NL MVP 5-time winner Bonds now wants to be liked

The Giants slugger envies Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretzky and Joe Montana.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Barry Bonds' latest MVP award left him longing for something more.
No, not that elusive World Series ring. He wants to be liked -- just as much as Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretzky or Joe Montana.
The San Francisco slugger won a record fifth National League Most Valuable Player award Monday, and did it in unanimous fashion for the first time.
He was thrilled. He was also hopeful that all of those who are offended by his prickly personality could try to better understand him.
"I wish I was liked as much as them for the accomplishments I have," Bonds said from Japan, where he is on the major league all-star tour. "I wish I had the same respect as them. People really admire their accomplishments."
Bonds has rubbed many the wrong way, though Bonds defended himself saying he does not try to be standoffish. He just concentrates so hard each day when he takes the field and can't afford to waste one ounce of his energy, he said.
"I wish mine could be erased," he said of his problems with the media. "I'm a business-type player. I want to give the fans their money's worth."
Unanimous pick
Bonds, the only baseball player with more than three MVP awards, received all 32 first-place votes and 448 points in balloting by the Baseball Writers' Association of America.
Bonds became the 14th unanimous winner, and just the fifth in the NL, joining Orlando Cepeda (1967), Mike Schmidt (1980), Jeff Bagwell (1994) and Ken Caminiti (1996).
Bonds led the Giants to their first World Series since 1989, hitting 46 home runs and driving in 110 runs. Postseason success had been a long time coming for Bonds, who had never won a playoff series.
His homers were down from his record 73 last year, but Bonds considered the 2002 season more gratifying. The Giants lost to Anaheim in seven games after being just six outs from the title in Game 6.
"We got to the place that we wanted to as a team," he said. "Unfortunately, we lost the seventh game. Guys like myself who hadn't been to the World Series, that was a fun time.
"I wish I could have done more. I was disappointed we didn't win, but this year was great for us as a team, getting there. If it happens again, I think we would win."
Voting for MVP was conducted before the postseason, when Bonds hit .356 with eight homers, 16 RBIs and 27 walks.
"I'd rather win the World Series, but this is great," Bonds said. "I'm very happy about it, very excited. I'm trying to figure out why a 38-year-old is still playing like this."
Bonds also won the MVP award for Pittsburgh in 1990 and 1992 and for the Giants in 1993 and 2001.
He is the first player to twice win the honor in consecutive seasons. No other player has won an MVP award more than three times, and only 10 others have won it in consecutive seasons.