It looks like Barry Bonds has got a new job on hand! You may make fun of and even troll him, but you cannot ignore that he is a great driver. That’s what Alex Rodriguez says, as seen from the video on Instagram posted by him, where the two legendary players can be seen united for an NBA showdown. So, what’s behind the scenes that unfolded?
Alex Rodriguez visited the Bay Area to watch the Minnesota Timberwolves face the Golden State Warriors on Saturday. And while moving around, A-Rod was accompanied by his favorite “Uber” driver, and it was none other than the former Major League star Barry Bonds. It was indeed a sight that fans always wanted to see, and Saturday was no different.
What we saw was a perfect blend of baseball and some perfectly timed humor as Rodriguez explained his experience while sharing the ride with Bonds, giving him a five-star rating, too. Well, that sounds like a lot of fun, right?
“Back here in the Bay Area, and of course, I’ve got to call my favorite Uber driver. I gave him five stars last time I was here. He is Mr. Barry Bonds. What’s up, Barry? Barry had a great career—he had about 720 runs and eight All-Star games. Five stars for Mr. Barry Bonds. Every time I come to San Francisco, you gotta call Barry. Amazing Uber. Five stars.” Rodriguez said. The funny narration made it more exciting, and it easily grabbed the attention of many. But it does not change the reality.
And it’s true—Barry Bonds had 762 home runs in his career with a .298 batting average, a .444 OBP, a .607 slugging, and a 1.051 OPS. Rodriguez isn’t much behind, though, as he also had 696 home runs and batted at a .295 average with a .380 OBP and a .930 OPS. Both of them made 14 All-Star appearances; however, in most of the departments, Bonds has an upper hand over Rodriguez. But both of them have much more than is beyond the stars.
Despite both of them sharing a professional rivalry earlier, they have both been good friends. They often moved far to show their admiration and respect for each other. Rodriguez often referred to Bonds as the “home run king”, who used to be one of the most gifted and talented all-rounders in baseball. But it all started long back in 1994 when Rodriguez came with the Mariners, getting the first of his 3000 hits at Fenway Park as a teenager when Barry Bonds was already gone to San Francisco.
While their friendship transpires outside the sport, Rodriguez and they both used to be fierce competitors as well. Not to forget that even Rodríguez used to come to Bonds for hitting instructions from him. Do you know why?
Alex Rodriguez recalls the moments when he was brought to Barry Bonds
Well, Alex Rodriguez wanted to pursue some of the instructions from the legend Barry Bonds, which could have helped him with his hitting ability during the final baseball winter. Fortunately, they both came together, as they both were literally the same. A-Rod once made a visit to one of Bonds’ close friends named Victor Conte, founder of BALCO, acquiring suggestions on the supplements that could be the perfect fit for him to achieve the goal of becoming a “home run king.”
For those unaware, Barry Bonds used to take baseball drugs, which transformed him into a complete hitter. The reason? He always wanted to be the best in terms of making home runs, and fortunately, he achieved that, too. And that decision to take the drugs paid off to such an extent that even in 2007, he was good enough compared to most of the players to hit 28 home runs for the Giants while making 66 runs as well.
However, despite having a decorated career, he never had enough votes that could have helped him to be eligible for the Hall of Fame. To this day, he may still think about why he made such a decision that was not good at all. Bonds, though, said, “If I sat up here and talked about it. It’s me against how many of you guys in here? So the story can come out every which way it can. See, I learnt the lesson of staying out of those conversations and enjoying what’s in front of me.”
We all hope that he remains fit and the legendary duo of Bonds-Rodriguez continues to bring smiles to our faces. What are your thoughts on it?
The post Alex Rodriguez Hilariously Rates Barry Bonds’ Driving Skills as Iconic Duo Reunites Courtside for NBA Showdown appeared first on EssentiallySports.
