Slugger misplays Derby chance to upgrade image
By Carl Steward
Inside Bay Area
"So tell me something," the man whispered in my ear during an otherwise casual and innocuous conversation. "Why wouldn't Barry want to go up there and just take 10 swings? It's his stage."
It's the question many men, women, children and owners have been asking all week about Barry Bonds declining participation in the All-Star Home Run Derby. But in this case, the man asking the question this time was someone who knows a little about big athletic stages and how to perform on them — Jerry Rice.
Barry and Jerry go way back. They were neighbors in Atherton once upon a time. They trained together and have gotten to know one another traveling in the circles sports stars travel, and Bonds got a kick out of Rice coming up to his media podium Monday morning with a Fox Sports microphone in his hand to ask some questions.
Read the complete story...
