SAN FRANCISCO.  When Barry Bonds returns to the Giants next season, he promises that fans will see a player who's friendlier and more accessible.

"Barry's changed," said agent Jeff Borris.  "He's thinking about his legacy.  He doesn't want to be remembered as the guy who ballooned his head up to the size of pumpkin just so he could improve his slugging percentage."

Bonds spent time visiting children's hospitals while he was on the disabled list this past season, and he claims the experience made him a better man.

"Those kids, it meant a lot to them to talk to somebody as great as me," Bonds said with a lump in his throat as his eyes misted up.  "They know how much I'd charge to do an autograph show, and they appreciate it."

So can we expect the Giants' slugger to promise home runs to bed-ridden children, as Lou Gehrig did in "Pride of the Yankees"?

"It depends," says Bonds.  "Lotta clubs won't pitch to me with men on base.  How am I gonna come through when that happens?"

Bonds is thinking of a novel approach--a sliding scale depending on the nature and severity of a child's ailment.

"Most kids, best I can promise them is they'll get an intentional walk.  That oughta take care of minor stuff like broken bones.  For an appendicitis, maybe I'd give 'em a sacrifice fly."

And for the more serious cases?  "I don't know, when Barry hits a dinger it's a very special thing," his agent points out.  "We're reserving those for corporate sponsorships, like 'This Barry Bonds home run was brought to you by Gold Bond Powder, your best defense against jock itch.'  Something like that."

Borris says children ought to be happy with singles for hospital visits of one week (five days if over a weekend) and extra base hits for illnesses involving a longer in-patient stay unless insurance pays for a private room.  Anything else, the agent says, is a la carte.

"I've got to think of my family first," Bonds said, deferring to Borris's judgment on a financial issue.  "I ain't no Dusty Baker, putting his kid on the field where any damn nut sliding into home can take him out."

Copyright 2005, Con Chapman