Barry Bonds - The Greedy Bastard

[___ Eats It]

Barry Bonds - The Great Savior of Baseball - refuses to participate in the MLB Group Licensing program, and therefore will not be in any MLB-licensed video games this year because he wants his own contract and own money for his image.

What a "savior"!

http://sports.ign.com/articles/442/442035p1.html

Why Barry Bonds won't be in ANY video game in 2004.

November 24, 2003 - Baseball video games are the lowest selling of any of the major sports, and they're about to take another hit. When Giants star Barry Bonds announced that he wasn't renewing his group licensing agreement with the Major League Baseball Players Association, it meant that if a video game company wanted Bonds for their game, they would have to negotiate with Bonds and his agent separately and pay a fee for Bonds in addition to the large lump sum of cash each company already pays to the Players Association for the rights to the majority of players.

However, sources from a variety of game developers and publishers fear that if they try to sign Bonds to an exclusive deal like the one Michael Jordan signed with EA Sports a few years back, the Players Association will not approve the title, causing delays to this year's game and possible repercussions down the line. Others openly questioned whether or not signing Barry Bonds to an exclusive deal would even be worth the hassle as his name and popularity simply doesn't translate into game sales.

Bonds obviously disagrees and thinks his name and image have been mishandled throughout his playing days. "I feel like I've been misrepresented my whole career, as a bad guy, a bad person," he said during a recent conference call after accepting his 6th MVP award. And now Bonds wants more control over everything that includes his name and/or image, including his inclusion in video games.

"As far as I know, Barry Bonds will not be in any baseball game coming out next year," said one source.

Still, most companies simply seem to be waiting until the December 31st deadline passes to see if some sort of arrangement can be reached.

"We're just hoping something can be worked out," another source said. "The baseball game market is already hurting, and to not have arguably the best player in the game in any of the products, well, it's not going to help sales."

According to these same sources, the game publishers will also not be allowed to create anyone on the Giants who looks or plays like Bonds. It looks like Giants fans will just have to get used to seeing Tony Torcato in left instead of a sweet swinging fantasy player named Barry Stocks, as anything used to indicate Barry Bonds, any replication of any kind would be borrowing on his equity and therefore not approved for licensing.

Jeff Brown, Vice President of Corporate Communications for Electronic Arts had this to say: "This is a matter to be resolved by the player and the MLBPA. However EA strongly believes that working through the Group Licensing Program is the most equitable way to ensure that athletes are compensated for use of their publicity rights. Working PA doesn't restrict a player's ability to enter further agreements on packaging, promotions and appearances. Dropping out of the collective licensing process hurts the players and the value of the license without creating much value for the hold out. We strongly urge all players to participate in the MLBPA l Group Licensing Program."

What doesn't make sense is the fact that by pulling out of all video games, Bonds is turning himself into the very bad guy he thinks he's been wrongly portrayed as, and he's doing it to millions of fans who look forward to playing as him long past his Giants have wrapped-up their season.

Seems like another case of bad advice. Either that, or he's still mad about his Dreamcast game getting cancelled. Any way you look at it, though, it looks like a lose-lose situation for gamers, especially Giants fans.

There is no joy in virtual Mudville. The mighty Bonds just struck himself out.

-- Jon Robinson

[smazza]

finally he got smart

[smazza]

-- Prove it or pipe down.

That was Barry Bonds' message during an extraordinary 45-minute session with reporters Tuesday, during which he reiterated his support for trainer Greg Anderson, but at the same time distanced himself from Anderson and Victor Conte, Bonds associates who face federal charges that include distribution of steroids and other illegal performance-enhancing drugs.

"Ain't nobody investigating me, are they? (Not) the last time I checked," Bonds said, sounding weak from a sinus infection that kept him out of the Giants' lineup Tuesday night.

Speaking of Anderson, he said, "We're friends. So? My brother's done some bad things and he's still my brother. Greg Anderson is a friend of mine and will always be a friend of mine. Always. With a capital 'A.' "

The Chronicle reported March 2 that federal investigators were told Bonds was among six major-league players who received steroids from the BALCO lab, which Conte owns, through Anderson, Bonds' boyhood friend and longtime weight trainer. A corroborating source told The Chronicle that Anderson had obtained steroids and human growth hormone for Bonds as far back as 2001, the year he hit 73 home runs.

However, Bonds has not been charged with a crime and no specific evidence has arisen proving he used the drugs. After several reporters asked him about the BALCO investigation Tuesday, Bonds challenged them.

"Talk about the facts of baseball or something you know and not just speculate bull -- , because that's all it is, speculation, speculation, speculation," he said. "When you come up with the truth, then write your story. Until then, shut up.''

Again Bonds balked at the opportunity to deny categorically that he used steroids, but he raised his shirt and said, "Do I look like I've got ripped abs here?"

When one reporter said everyone wished the issue would go away, Bonds agreed, then reiterated he should not be judged guilty based on his longtime friendship with Anderson.

"I wish my dad didn't drink in his day, but I can't change that. He's still my father, right?" he said. "Just because my dad drank and was an alcoholic, does that mean I was with him? My brother does drugs. He's recovering. He's still my brother and I love him to death. But am I going with my brother doing drugs? Of course not. No."

One reporter suggested that if Bonds is innocent, he should be happy to have his urine sample, taken last spring as part of baseball's drug-testing program, retested to prove he was clean. Bonds responded, "What do I care if they do? What do I care what you think? I've got nothing to prove to you. Why don't they go investigate every bodybuilder in America?"

Bonds also said he is not concerned about baseball affixing asterisks to his home-run marks ("My records aren't going anywhere. Trust me."), and does not fear his reputation being sullied by accusations in the press.

"I don't really concern (myself with) what you guys write because that's what you do for a living, and I don't have to go home to my child and say I wrote something nasty about somebody else. Never," he said.

On other topics, Bonds stated in his strongest terms yet that he plans to retire after 2006, when his Giants contract would expire if he completed all five years. He also restated what he told The Chronicle in spring training, that he wants the Giants to guarantee the last year of his contract, which the Giants can void under certain circumstances, before the 2005 season. He has suggested he won't play for the Giants in 2006 otherwise.

"Option years, I don't count," he said. "I only count years I've got guaranteed. Now it's just next year. My last year comes next year. I only work on guaranteed stuff, things that I know for a fact. I don't try to predict the future and I don't know what's going to happen. I only try to budget my life on what I have."

[smazza]

greedy alright

[___ Eats It]

Barry cares about the kids being able to emulate him in video games SO much, he's extorting extra money from the MLB group licensing program to line his own pockets.

What a ghandi, a humanitarian.  He can do such good.   :

[Velcro]

Barry is an a$$hole, no 2 ways about it

[KnightsRule]

Barry is an a$$hole, no 2 ways about it

Ding Ding Ding we have a winner.

If he doesnt care what people think then why is he talking to reporters about it?

[smazza]

 "I am the best ambassador for the game"

[Velcro]

that is the most assinine thing i've ever read.

[smazza]