being Nos. 23 through 65.

But this was a moment made for one man. And the man, of course, in keeping with who he is, wanted nothing to do with it. He had a party to host with Jay-Z.

Sigh.

Thanks, But No Thanks

We know this All-Star break represents the only respite for Bonds as he chases down Hank Aaron and 755.

We know that the stars gathered out west are falling over themselves to say what a great guy and player Barry is, which is all fine and well.

Likewise, the cheers that will greet Bonds as he steps to the plate tonight in his home yard with kayakers at the ready in McCovey Cove. His career achievements, even before he became Mr. Potato Head, were worthy of recognition.

And no place on the planet has pulled for Bonds like San Francisco. Most of the people in the stadium tonight will be Barry fans. So what would have been so hard about doing the Home Run Derby for them?

One way of Barry saying thanks.

No thanks.

It's just another small window into why we can't wrap our arms around this man.

Monday could have been his night, as well as a great time to give back.

Nope.

Bonds took the high road Monday in everything he said. He said Bud Selig can do what he wants for 756. Same goes for Hank Aaron, whom Bonds said he loves and admires.

Well played.

Part of me understands Bonds not swinging Monday. In some weird way, I admire him not doing the derby, not caring how we see him - only he eventually will cry about not getting respect for his accomplishments, at which point I'll hope I haven't just eaten.

But as I said, part of me understands. Why should Bonds lift a finger to help All-Star festivities when Selig hasn't penciled in being on hand for 756 into his day planner?

And the Home Run Derby, while not as pathetically watered down as the NBA slam-dunk contest (who are those guys?), has never had perfect attendance. Other stars skipped Monday's derby, like Ken Griffey and Alex Rodriguez.

Think A-Rod could stand to mend a few PR fences? Wonder what T-shirt his wife will wear to tonight's game.

But this is different.

San Francisco would have loved to have seen Bonds swing for the Cove on Monday.

San Francisco deserved it.

Fans Deserved To See Him

I was in St. Louis last October for the World Series. Cardinals fans are as faithful a lot as there has ever been. But they've pushed Mark McGwire into the shadows.

As one fan explained, "He's sort of our dirty family secret."

Some secret.

But just look at Giants fans. They've held their ground. They've held it to a San Andreas fault. Bonds should have given back Monday. Jay-Z would have understood.

Giants fans deserved to see their man. Bonds was built for a night like Monday. Exactly how he was built is the question, but forget that for now - this was his park, these were his fans and his kayaks. Imagine the buzz if he'd been in the Derby.

The word from Barry:

Buzz off.

What are we going to do with this guy?

On to 756.