# Why is Barry Bonds so hated?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-barry-bonds-so-hated/264772>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [September 17, 2004, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-barry-bonds-so-hated/264772 "2004-09-17T01:36:10Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\
**Post date:** [September 18, 2004, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-barry-bonds-so-hated/264772/21 "2004-09-18T23:57:08Z")

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> [@Stratocaster](#):
>
> Absurd? Oh, bullshit. I never argued that Bonds was liked prior to the steroid allegations, that this charge was the turning point that changed him from a sweet guy into one perceived as a jerk.

And yet you yourself linked to an article stating Bonds was a jerk, published in the country’s most prestigious sports magazine, that was written at the height of Bonds love/hate hysteria, **that was written BEFORE the steroids scandal hit Bonds.** And you still haven’t addressed the indisputable fact that Bonds seems to be the whipping boy for the steroids issues while others get away more or less scot free.

> [@](#):
>
> He was a prick before the steroid abuse. He is a prick after.

You know him?

> [@](#):
>
> He interviews poorly? He’s surly? Jesus Christ, you’re making my argument.

I didn’t realize you had one.

The fact that Bonds has been an ass at times - as has been pointed out he’s sometimes a prince of a guy, too - is common knowledge. What I find curious is that Bonds is crucified for behaviour we can find exhibited by lots of ballplayers. I don’t deny he can be a prick, but the extent of his prickitude has been insanely exaggerrated by sportswriters who hate anyone who doesn’t lick their boots and fans who believe whatever sportswriters tell them.

> [@](#):
>
> Honestly, if you met someone who interacted the way Bonds does at a party, if he was one of your co-workers, if you next door neighbor behaved that way, how would you characterize him?

Since I don’t know Bonds personally, I haven’t a clue. IF he’s as much of a jerk as the media makes him out to be, I would dislike him. I don’t like jerks. But it’s quite impossible to tell exactly how much of a jerk he really is, given how often he’s misquoted, quoted wildly out of context, or (as in the case of Reilly’s hysterics) simply lied about.

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