It was just last week, after all, that Boston pitcher David Wells tried to ruin the party over No. 714 when he said Bonds was juiced when he hit some of his home runs off him. Wells also questioned whether Bonds was telling the truth when he told a grand jury he unknowingly took steroids thinking it was flaxseed oil.

“He’s admitted taking it, but not knowingly. I think that’s a crock,” Wells said. “I would never take something without knowing what I was putting in my body. There’s no way.”

Bonds lost most of America long before he lost any fellow players. His boorish behavior and indifference to fans alienated many even before he became the poster child for the BALCO steroid investigation.

He makes $20 million a year, but has no real endorsements because he is such a polarizing figure. A recent poll showed two-thirds of baseball fans have either unfavorable or mixed views about him, and he was ranked almost at the bottom by fans in a survey of how trustworthy and admirable they found 1,500 different athletes and celebrities.

Hitting No. 715 isn’t going to change that. The crowds in San Francisco still cheer, but when Bonds goes on the road this week he’s not going to find fans eager to celebrate the milestone with him in New York.

Slide show   Giant among men A look back at some key moments in the amazing career of Barry Bonds

Bonds will again be cast in the role of villain, but it’s become a worn act. After nearly four weeks of waiting for Bonds to pass the Babe, America is just as weary of watching.

Besides, there’s always next year when No. 755 will loom even larger and baseball fans will have another reason to be conflicted about the surly slugger.

For now, though, Bonds is tired of us. And we’re tired of Bonds.

It’s time to give it a rest.

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