Kittle-Bonds Won't Sign Autographs For Whites

[NYDCYankee]

I heard this on Sid and Joe today. I didn't see a thread about it so here we go.

http://www.dailysouthtown.com/southt...pro/311sd2.htm

So Bonds doesn't sign autographs for whites even if its for a charity. What a class act.

[yanksphan]

His Father, his son, Willie Mays and Jackie Robinson must all be so proud.

[Mattpat11]

Putting side that he's cheating in baseball, Bonds is just a terrible, terrible human being. That's why I have no problem gloating about his injury.

[nhyankeefan]

That's disgusting if it's a true story. Despite Kittle confirming it, I have my doubts because I don't see how something like this could be kept quiet for so long.

[Homer]

I heard this on Sid and Joe today. I didn't see a thread about it so here we go.

http://www.dailysouthtown.com/southt...pro/311sd2.htm

So Bonds doesn't sign autographs for whites even if its for a charity. What a class act.

Can you imagine the outrage if the roles were reversed, and Kittle told Bonds "I don't sign for black people"?

[Mattpat11]

That's disgusting if it's a true story. Despite Kittle confirming it, I have my doubts because I don't see how something like this could be kept quiet for so long.

This is the first you've heard of this? Not this specifically, But Bonds refusing to sign for whites has been mentioned alot.

[StaceyRosie]

Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?

[NYDCYankee]

That's disgusting if it's a true story. Despite Kittle confirming it, I have my doubts because I don't see how something like this could be kept quiet for so long.

I would like some corraboration especially from someone like Matt Williams who has alot of respect around the league. But hey i believe it.

[rockinpoe]

I heard this on Sid and Joe today. I didn't see a thread about it so here we go.

http://www.dailysouthtown.com/southt...pro/311sd2.htm

So Bonds doesn't sign autographs for whites even if its for a charity. What a class act.

Hey, it's the steroids man- they do all kinds of crazy things to your mind. Before he started using them Barry loved white people.

[WHIP]

Bonds may not be the face of baseball, but he's definitely the face I'm using to represent humanity, the world. Tell those aliens, leave us the f*ck alone.

[somejerk]

I live in the bay area so I hear all kinds of Barry news, and he is just a truly disgusting human being. This may or may not be true but apparently he was in a circuit city up in San Carlos buying a new tv, and would only deal with a black salesman. They had to bring a guy from the home appliances department to sell him the tv because he was the only black guy working at the time. Then he was trying to get the TV for half price because he IS Barry Bonds. This may or may not be true, someone told me this in a bar, but it sounds consistent with everything else surrounding this guy. Either way, where there is smoke there is fire.

[EddieCoyle]

Why doesn't every pitcher throw right at his head? It's not like you can miss the thing.

[YankeeClemens22]

That's disgusting... if it is true.

[nhyankeefan]

This is the first you've heard of this? Not this specifically, But Bonds refusing to sign for whites has been mentioned alot.

I've heard rumors, but I always thought they were exagerrations. If Bonds truly has not signed an autograph for a white person for 15+ years, I just think it would have been a bigger story by now. Either way, I think he's a terrible human being.

[Big_E]

What would he do if Michael Jackson asked him for an autograph?

[Evil Empire]

I'm brown, will he sign for me?

Not that I want it.

[IronCaballo4]

This doesn't surprise me though. My ex girlfriend was rehabbing her knee at the same place as Anfernee Hardaway some years ago, and on the basketball courts, two little boys asked for his autograph, one white one black. He signed for the black boy and for the white kid he said "I don't give autographs to white people" and then walked out of the gym. That's just BEYOND messed up

[MisterNovember]

F*ck Barry Bonds. I hope he never sees a baseball field again.

[NYYFAN]

Ok, I'm not giving steroid users my autograph...

[Archer1979]

What a waste of human growth hormones. :shakes head:

[silverdsl]

This supposedly happend in 1993. While it wouldn't surprise me in the least if it were true I'd like to hear something a little more recent that indicates whether this is still Bond's policy or not.

-Deborah

[bleachersown]

I heard this on the Fan also. I couldn't believe it.

[YankeePride1967]

racist.

