By: Gary Livesey

Gary Livesey — Mon, 21 May 2007 04:01:56 +0000

MLB is complicit on any performance enhancing drugs Bonds used. MLB is NOT complicit in the in-your-face-ass-hole attitude Bonds (and his father) have always projected. I have followed Barry’s career for a long time. As a kid, I was a two-left-footed, lousy athlete kid who never did well in sports but still loved sports; ok

I grew to idolize Roberto Clemente. I followed him relentlessly and worshiped every swing of his bat, every move and throw from right field, and every complaint he had about the sporting press throughout his career. A recent book I’ve read about him revealed that the local Pittsburgh sports writers finally realized that he always found fault in their writings about him because it fueled him to over perform.

I don’t know if Rick Reichart, the first $200k bonus baby in MLB with the LA Angels was in the organization during your brief stint in LA, but he never lived up to Gene Autry’s expectations and when a very negative article was printed about that very same observation, he went out and hit two homers in a game; fueled by the need to prove the sports writer wrong- much like Clemente! So naturally I kept an eye on those beloved Bucs in Pittsburgh. Then I see this Barry Bonds kid, and I remembered his father.

But MLB continually denied Bonds his coveted fourth MVP award, constantly awarding it to some other, less achieving player who happed to put in a “career best performance” benefited by roids! Bonds knew he had to compete at the current level so he used the same drugs at least 50% of the other roster players were using (some claim it was at least 70%).

So public interest in MLB grew and attendance regained its expected level and then MLB expresses outrage over the practice it condoned whole heartily a few years earlier. Had MLB showed interest in keeping the game pure initially, Bonds would never have found the need to go to that highest level. After all, he is far and above superior in skill, dedication, and motivation than the rest of MLB.

Yes, he needs to go to charm school, he has a lousy attitude and personality. But I look at his abilities and how he has entertained me and the baseball world. He could have easily skated through a fifteen year career with minimal effort, minimal practice. His income would have been lower, but considering the focus he’s put into being possibly the greatest player in history (arguably) I can overlook those short comings. He’s paid to perform and he has done so beyond expectations.

Bonds is a rare person; brought into the game by his father with similar skills (speed and power) but fortunate enough to receive advice from elders like Willie Mays. Willie told him that he had the raw talent to POSSIBLY be the greatest player of all time. But he also told him it would take tremendous focus and dedication. Bonds lived up to that but unfortunately did not focus on or dedicate effort into being human. He never came to understand people like me, the two left footed athlete. He showed contempt and indifference to the public. Bummer.

I look at the entertainment I am receiving. I know Bonds isn’t like Clemente; a compassionate person who used any advantage he had to help the unfortunate. So for Bonds humanitarian side, I have no comment. All Bonds needs is to die in a plane crash so that his achievements might be recognized.

Gary Livesey

By: Bob Meyer

Bob Meyer — Mon, 21 May 2007 04:09:35 +0000

Gary, Enjoyed your comments. You are a true fan, very passionate about the great game of baseball. Rick Reichart came after I was with the Angels, but I found it interesting that he and Clemente were both motivated by the coverage of sports writers.

Comments on: Al Downing and Bob Meyer…Black & White

By: Gary Livesey

By: Bob Meyer