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Bonds on Bonds / Foxy on Foxy
For now I'll steer entirely clear of the baseball & steroids & Barry Bonds issue, but I just finished watching ESPN's debut of the series "Bonds on Bonds." Shame on ESPN for giving him a weekly half-hour to spout his pieces of wisdom, and to try to dredge up our sympathy because he had such a tough life growing up, because his father used to yell at him, and to let us know he was never jealous of Mark McGwire.
There have been plenty of classy major leaguers who loved their fans, signed autographs endlessly and who never complained about reporters around their lockers asking them questions. I can think of guys like Steve Garvey, Gary Carter, Don Mattingly and Nolan Ryan, who, I'm sure, never took steroids to increase strength and bat speed, who gladly signed autographs for fans pushing and shoving at their elbows, but who were never given an ESPN television show.
And to end the first 30-minute segment of "Bonds on Bonds," there's Barry, sitting by his father's gravestone. Come on! Are we really supposed to buy into this? ESPN billed this as an inside look at Barry Bonds as a day-to-day guy. I'd like to know how many times a day he rolls down the window to happily wave at fans and photographers. Is it only when the camera is rolling? I'd like to know how many times a week he visits his dad's gravestone. Is it only when the camera is rolling?
Here's a little "Foxy on Foxy" for my blog readers, for ESPN, and for Barry Bonds. I miss my dad, too. He died in 1983. He put demands on me while I was growing up. He said, "As long as you live under this roof, you follow my rules!" So I followed his rules, to the best of my ability. He set high standards, and it wasn't always easy to reach them, but I know I'm a better person because of it.
He told me, "Just remember, son, every day when you get up, you have to look at yourself in the mirror!" I knew what he meant. It made an impression. I still think of it to this very day. But I don't see ESPN offering me any 30-minute show to tell the world. Maybe I'll toss a videotape in my camera next week and have a videographer follow me around, waving to people downtown, talking while I'm driving my car, saying things like, "It's tough being Foxy Gagnon. How would you like being 5' 6" and bald?" Think I'd dig up much sympathy?
You can bet that next Tuesday I won't waste thirty minutes with "Bonds on Bonds." I've got better things to do, like the Press Republican crossword puzzle or looking for that one woolen sock I'm missing.
Comments
Erik on FoxDad:
You placed high demands on me too. You wanted me to be a Dodgers fan. Thankfully I met one of those kind and honest ballplayers named Gary Carter, who rescued me away to the Mets. Bonds could hit 1000 homers, but he'll never capture the 1000s of hearts that real baseball greats like Gary Carter have captured.
PS - It's not easy being me either. Imagine the future I have to look forward to. Being 5'8" and bald isn't much better.
Posted by: Erik Gagnon | April 7, 2006 10:54 PM
Foxy, good blog, loved it. I agreed completely with you. However, if you should ever conduct a Foxy on Foxy, then it should be done on the next minor league road trip. Foxy on Foxy in the Minors. That is what baseball is truly about, not this joker/lie/cheat/phony-AKA-Bonds.
Posted by: lsr | April 6, 2006 2:08 PM
I used to be 5' 6", but that was in 7th grade! Just grow that pony tail to cover your eyebrows, and get some "high heeled sneekers", then you'll be all set for "pimpin"!
You're already the BMIP!
Posted by: gcastine | April 5, 2006 3:32 PM
Foxy -
Bonds on Bonds
Cheat on Cheat
Jerk on Jerk
Prima Donna on Prima Donna
ESPN should be ashamed...maybe CNN will do a new show...
Saddam on Saddam
Posted by: Big Kev | April 5, 2006 1:37 PM
Did not (would not) watch "Bonds on Bonds) on ESPN. This would be no more than free time for him to try and con the public. ESPN was very willing to give him his own way. Love the blogs. Keep it up.
Posted by: The Oldtimer | April 5, 2006 10:09 AM
Foxy,
I didn't watch Bonds on Bonds last night because i was in the middle of a family activity. Bonds on Bonds isn't anything but a publicity stunt to try to change his image, from alleged steroid user to All American Good Guy. ESPN should stick to doing the highlights and showing actual games of sport, the mini series belong on the big 3 networks.
If you want a video man for next week I am available Monday and Tuesday the 10th and 11th of April.
Great blogs I enjoy reading them. Keep up the good work.
Posted by: Chris Heckard | April 5, 2006 8:35 AM