Most Hated Loved Giants

[sfsportsfan]

for being a lifelong dodger fan? meh.

 

[msgkings322]

for being a lifelong dodger fan? meh.

Exactly, dude can't help where he grew up vs where he signs as a player.

Seems like a nice guy, a good guy.

Bonds not so much.

 

[sfsportsfan]

Bonds was a miserable bastard that's why. He was way worse than most of the guys we are 'hating' in this thread.

 

[calsnowskier]

for being a lifelong dodger fan? meh.

Growing up a dog fan is one thing. Remaining a dog fan while playing for the Gs is something else entirely.

I do not blame him on a person-person level. But as a Giant fan? I just can't stomach it.

 

[MarcoPolo]

Bonds was a miserable bastard that's why. He was way worse than most of the guys we are 'hating' in this thread.

Bonds was definitely conceited, considered himself the best. But I think our impression of him is colored by the reporters who wrote about him.

I remember an interview with Bonds years and years ago, where he said that he didn't think that he was a bad guy or a mean guy, in general. When asked why that's what was written about so often he blamed the reporters. Not that they were *lying*, but that he treated reporters like crap because he had no respect for almost all of them. They don't create anything, they're like XXX (I can't remember if he said leeches or maggots or hyena, but it was a nasty comparaison), they'll do anything for a story, etc. That he saw what reporters (in general) did with his dad and blamed them for the fact that his dad went from team to team to team every year or two. So he treats them like crap and that's why they write what they write.

Think about the one-on-one, televised interviews that you've seen of Bonds. Maybe he's just playing to the crowd and all the rest of the time he's a jerk, or maybe the reporters *were* coloring our viewpoint because he treated them like shit. Also, think about all of the charity stuff he's done, such as pledging to put Brian Stow's kids through college.

Who knows. Remember, just because it's in the paper doesn't make it true.

 

[msgkings322]

Bonds was definitely conceited, considered himself the best. But I think our impression of him is colored by the reporters who wrote about him.

I remember an interview with Bonds years and years ago, where he said that he didn't think that he was a bad guy or a mean guy, in general. When asked why that's what was written about so often he blamed the reporters. Not that they were *lying*, but that he treated reporters like crap because he had no respect for almost all of them. They don't create anything, they're like XXX (I can't remember if he said leeches or maggots or hyena, but it was a nasty comparaison), they'll do anything for a story, etc. That he saw what reporters (in general) did with his dad and blamed them for the fact that his dad went from team to team to team every year or two. So he treats them like crap and that's why they write what they write.

Think about the one-on-one, televised interviews that you've seen of Bonds. Maybe he's just playing to the crowd and all the rest of the time he's a jerk, or maybe the reporters *were* coloring our viewpoint because he treated them like shit. Also, think about all of the charity stuff he's done, such as pledging to put Brian Stow's kids through college.

Who knows. Remember, just because it's in the paper doesn't make it true.

I agree with you that the press and he hated each other so he got portrayed even worse than he maybe was, and his charitable side is very commendable. But this is a dude that came to blows with our other star player during a game, that had his own little fiefdom in the locker room, that could and did run everything like the team was his and he was king, etc.

Again, the guy was the best player I've ever seen and will ever see, so he earned some of that. But we're ragging on guys like Rowand and Molina for a comment or two, or a pouty month...meanwhile Bonds defined entitled superstar.

I'm not saying he's nearly as bad, but it's gotta be like being a fan of the Tigers in the Ty Cobb era. Cobb was trancendently talented, and as much or more of a total jerk. Think Pete Rose too.

Like gp said about Jack Clark, out of this world talent, but hard to love.

 

[calsnowskier]

Bonds was definitely conceited, considered himself the best. But I think our impression of him is colored by the reporters who wrote about him.

I remember an interview with Bonds years and years ago, where he said that he didn't think that he was a bad guy or a mean guy, in general. When asked why that's what was written about so often he blamed the reporters. Not that they were *lying*, but that he treated reporters like crap because he had no respect for almost all of them. They don't create anything, they're like XXX (I can't remember if he said leeches or maggots or hyena, but it was a nasty comparaison), they'll do anything for a story, etc. That he saw what reporters (in general) did with his dad and blamed them for the fact that his dad went from team to team to team every year or two. So he treats them like crap and that's why they write what they write.

