Bonds claims he's OK with MLB snub
No celebration is being planned for after his 715th homer.
MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Barry Bonds doesn't want a party.
Even if he did, he wouldn't be hurt if commissioner Bud Selig didn't make it.
Bonds said Wednesday he has no problem with Major League Baseball's decision not to honor him if and when he tops Babe Ruth's mark of 714 home runs. The San Francisco Giants slugger hit No. 712 on Tuesday afternoon.
"Why would I be disappointed? What would ever give me a reason to be upset? Why would I be insulted? I have not seen Major League Baseball celebrate too many of any records," Bonds said before the Giants played the Milwaukee Brewers.
Bonds played despite being plunked in the forehead by a stray foul ball as he stood behind the batting cage. He went into the clubhouse to be examined, and came back out to hit after being cleared.
Bonds was booed by the sparse crowd of Brewers fans, the jeers getting louder and louder with each inning. The slugger didn't do much to quiet them, though, going 0-for-4 with a strikeout.
Aaron holds all-time mark
Selig said last week that baseball won't honor Bonds because 715 isn't a record. Hank Aaron holds the all-time mark with 755 home runs.
Selig also doesn't plan to attend either of the Giants games in his hometown. The commissioner was in Milwaukee on Wednesday night.
But many have questioned whether baseball would be planning a party if another player was involved.
Bonds has been dogged by questions of steroid use for several seasons. The recent book "Game of Shadows" detailed allegations against him, and a federal grand jury is investigating whether he committed perjury when he told another grand jury he never knowingly used performance-enhancing drugs.
Baseball is also doing its own investigation into steroid use.
His response
Bonds has repeatedly denied knowingly using steroids. Though he was initially calm when the subject of honoring 715 was raised, he grew testier with each follow-up.
"Why would I be offended by it?" he said, his voice rising. "That's not fair to Bud. That's not fair to Major League Baseball when they've really never done it anyway. That's just a slap in my face, that's all this is with you guys. That's not fair to Major League Baseball or Bud. This is slapping me down again.
"But that's OK, though," he added. "I respect you anyway. I forgive you every day. I forgive all of y'all that write nasty things about me. And I pray for all y'all. I hope nothing ever happens to you. That's the truth, that's from the bottom of my heart. One day you'll believe me."
Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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