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![[img]](http://www.sportsrant.com/forums/vbmynews/viewthu.php?id=230604-9904) “Boston is too racist for me. I couldn’t play there.” - Barry Bonds
Oh, now he did it. He besmirched the city I adore. Fueled by riteous indignation and compelled by liberal guilt, I feel obligated, as a honorable knight of the House of Kennedy, to preserve the integrity of the land sullied by a brazen ignorance uttered by a loathsome scoundrel.
Many have tried very hard to understand, dare I say even appreciate, Barry Bonds. After all, he is the greatest player of this generation. But, his condescension, contempt, anger, speculative cheating, and all around douche bag demeanor make it so hard.
Some say Bonds’ attitude is understandable. The son of a Bobby Bonds, he grew up in the big leagues. He witnessed first hand the ugly side of professional sports; the manipulative media, unappreciative (and sometimes downright nasty) fans, and the constant pressure to succeed. Perhaps that is why he is so guarded. It is all a defense mechanism designed to protect his insecurities.
This attitude is interpreted as arrogance, which breeds media and fan contempt, which forces Bonds to become more guarded, which is in turn further interpreted as arrogance. Like the last lap around the track in a mile run, it is a viscous circle.
That understanding, coupled with a desire to share in the success of a remarkable career (the same way we all embraced Michael Jordan) is why we possibly could have given Bonds the benefit of the doubt.
Then he lights up a big “I AM AN IGNORANT FOOL” sign over his head and cries racism at an entire city. His evidence? “Only what other guys have said.” I wish someone had responded, “Barry, you are an arrogant SOB on steroids who cheats at baseball and undermines the integrity of the game. You also have a big Mr. Potatohead sized noggin. I’ve never seen you play, do not know your workout routine, or spoken to you directly. But, I am going by what other guys have said.”
Of course, Bonds’ ignorant observations are based on a general perception of Boston…a general perception of Boston thirty years ago! Everyone knows the shameful racism of the Yawkey ownership and the fact that the Red Sox were the last team in the Majors to integrate. They also may label the Celtics as the great white hope for basketball (despite the fact that the Celtics were the first team in the NBA have an African American player, African American coach, and African American starting five). And the protests and riots over forced bussing in the 1970s are fresh on a lot of people’s minds (forced bussing being a misguided attempt to help alleviate racism). But, the same examples can be found for any city. Especially older east coast cities that have been dealing with the racial issues since before the Civil War.
When I watch a game from SBC Park, I do not see much diversity. I see many white faces. It must be racism. Or, maybe it is because San Francisco has a low minority population (approximately 8% African American).
When it was suggested that the racial climate has changed in Boston in recent years (as it has in general nationally), Bonds responded, “It ain’t changing. It ain’t changing nowhere.” Aside from wondering who taught him how to speak English, I wonder where he is getting this from. Bill Russell is beloved in Boston. The same can be said for Ty Law, despite his recent comments. And, Pokey Reese is arguably the most popular Red Sox player right now. I try to be color blind, but they are all black.
That all being said, it is hard to deny that Barry Bonds has been a victim of racism. The fact that he is African-American may make it easier for some members of White America to hate him. They certainly do not represent all of White America just as some individuals attitudes, actions, or experience do not represent all of Boston. I now dislike Bonds because he is a douche bag. My neighbor dislikes him because he is an arrogant SOB. And, my boss dislikes him because he is a spiteful, spoiled, ungrateful, jerk-off who ruins the game of baseball with his very presence. That, my friends, is true diversity; the key to ending racism in our time.
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