[RhodyYanksFan]

Based on everything I know about the guy, I'll believe it. He really is a terrible human being, nevermind a horrible role-model. I hope to God that he never plays again and leads a very lonely life since he doesn't care about anyone but himself.

[MassNYYfan]

F*ck Barry Bonds. I hope he never sees a baseball field again.

I'm glad you said it so I could just add on an "I agree."

[The_Explorer]

amazing, but i can't say i'm surprised. What a shame.

someone should tell barry alot of his MILLIONS of dollars he gets for playing a game comes from white people.

[Stick Michael]

I guess I'm a bigot in a sense, too - I've long since stopped giving a rat's ass what baseball players named Barry Bonds think. I take pleasure in knowing that even if he breaks 'The Record' it was always have an asterisk next to it. Aaron's record, and Ruth's mark for that matter, are currently in no danger of being surpassed by a clean player.

James

[BambinosRing]

someone should tell barry alot of his MILLIONS of dollars he gets for playing a game comes from white people.

I would hope that the better argument is just that we're in a society that requires people to be open an accepting of all races and that he's being a horrible role model for people of all races. Despite our differences, we all live here together. Imagine the story if it were any other groups involved.

Also, would Barry sign something for Tiger?

[RhodyYanksFan]

Also, would Barry sign something for Tiger?

He would, since Tiger was drafted by black people in this year's racial draft.

The real question is would he sign for Colin Powell.

[SubwayFanatic]

What would he do if Michael Jackson asked him for an autograph?

"I don't sign for black people who are now white!"

[The_Explorer]

I would hope that the better argument is just that we're in a society that requires people to be open an accepting of all races and that he's being a horrible role model for people of all races. Despite our differences, we all live here together. Imagine the story if it were any other groups involved.

Also, would Barry sign something for Tiger?

exactly! i meant that as a snide comment to Barry, although of course barry will never change. The bigger issue is the millions of kids of all races who admire barry the baseball player. Whether he likes it or not he is a role model for these kids, for no other reason than being able to hit a baseball. It could damage a kid for life to go up to his idol barroid bonds and have him say something like that to him (assuming he would make that comment to a kid)

[MassNYYfan]

He would, since Tiger was drafted by black people in this year's racial draft.

The real question is would he sign for Colin Powell.

[CoyoteYankee]

He would, since Tiger was drafted by black people in this year's racial draft.

The real question is would he sign for Colin Powell.

IMO best comedy skit ever!!!

Barry Bonds is an ass...I'm a black and white mix...does that mean he'll only sign his first name for me?

[JollyH]

I'm sure he'll sell his autograph to white people...

[LuckyLopez]

The reason that this "story" or this aspect of Bonds' personality has never gotten much mainstream play is because its been shot down more than its been supported. I caught some interview on ESPN radio the other day. I regret to say I can't remember who it was with or even who the host was. But the topic was Kittle's comments and both guys were VERY hardpressed to give much credence to it. Again, take that as what's it worth. I'm saying some guy told some guy that Bonds isn't a racist.

But honestly... in this day and age and with the public opinion people have of Bonds how does ANYONE think that Bonds is walking around for a decade+ outright showing that he's a racist and it hasn't become a major national story yet? THAT should raise enough of a flag. The problem is that Bonds is already despised and he's made a number of questionable racial comments over the years... so 75% of the population is just going to accept that its true and he's a racist because its what they expect. If the public hates someone its pretty easy to convince them of that person being guilty of something new, especially if that something new is something that has some circumstancial support through the years.

But c'mon. Some of these stories? Someone in a bar said that Barry went to a Circuit City to buy a TV but wouldn't allow himself to be helped by a white guy and demanded a sale because he is Barry Bonds? Does that make ANY sense (genuinely, no offense meant, somejerk, you already acknowledged that you don't know if the story is true)? Even presuming that he's a racist prima donna why did he bother to go TV shopping in a Circuit City? Are you telling me that Barry can't get a TV at a reduced cost and without having to deal with white people if he doesn't tell someone to do so?

