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Surly Waters Run Deep

At first, second, and twenty years' more worth of glances, Barry Bonds seems about as unlovable a chap as could be imagined. Here's a guy whose best public relations move of 2006 came when the ESPN show devoted to nothing but him "Bonds on Bonds" was canceled.

Appearances must be deceiving. There's SOMETHING about Bonds' that inspires devotion in others, at least in one other.

Greg Anderson, Bonds' personal trainer, is in a federal lockup this morning, charged with contempt of court. Anderson refused to answer questions from a federal grand jury investigating whether Bonds committed perjury in HIS testimony before the grand jury probing the BALCO scandal. Anderson's attorney, Mark Geragos (are there any other defense lawyers in California?), insisted his client's silence had nothing to do with Bonds.

Uh-huh. How can refusal to testify in an investigation of Person A not be related to Person A?

Bonds and Anderson have been friends since adolescence. And what friends they must be. I still have any number of old pals from high school days. Those friendships would come to a sudden end were either I or one of my buddies to ask the other to spend a single night in the pokey as a personal favor. Compared to Bonds and Anderson, Damon and Pythias barely knew each other.

So as Bonds limps towards the end of his memorable if regrettable career, he can take solace in the message fate gave George Bailey. No man is a failure who has friends.

It's a wonderful life no matter what your hat size may be.

posted by Michael Gee @ 8:58 AM