Barry Bonds may be one of the sport’s most vaunted hitters, but he is not a media darling. With the MLB icon shrugging contact with the media for most of his playing career, he was often criticized despite his almost video game-like statistics. But habits are formed early and if all accounts are to be believed, Bonds’ smug nature came from much earlier on.

Barry Bonds was an athlete that many had followed from early on. The star was touted as a star prospect from day dot and even his school career is appreciated. And where the athlete goes, so too does his reputation. In an instance from “Barry Bonds – A Biography”, author John Bloom recounts an incident where the same stood bare for all to see.

Barry Bonds – Always A Player to Watch Out For

Hailing from hallowed grounds in California, Bonds went to high school in Junipero Serra High where being the school’s top athlete, came just naturally to the young star. But ask any of his colleagues and Bonds isn’t remembered with fond memories.

According to the star, however, this was down to resentment that he’d earned on account of his athletic prowess. He remembers, “Everything was easy for me, all sports, when I was a kid. I’d work half as hard as other kids did and I was better. Why work when I had so much ability? Some other kids were jealous.”

Bonds was a phenom from an early age, having set the standards high enough to be drafted out of high school itself. And while the star was drafted by a team he would have a great many memories with, he had his eyes set on greatness beyond his years.

Read More: “Do I Come To Your House?” – Controversial Giants Legend Barry Bonds Once Asked the Media to “Get the F*ck Out” of His House

Bonds’ Journey to the Major Leagues

Barry Bonds was drafted straight out of high school in 1982 by the San Francisco Giants. In fact, the only thing holding back one of the game’s greatest hitters was a measly $5000 difference in the signing amount offered by the franchise.

But Bonds chose instead to bide his time and play out his collegiate career with Arizona State. A decision that held him in good stead, being drafted to the Major Leagues only a bit later in 1984 with the Pittsburgh Pirates. But that was only the beginning.

Bonds went on to capture the imaginations of baseball fans amassing a whopping 762 career home runs and even setting the single-season record with 73 home runs in 2001. But despite the raw ability and talent of the star, his relationship with the media remained fraught.

But what do you think? Does the star’s playing capability allow for his hubris in the media? Or do you think the star did plenty to cause trouble with the media during his career?

WATCH THIS STORY | From Unforeseen Beginnings to Unstoppable Greatness – The Story of Barry Bonds