To make the point, I'm white and I have a pair of autographed "Penny" Nike's from Anfernee Hardaway. I happened to meet him again last season outside the Garden and he was plenty pleasant (or at least as pleasant as you can imagine a grown man to be when another grown man is acting as if he knows him at 11 PM on the city streets after a loss). In another thread someone told one of these "he doesn't sign autographs for white kids" about Dave Winfield and I happened to get his autograph as a kid as well. There will ALWAYS be people telling stories like this because (a) there will always be people looking to make a story (b) there will always be people looking to demonize a celebrity and (c) there will always be situations where a celebrity has a bad day or makes a wrong move and fans who will offer him NO breaks or consideration for it. A lot of the times there are people stepping up to argue the claim but it still tends to stick with people. If IronCaballo's exgirlfriend thinks Hardaway is a racist because of a personal experience she probably won't change her mind because 10 strangers say he's not. Caballo probably won't either (depending on his opinion of his ex, of course). And people who hate Bonds and want to tear him down some more are going to be plenty happy to accept this claim no matter how little evidence there is of it or how many people step up to refute it.

EDIT: Or to turn it around to a guy most of us like (to some degree or another) there is a sentiment held within SOME of the baseball community that Mike Mussina is a racist. It all stems out of absolutely NO evidence. An aside comment made by one reporter and then another reporter performing a hatchet job on both Mussina and the 1st reporter. But the completely circumstancial evidence is enough for some people who want to have this belief or who have no desire to not believe it. Some people want to find the worst in people. And making false claims about a celebrity has no impact on their lives. So for some, this is a strongly held belief, all evidence to the contrary.

[Homer]

The reason that this "story" or this aspect of Bonds' personality has never gotten much mainstream play is because its been shot down more than its been supported. I caught some interview on ESPN radio the other day. I regret to say I can't remember who it was with or even who the host was. But the topic was Kittle's comments and both guys were VERY hardpressed to give much credence to it. Again, take that as what's it worth. I'm saying some guy told some guy that Bonds isn't a racist.

But honestly... in this day and age and with the public opinion people have of Bonds how does ANYONE think that Bonds is walking around for a decade+ outright showing that he's a racist and it hasn't become a major national story yet? THAT should raise enough of a flag. The problem is that Bonds is already despised and he's made a number of questionable racial comments over the years... so 75% of the population is just going to accept that its true and he's a racist because its what they expect. If the public hates someone its pretty easy to convince them of that person being guilty of something new, especially if that something new is something that has some circumstancial support through the years.

But c'mon. Some of these stories? Someone in a bar said that Barry went to a Circuit City to buy a TV but wouldn't allow himself to be helped by a white guy and demanded a sale because he is Barry Bonds? Does that make ANY sense (genuinely, no offense meant, somejerk, you already acknowledged that you don't know if the story is true)? Even presuming that he's a racist prima donna why did he bother to go TV shopping in a Circuit City? Are you telling me that Barry can't get a TV at a reduced cost and without having to deal with white people if he doesn't tell someone to do so?

To make the point, I'm white and I have a pair of autographed "Penny" Nike's from Anfernee Hardaway. I happened to meet him again last season outside the Garden and he was plenty pleasant (or at least as pleasant as you can imagine a grown man to be when another grown man is acting as if he knows him at 11 PM on the city streets after a loss). In another thread someone told one of these "he doesn't sign autographs for white kids" about Dave Winfield and I happened to get his autograph as a kid as well. There will ALWAYS be people telling stories like this because (a) there will always be people looking to make a story (b) there will always be people looking to demonize a celebrity and (c) there will always be situations where a celebrity has a bad day or makes a wrong move and fans who will offer him NO breaks or consideration for it. A lot of the times there are people stepping up to argue the claim but it still tends to stick with people. If IronCaballo's exgirlfriend thinks Hardaway is a racist because of a personal experience she probably won't change her mind because 10 strangers say he's not. Caballo probably won't either (depending on his opinion of his ex, of course). And people who hate Bonds and want to tear him down some more are going to be plenty happy to accept this claim no matter how little evidence there is of it or how many people step up to refute it.