Think about the one-on-one, televised interviews that you've seen of Bonds. Maybe he's just playing to the crowd and all the rest of the time he's a jerk, or maybe the reporters *were* coloring our viewpoint because he treated them like shit. Also, think about all of the charity stuff he's done, such as pledging to put Brian Stow's kids through college.

Who knows. Remember, just because it's in the paper doesn't make it true.

I would rep ya if I could...

 

[calsnowskier]

I agree with you that the press and he hated each other so he got portrayed even worse than he maybe was, and his charitable side is very commendable. But this is a dude that came to blows with our other star player during a game, that had his own little fiefdom in the locker room, that could and did run everything like the team was his and he was king, etc.

Again, the guy was the best player I've ever seen and will ever see, so he earned some of that. But we're ragging on guys like Rowand and Molina for a comment or two, or a pouty month...meanwhile Bonds defined entitled superstar.

I'm not saying he's nearly as bad, but it's gotta be like being a fan of the Tigers in the Ty Cobb era. Cobb was trancendently talented, and as much or more of a total jerk. Think Pete Rose too.

Like gp said about Jack Clark, out of this world talent, but hard to love.

It does take two to tango, and Kent was not exactly organizing the love-ins in the clubhouse, himself...

 

[MarcoPolo]

It does take two to tango, and Kent was not exactly organizing the love-ins in the clubhouse, himself...

IIRC, the situation that was reported was that Kent was ragging on somebody about their bad play and Bonds stood up for the other player by telling Kent to shut up and think about playing better himself. Now that was the scuttlebutt, who knows if that's what happened or not. Kent *was* yelling at another player when Bonds got involved. And I remember seeing video afterwards (on the internet) where Kent was pretty clearly saying "****er" (or something that rhymes with it, I guess). That's when Baker charged Kent, BTW.

IIRC.

Edit: well, it got censored. I guess I should have written "the N word"

 

[msgkings322]

It does take two to tango, and Kent was not exactly organizing the love-ins in the clubhouse, himself...

And thus he's mentioned in this thread too...

I don't think I can be talked out of thinking Bonds was not a likable guy. He just wasn't. But this thread is calling out guys like Molina and Franchez as being 'hated' and 'loved', and to me they seemed like nicer, more likable guys than Bonds.

This thread is as opinion-y as it gets so none of us are right or wrong here, just IMO Bonds was more unlikable than most of the other names we are citing.

And hate is too strong for me anyway, I don't actually 'hate' any of the guys that played for the Giants, or even the ones that played for other teams. It's a game, they're just people doing what they do.

I know this is internet sports talk so we don't really mean 'hate' either, so it's all fine to list whoever as guys you 'hate'. I hope we're all kidding though. And all I'm saying is, I like players like Lincecum and Wilson, and Mariano Rivera, and Omar Vizquel, , and Ricky Henderson, and Nyjer Morgan, and Torii Hunter, etc etc. I like personalities, and fun-seeming guys with quirks, or solid vets who command respect. I don't like surly grumps like Bonds.

But boy was he ever the best to watch play this game. THE most exciting batter, and I'll never feel differently.

 

[calsnowskier]

And thus he's mentioned in this thread too...

I don't think I can be talked out of thinking Bonds was not a likable guy. He just wasn't. But this thread is calling out guys like Molina and Franchez as being 'hated' and 'loved', and to me they seemed like nicer, more likable guys than Bonds.

This thread is as opinion-y as it gets so none of us are right or wrong here, just IMO Bonds was more unlikable than most of the other names we are citing.

And hate is too strong for me anyway, I don't actually 'hate' any of the guys that played for the Giants, or even the ones that played for other teams. It's a game, they're just people doing what they do.

