Magowan must say no to re-signing Bonds, By: Steve Bitker
May 19, 2006
WOULD I LIKE to see Barry Bonds pursue Hank Aaron's career home run record in a Giants uniform next season? I would rather undergo root canal.
Put another way, why should the Giants re-sign Bonds? He'll be 42 years old, he's got bad knees, he can't hit as he used to, he's got more personal baggage than ever, and now he's the Steroid Centerpiece of what is arguably the worst scandal in baseball history.
Giants owner Peter Magowan was very non-committal last week when asked whether he'd like to re-sign Bonds. It is hoped his reticence suggests he's finally had enough and has no intention of doing so.
Magowan, of course, will forever enjoy a special place in Giants history. He was instrumental in saving the Giants for San Francisco and in the building of a beautiful downtown ballpark.
But, rightly or wrongly, Magowan's reputation — and that of his franchise — has taken a major hit with the overwhelming evidence that Bonds has been a heavy user of illegal steroids dating back to 1999 while Giants management has looked the other way, either out of sheer ignorance or simply because it chose to.
Knowingly or unknowingly, Magowan rode Bonds' steroid-fueled production to the World Series in 2002 and to packed houses everywhere. Life was good in Magowan's world, even if there was trouble brewing behind closed doors.
I have a letter Magowan wrote to me in 1995 in which he discussed Bonds' behavioral problems, saying the Giants star wouldn't accept responsibility for his actions and wouldn't listen to him,
Larry Baer, his father, Dusty Baker or his agent. Instead, Bonds blames the media or, when it's convenient, plays the race card, even though doing so insults the memory of Jackie Robinson and the proud and dignified legacy of Hank Aaron.
He is famous for treating others in a rude and condescending manner. That's why he is despised everywhere outside of AT&T Park.
Magowan knows this. He has covered for Bonds for years. But with the steroid cloud, ... he can no longer hide behind a veil of ignorance.
He knows. Everyone knows. What joy could there possibly be in watching Bonds break one of sports' most hallowed records when his power numbers have become relatively meaningless?
It's time for Magowan to do the right thing. It's time to restore order to the clubhouse so the manager is actually in charge and time to bring honor and integrity back to the Giants franchise. There is everything to gain and nothing to lose.
I believe Peter Magowan will do the right thing.
Steve Bitker is the morning sports anchor at KCBS-740 AM. He wrote "The Original San Francisco Giants; the Giants of '58" — a book about the men who brought major league baseball to San Francisco, and did so with honor and integrity.