EDIT: Or to turn it around to a guy most of us like (to some degree or another) there is a sentiment held within SOME of the baseball community that Mike Mussina is a racist. It all stems out of absolutely NO evidence. An aside comment made by one reporter and then another reporter performing a hatchet job on both Mussina and the 1st reporter. But the completely circumstancial evidence is enough for some people who want to have this belief or who have no desire to not believe it. Some people want to find the worst in people. And making false claims about a celebrity has no impact on their lives. So for some, this is a strongly held belief, all evidence to the contrary.

So you're saying Kittle made the story up to sell books?

[LuckyLopez]

I have no idea. I've never met Bonds or Kittle. I'm saying that one man's unsubstantiated story does not equal evidence. Now, if Matt Williams or Dusty Baker were telling us that the elements of the story were true, I'd be more on board. If reporters and dealers were coming out to tell us "yep, racist" then I'd be more on board. But for the most part we haven't heard this stuff. Sure, we've all heard small things and those things might one day turn out to be true. But there is absolutely NO widely held consensus on this and that's despite the fact that Kittle claims that Bonds did this blatantly and casually in front of many people more than a decade ago and that Matt Williams and Dusty Baker both told him it was a common thing. Maybe Kittle made it up. Maybe it happened but Kittle is confusing particulars. Maybe he misread a situation. Maybe Bonds was having a bad day and went over the lines of who he is. Maybe Kittle was having a bad day and took a rude statement from Bonds too far in his own mind. Maybe Bonds is a huge racist and its flown under the radar for so long. I have NO idea. I'm just trying to say what I think should be said and point out the potential problems with this story since I've found that with Barry Bonds, very few people ever really give him the benefit of the doubt.

He's most definatelly an ass and he might be a racist. But ass does not equal racist. I just don't like it when such claims are so casually tossed around or casually accepted without much to support it (ie Omar Minaya).

[Mattpat11]

.

But honestly... in this day and age and with the public opinion people have of Bonds how does ANYONE think that Bonds is walking around for a decade+ outright showing that he's a racist and it hasn't become a major national story yet? .

Mainly because racism against white people doesn't make national news, I'd assume.

[Kulish29]

True story. Back in highschool my friend worked for the Boys and Girls Club of America. He was a very upstanding guy there (still is today) and spent endless hours working with the youth there and helping the community. He even won teen of the year twice in a row. He told me a story about how Barry Bonds came to visit the center and signed balls for a lot of the children. He wasnt there for long, about 30 minutes, and my friend told me he was pretty much a prick. But the main part of the story is this, the balls he signed for the kids, he didnt even bother to sign his name on them. He just took the balls and wrote 'BB' on them. That's it. Pretty weak if you ask me.

[LuckyLopez]

Mainly because racism against white people doesn't make national news, I'd assume.

Which is a total crock. Is there something of a double standard in America about white racism towards blacks and black racism towards whites? Yes. Yet I seem to recall Dusty Baker getting a good amount of national play for the racial comments he made last season (or was it two seasons ago?) about him rather having black players than white players because they're genetically conditioned better. Did it get as much of a storm around it as it might have if a white guy said it? Did Dusty get turned into Jimmy the Greek? No. The two situations aren't completely comparable but they basically said the same thing and Snyder's got it as a legacy. But ESPN didn't quite ignore it either. Rather they played it nonstop for 2 weeks, Jim Rome called him a racist, everyone stepped in and had their say and then it disappeared. MAYBE that had to do with the fact that Dusty is black. MAYBE it had to do with the fact that he's black saying things about blacks. Maybe the way he said it was more defendibly than Snyder or the world had grown more accepting of such statements in the 15-20 years between the two comments. Maybe it was because Dusty's prominence in the game gives him a certain about in value where these sort of things can be overlooked. Maybe being a baseball manager is just a less high profile situation than being a national network TV sports reporter so it wasn't as big a deal. I don't know. But Dusty still got noticed, criticized, and reported on.

Nope, blacks get in trouble for racist comments as well. And sometimes white get a complete pass. Dan Rather was instrumental in Jimmy Snyder's firing from CBS and yet 4 years ago made a racist slur on the Imus in the Morning show. Bill Cosby experienced quite a bit on controversy in the last year over comments he made about blacks. Cedric the Entertainer was criticized for comments made in Barbershop about Rosa Parks. Again, there's some degree of double standard in America on this issue. To some extent that's fair and to some extent its not. But the idea that high profile blacks can engage in blatant and casual racism and the media will ignore it? That's silly and I fail to see any evidence of it.

