“It Hurt Me Emotionally” – Barry Bonds Believes His Hot-Headed Younger Self Was Justified

Barry Bonds has always shared a contentious relationship with the media. Perhaps that was clear on show through his career. Maybe even more so comes to the ‘Hall of Fame. vote in 2022 when Bonds was refused elevation to Cooperstown. But in an interview that has made its way online, we see how Bonds came about his relationship with the media.

Bonds mentions a time when he was dominant on the diamond and how criticism from media at the time shaped him. And how time has changed his view on the situation.

In fact, Barry Bonds explained the dynamics as he understood them at the time; and that has definitely given us as viewers some perspective on how he approached the interactions. Bonds mentions he was doing things in the ballpark at the time that very few would be able to. So he felt as though he had the upper hand with the media.

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Sometimes even to the extent of withholding interactions if he felt unsatisfied with their questions. But looking back, Bonds seems to have a fresh perspective on his conduct with the media.

Bonds looked back at media interactions

Bonds speaks about a time when he was dominant in the sport. A time when his walk to home plate was more feared than his walk from it. Said Bonds, “At that time, I had the upper hand, I was I was doing stuff that was on the field in the cage, and I was there, I didn’t have to give it to you then,” speaking to his interviewer who had been a part of the media at the time.

Bonds’ approach to media interactions then seemed to be dictated by how they spoke to him. He said, “I was like, okay, you don’t want to be nice to me, I don’t have to talk to you.”

He remembers his thought process going into the considerations. Says Bonds, “You didn’t want to be nice to me, you have no right to insult me. So I share nothing with you. And that was my attitude.” However looking back, it seems as though Bonds has some fresh perspective. “I didn’t know was going to make it worse. If I knew that would make it worse, I wouldn’t have done that,” he says with his signature grin.

Bonds’ views on his attitude today

Bonds seemed to grapple better with the outcomes today. He said, “Now, it’s not the best attitude, I’m gonna tell you that. Because I think everybody has to do their job. And right or wrong, or some things I did wrong, or some things I said, sometimes, and I did deserve it.” Speaking as to his own state at the time, Bonds added that he was not happy either. Said Bonds, “It hurt me emotionally. And I think that’s what made me angry.”

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Bonds maintained he did not think he should’ve been held to such high standards. Said Bonds, “I’m not a public speaker, I’m not going to try and run for presidency, I’m just a ballplayer.” Ending the interaction with what he believed to be his biggest responsibility, he added, “I try to entertain people that spend good hard work money to come and watch a baseball game.”