I know this is internet sports talk so we don't really mean 'hate' either, so it's all fine to list whoever as guys you 'hate'. I hope we're all kidding though. And all I'm saying is, I like players like Lincecum and Wilson, and Mariano Rivera, and Omar Vizquel, , and Ricky Henderson, and Nyjer Morgan, and Torii Hunter, etc etc. I like personalities, and fun-seeming guys with quirks, or solid vets who command respect. I don't like surly grumps like Bonds.

But boy was he ever the best to watch play this game. THE most exciting batter, and I'll never feel differently.

I was never trying to talk you out of anything. Just having fun chatting

 

[1phlapdown]

This category to me can only fit one guy perfectly: Teh Lord, Mr. Bonds

The loved part is obvious. And so is the hated.

I went to lots of ST games in the Barry era and never once saw him signing autographs.

fwiw, SI reported that he once said "You people need to get a life" to fans in Scottsdale waiting outside the locker room. If true, isn't that uncalled for?

 

[SFAnthem]

Bonds was a miserable bastard that's why. He was way worse than most of the guys we are 'hating' in this thread.

That's what I hear too. When Bobby (rest in peace) was at Stanford. He was nothing but class..while Barry was nothin but azz...

 

[MarcoPolo]

That's what I hear too. When Bobby (rest in peace) was at Stanford. He was nothing but class..while Barry was nothin but azz...

Barry wasn't at Stanford, was he? I thought he was in Arizona.

 

[msgkings322]

I was never trying to talk you out of anything. Just having fun chatting

Agreed, and repped.

 

[msgkings322]

Barry wasn't at Stanford, was he? I thought he was in Arizona.

AZ State. He was just saying Bobby was classy in college, Barry not.

 

[dredinis21]

I agree with you that the press and he hated each other so he got portrayed even worse than he maybe was, and his charitable side is very commendable. But this is a dude that came to blows with our other star player during a game, that had his own little fiefdom in the locker room, that could and did run everything like the team was his and he was king, etc.

Again, the guy was the best player I've ever seen and will ever see, so he earned some of that. But we're ragging on guys like Rowand and Molina for a comment or two, or a pouty month...meanwhile Bonds defined entitled superstar.

I'm not saying he's nearly as bad, but it's gotta be like being a fan of the Tigers in the Ty Cobb era. Cobb was trancendently talented, and as much or more of a total jerk. Think Pete Rose too.

Like gp said about Jack Clark, out of this world talent, but hard to love.

Regarding the bolded comments, if Rowand or Molina put up Bonds-like numbers, I'm sure bygones would have been bygones. But realistically it comes down to one distinct, yet simple difference between guys like Rowand and Molina and a player like Bonds. It comes down to appreciation.

Rowand was fucking lucky that Sabean is an idiot when it comes to dishing out FA contracts. He never came close to matching production with his dollar sign. Because of this, we all disliked him to a degree. The fact that he had that horrible batting stance that he was stubborn with although seemingly always playing the "Mendoza" game didn't help matters. Once he started commenting about where he would rather be playing (that wasn't the quote, but he sure didn't hold back his affinity for CHI) while doing nothing to EARN his 12 mil per while donning the french vanilla, he was fucking dead to me.

Molina did nothing but bitch and complain. He always wanted credit, never seemed like he felt as if he were getting any respect, and openly voiced his displeasure with this. He wasn't exactly underpaid. He was (until Posey completely disproved this point) considered the guiding light of our young pitching staff. Yet he wanted to be seen as something much more then he truly was. The fact that he was our best offensive weapon at times didn't speak to his ability but rather how putrid our offense at the time was. In comes Posey...who IMMEDIATELY shows the Giants and their fan base exactly what a team leader should do and the Giants rode that pony all the way to the World Series. Molina was thanked and appreciated for his contributions, but I always felt he got exactly what he was owed.