EDIT: It was Rosa Parks, not MLK.

[RhodeyYankee2638]

Am I the only one who can imagine Bonds chasatizing a 7 year old white boy asking for an autograph, giving the kid a lecture on the media and racial inequality?

[StaceyRosie]

Am I the only one who can imagine Bonds chasatizing a 7 year old white boy asking for an autograph, giving the kid a lecture on the media and racial inequality?

nope....

[nyymt62]

It is a shame that Barry Bonds is the most talented hitter in baseball. Behind the swing, he is a terrible person. He is selfish, ignorant, racist and above all a complete fool. I believe that this is true, just from hearing Barrys interviews. And it disgusts me that ESPN has Pedro Gomez following the guy around 24/7. I think we should all forget about the guy and erase the cheat from baseball history. After all, that is what he has been shown to be.

[chanman7483]

i have no problems with barry bonds and i hope he breaks the record.

the reason this is the case is because he is a fine baseball player and that's all i see him as. I don't care about him off the field and I don't look twice when I see celebrities or athletes in the street. Ok, maybe I do a double take, but it's not that big of a deal to me. I don't bother them, I talk don't talk to them. My business with them is watching them perform on the field.

I'll admit, I have biases... we all do. Barry just happens to be in the public eye, so everyone knows about it. He also realizes that what you think and what you say means sh*t to him -- he is making millions and breaking records regardless of what you think. Baseball is his job and that's all he cares about.

go barry.. i wish you the best on the field and off

*ducks lightning bolt*

[Pepper03]

I would hope that the better argument is just that we're in a society that requires people to be open an accepting of all races and that he's being a horrible role model for people of all races. Despite our differences, we all live here together. Imagine the story if it were any other groups involved.

Also, would Barry sign something for Tiger?

Barry Bonds is a slimeball, but since Tiger was mentioned I need to report to you what happened here (in Rhode Island) several years ago.

Brad Faxon is a well regarded player on the tour, and he sponsors a very big charity golf tournament here along with Billy Andrade every summer, the CVS Classic. This story was reported in the Providence Journal at the time it happened, which was approximately 7 years ago.

One of the ways they raise money is auctioning off items signed by famous people. They never had a person refuse, until Mr. Woods. It seems he refused to sign anything, and the reason he gave was that his agent advised him not to sign anything because it might lower the value of his autograph. This was when he was only on the tour a few years, so I hope that still isn't his policy, but I'll tell you what, I'd never root for him.

Back to Barry, he sounds like one miserable SOB. Good luck to him on his recovery.

[NYYBombshell]

If this is true, he's a sad, pathetic excuse for a human being and I hope his bloated ego and bum knee never step foot on a baseball diamond again.

[yankeebot]

I heard on Michael Kay today that All-Star Game autographed BP jerseys are auctioned off every year with the proceeds going to a fund to help ex-players that have fallen on hard times handle medical expenses. Bonds is the only player that always refuses to sign. He is one sad excuse of a man.

[LuckyLopez]

At the risk of just coming off as a Bonds apologist at this point, that could very well have to do with the fact that he licenses his own name outside the union. I happen to think that he's carrying a huge ego with that process and I don't much like him for it, but its different than "he doesn't want to sign things for charity."

And in all honesty some of his past comments might suggest that he's just a jerk who doesn't want to help ex-players out.

[yankeesAZ]

I know a white guy that got his autograph. He kept his signed, charge card receipt when he waited on him. One copy for Bonds one for the restaurant. He just had to photocopy the merchant receipt for the restaurant to keep a record. Its one way of obtaining autographs.

[VFBundy]

I know a white guy that got his autograph. He kept his signed, charge card receipt when he waited on him. One copy for Bonds one for the restaurant. He just had to photocopy the merchant receipt for the restaurant to keep a record. Its one way of obtaining autographs.

Hopefully, this guy took Bonds's credit card number and used it for phone sex calls to Bangkok.