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Spare us the pity party, Barry

Star has nerve to blame media for image he created

Image: BondsZuma Press
Barry Bonds speaks to the media on Tuesday. During the discussion, Bonds mentioned how much he and his family have been hurt by media scrutiny.

Bonds has received reams of positive press during his career, but viewed all reporters with suspicion from the get-go. He invokes the "you guys" offense constantly, is sarcastic and abrupt whenever possible, then tries to tell the world he is misunderstood.

"'I feel like I've been misrepresented my whole career, (as) a bad guy, a bad person,'' he said after winning the 2003 MVP award. ''I'm not a difficult person to deal with. I'm not a difficult person with the fans. I never get a (writer) to write the true story. I want the public to see who I really am.''

That is jaw-droppingly at odds with the facts of the matter. Bonds is understood perfectly by those who spend any length of time around him. He may be a devoted father and a good friend to those in his inner circle. But if he doesn't know you, he makes it pointedly clear that he doesn't want to know you.

For him to attempt to invoke pity is as impressive a feat as his low-orbit home run off Troy Percival in the 2002 World Series. Because, when you get right down to it:

These are choices Bonds made, as is his right. The shocking thing is, he can't see how those choices have led to his stature as the least-loved player in the game.

But there he was on Tuesday, strapping on his pity party hat above sad, boo-hoo eyes. That's just another reason why, should this be the beginning of the end for Bonds, should he fail to hit the 53 home runs he needs to become baseball's all-time leader, a lot of people will be partying for another reason.

And they won't all be at Hank Aaron's house.

Gary Peterson writes regularly for NBCSports.com and is a columnist for the Contra Costa (Calif.) Times. For more, visit http://www.hotcoco.com/sports/


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