Bonds did NOTHING to put down the team or the city. I would gladly take his half assed run to first on a weak groundout or an occasional defensive cadillac-play gone horribly wrong for his great defense on balls in the corner and his +.300 average, +.400 OBP, +40 HR, etc. I don't give a fuck if he had a recliner on his job site. I don't give a fuck if he yelled at a reporter. I don't give a fuck if he wasn't close with all of his teammates. I DO give a fuck that he always complimented Giants fans, the city of San Francisco, and the stadium in which he played the latter half of his career in. He did a bunch of charitable work behind the scenes, created a persona that was bigger then life, broke records, and held us all captive with each at bat. He was a one man wrecking crew on a team with not a ton to cheer about at times. He exercised his playoff demons, dispelling the one myth that was whispered around baseball about him not being clutch.

I LOVE Barry Bonds. And he loved San Francisco. And he showed appreciation to the fans that supported him and his team no matter what the standing read. And for that, he will never be anywhere NEAR a "Hated Giants" list.

 

[calsnowskier]

Regarding the bolded comments, if Rowand or Molina put up Bonds-like numbers, I'm sure bygones would have been bygones. But realistically it comes down to one distinct, yet simple difference between guys like Rowand and Molina and a player like Bonds. It comes down to appreciation.

Rowand was fucking lucky that Sabean is an idiot when it comes to dishing out FA contracts. He never came close to matching production with his dollar sign. Because of this, we all disliked him to a degree. The fact that he had that horrible batting stance that he was stubborn with although seemingly always playing the "Mendoza" game didn't help matters. Once he started commenting about where he would rather be playing (that wasn't the quote, but he sure didn't hold back his affinity for CHI) while doing nothing to EARN his 12 mil per while donning the french vanilla, he was fucking dead to me.

Molina did nothing but bitch and complain. He always wanted credit, never seemed like he felt as if he were getting any respect, and openly voiced his displeasure with this. He wasn't exactly underpaid. He was (until Posey completely disproved this point) considered the guiding light of our young pitching staff. Yet he wanted to be seen as something much more then he truly was. The fact that he was our best offensive weapon at times didn't speak to his ability but rather how putrid our offense at the time was. In comes Posey...who IMMEDIATELY shows the Giants and their fan base exactly what a team leader should do and the Giants rode that pony all the way to the World Series. Molina was thanked and appreciated for his contributions, but I always felt he got exactly what he was owed.

Bonds did NOTHING to put down the team or the city. I would gladly take his half assed run to first on a weak groundout or an occasional defensive cadillac-play gone horribly wrong for his great defense on balls in the corner and his +.300 average, +.400 OBP, +40 HR, etc. I don't give a fuck if he had a recliner on his job site. I don't give a fuck if he yelled at a reporter. I don't give a fuck if he wasn't close with all of his teammates. I DO give a fuck that he always complimented Giants fans, the city of San Francisco, and the stadium in which he played the latter half of his career in. He did a bunch of charitable work behind the scenes, created a persona that was bigger then life, broke records, and held us all captive with each at bat. He was a one man wrecking crew on a team with not a ton to cheer about at times. He exercised his playoff demons, dispelling the one myth that was whispered around baseball about him not being clutch.

I LOVE Barry Bonds. And he loved San Francisco. And he showed appreciation to the fans that supported him and his team no matter what the standing read. And for that, he will never be anywhere NEAR a "Hated Giants" list.

Standing ovation.

If I could rep multiple times, I would.

 

[calsnowskier]

To go along with Dre's brilliant post...

Mo played well for losing teams, but never took then to the next level (I do nit blame him for this; the teams flat out sucked). When he was finally part of a team with some potential ('09), he "got hurt" and could not play. The G's were forced to call up their all-world catching prospect about 6-8 months before schedule so they could field a team and all of the sudden, his injury got better. This is not only putting yourself above the team, this is sabotaging the team for your own benefit.

Bonds was the center-piece of the org for 15 year and NEVER compromised his competitive nature. The argument could be made that he was TOO competitive, and possibly did things that were not completely "kosher" in order to win. He MAY have been an ass (he also may not have been), but he was rewriting the record books and sending Ruth to the back of the bus. Sorry, unicorns get confy chairs in locker rooms.

Bonds may have stained the rep of the org, but he was just responding to the times. Anderson, Sosa, McGwire, Clemens, Palmeiro, etc had all paved that road years before Bonds decided to drive down it.