Other than Lance Armstrong, there is probably no other athlete in history that has dominated his or her sport the way Barry Bonds has ruled baseball.
Perhaps not even Michael Jordan or Wayne Gretzky rise above opponents to the extent Bonds has owned opposing pitchers.
But while Jordan and Gretzky built an almost iconic legacy that will forever be celebrated in the NBA and NHL, Bonds has never really been embraced. And he can thank himself for his soured reputation.
Throughout his career he has had rocky relationships with coaches, picked fights with teammates and been at odds with the media. And his own personal easy chair in front of his locker only alienates him from the team and serves to massage his ego.
So when Bonds initially announced he would retire at the end of the 2006 season, it didn't exactly draw the outpouring of sympathy that great athletes receive when they decide to hang it up.
Gone are the days when Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa's record home run pace breathed life into a game losing popularity.
Bonds' accomplishments come under a cloud of suspicion, during a time when Jose Canseco's book and the BALCO steroids scandal have only made fans and media more skeptical. After his admission that he unknowingly took steroids given to him by his trainer, it only makes it more difficult to give Bonds the benefit of the doubt.
But he hasn't exactly handled the scrutiny with the most grace and class. Bonds' spring training press conference tirade at Scottsdale Stadium nearly one year ago is evidence of that. He blamed the media for putting stress on him and his family.
Bonds dodged reporters and hostile fans sitting out most of last season with a knee injury, which is the topic of his recent retirement talks.
But the spotlight won't go away, and should only intensify this year as Bonds marches toward Hank Aaron's all-time career home run mark. He may be the greatest all-around player who ever lived and, nearing 42, has gotten better with age. But questions about the legitimacy of his talent will still come up as he inches closer to the seemingly untouchable record.
The more Bonds ignores the issue of steroids, the worse it makes him look. Unless he improves his public relations, people will continue to vilify him.
Reach the reporter at derrik.miller@asu.edu.
