NEW YORK. Barry Bonds has courted controversy in a variety of ways over the course of his career, but he underestimated the force of the reaction he's received after he called HBO announcer Bob Costas a "midget".
Eddie Gaedel and Bob Costas: No comparison.
"Costas? Please--don't make me laugh," said Rachel Wilner of the Little People of America, a group whose members include both midgets--short, normally-proportioned people--and disproportioned short persons or dwarfs. "Maybe a mental midget if you're talking about 'Fair Ball'," a book by Costas, she added with contempt.
Bonds' comment came in response to an interview between Costas and Curt Schilling in which the Red Sox pitcher said Bonds' refusal to address accusations of steroid use was tantamount to an admission of guilt. Logic-Impaired Americans, which provides support to individuals whose cognitive skills prevent them from making sense, came to Bonds' defense. "Barry has a right to confuse the message and the messenger," said James Robinson, the group's executive director. "Those two words share many of the same letters."
"I'm sorry, okay? I didn't mean to compare you to Bob Costas."
While Eddie Gaedel--a midget sent to bat as a member of the St. Louis Browns by owner Bill Veeck--holds a hallowed place in baseball history, there has never been a midget broadcaster, and Bonds issued a press release to clarify his comment. "I did not mean, nor did I intend to suggest or imply, that Bob Costas could ever qualify as a midget. I regret any offense I have given to any actual midget."
Marvin "Bad News" Barnes
Costas began his career as play-by-play announcer for the Spirits of St. Louis, an American Basketball Association team led by Marvin "Bad News" Barnes, the 1975 ABA Rookie of the Year who once composed the following limerick about Julius Erving on the eve o####ame between the Spirits and the New York Nets.
Bad News Barnes and Dr. J.
There once was a doctor named Erving, Whose slam dunks were especially unnerving, But when Marvin gets movin', And the crowd gets to groovin', For the Doctor a hospital bed they'll be reserving.
During his college career Barnes was suspended from the Providence College Friars after beating his roommate with a tire iron. "News will be back," Barnes said at the time, "'cause his fans be demandin' it."
Spirits of St. Louis jersey
When reached for comment, Costas declined to respond to a question posed by a reporter for Gerbil Sports Network. "Ooo--Mr. On-Line Journalist," he sneered. "You started out writing about Barry Bonds, then got completely sidetracked with a stupid digression about Marvin Barnes. You have the attention span of a chipmunk," he said before pausing. "Actually, that means you're highly qualified to write a blog."
Very funny blog. I read this story a few hours ago and had to burst out laughing. He attacks innocent people and then wonders why people do not like him.
People do not like him because he is not on their team. Giambi actually admitted to usage, and the fans still love him. A-Rod is also one of the most hated players in baseball, but as soon as he joins another team, the new team's fans love him. Right now he is the anti-christ in Boston, but if he joins them next year he could be the toast of Bean-town.
As for him being a jerk, yes he treats the media poorly. But it goes both ways in that regard. I'd say far worse things about Costas and all the other witch-hunters if I were in Barry's shoes. To me, he shows restraint. Everyone is already trying to bring him down, yet he's still fairly cordial most of the time.
Sisko, you're right about fans usually accepting unruly players. Bonds is the extreme exception.
MLB drug testing is a joke. Give em the Tour de France test and we'll see 10% of the players suspended(my opinion).
The latest ESPN interview about Bonds taking 'flax seed oil' that was bitter was so funny. That will put a nail in the Bonds is Innocent coffin for many.
I had to hit the WWW to see that BigHead Bonds did call Costas a midget. Smiles all the way around.
Always amusing and entertaining, but since I know you are a lawyer, how about going over to my post where I spell out why Bonds would never sue Kim Bell nor would you or me if we were in the same circumstances. I would love your honest opinion even though I am not sure what type of law you practice, I know it will be unbiases and accurate.
I agree with "jaysisko." I would add this:
What upsets everyone is that they perceive Bonds as getting away with something. Bonds is being crucified in the media. I hate to say it, but if Barry was white would there be the same outrage? I also think that people are upset because Bonds' attorney has helped him avoid prosecution. The media should be happy because this Bonds thing sells a lot of newspapers and magazines.
What Bonds should say to the media is what Michael Jackson said: What ever happened to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty?
O.J.,...Michael Jackson,...Barry Bonds...Michael Vick...who is the next black sacrificial lamb?!!!
sls, Bonds may be the exception, but only because he is at the end of his career and would have no use to other teams after this. If he was A-Rod's age and putting up these numbers, I think he would (to a large extent) be welcomed to a new team. And that new team would have the best road attendance in the league, just like the Giants have now...
And how great was it to see a brief mention of Clemens and Armstrong at the ESPN town hall meeting yesterday? ESPN, for once, has briefly called out two white athletes with major doping su####ions.
Con Chapman is a Boston-area writer. He is the author of "The Year of the Gerbil: How the Yankees Won (and the Red Sox Lost) the Greatest Pennant Race Ever," a history of the 1978 AL East pennant race, and a number of plays, including "Number One Hockey Mom," "Please, Pope," and "What Mickey Belle Isle Told You," a trilogy about hockey (JAC Publishing). His work is available on Amazon Shorts (at 49 cents a dowload), and he writes on sports for Flak Magazine.
