Melotic
11-15-2001, 02:43 PM
Hank Aaron, Tiger Woods, Joe Louis, Jessie Owens and even the Williams Sisters... All have recieve death threats, and still perform like Champions... Not really surprise with this news, it's keeblers' nature...
SAN FRANCISCO -- Single-season homerun champion Barry Bonds revealed in a radio interview that he received death threats at the tail end of this year's home-run chase.
The San Francisco Giants slugger told KNBR radio Wednesday that the FBI informed him of the threats just before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
When the Giants resumed play a week after the attacks, Bonds said he feared for his life on the field and was aware of extra security surrounding him.
"I just looked around and could see where they were all located, all the security. It was scary at first," Bonds said. "I really didn't start hitting (home runs) at first because I was really nervous. It was like, 'I could get shot out here.' I was thinking, did I tell my mom I love her? Did I tell my dad? All these little scary thoughts were going through my mind."
Bonds hit three home runs in Colorado during the Giant's last game before the attacks, but only hit one in the first four games after play resumed. On Sept. 23 he smacked two and drove the rest of the way to 73.
Bonds said Giants Manager Dusty Baker helped by reminding him that Hank Aaron also faced threats when he challenged Babe Ruth's all-time home-run mark.
"Then I started playing again and then I started hitting them again," Bonds said. "I just thought, 'If this is what's going to happen, you know what? I went doing something I love and I have a great family."'
During the three-hour interview with KNBR host Rick Barry, Bonds said he told only his wife and Baker about the threats. He did not divulge the nature of the threats. The FBI did not immediately respond to calls for comment Wednesday evening.
"I didn't want anybody else on the team to know this," he said. "I didn't want my wife to know about this either, but I had to tell her for my little girl's sake. I was like, 'You know what, honey? If it happens, it happens. What are you going to do about it? The main thing is just take care of our daughter. Whatever happens to me is fine. Let God handle that."
SAN FRANCISCO -- Single-season homerun champion Barry Bonds revealed in a radio interview that he received death threats at the tail end of this year's home-run chase.
The San Francisco Giants slugger told KNBR radio Wednesday that the FBI informed him of the threats just before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
When the Giants resumed play a week after the attacks, Bonds said he feared for his life on the field and was aware of extra security surrounding him.
"I just looked around and could see where they were all located, all the security. It was scary at first," Bonds said. "I really didn't start hitting (home runs) at first because I was really nervous. It was like, 'I could get shot out here.' I was thinking, did I tell my mom I love her? Did I tell my dad? All these little scary thoughts were going through my mind."
Bonds hit three home runs in Colorado during the Giant's last game before the attacks, but only hit one in the first four games after play resumed. On Sept. 23 he smacked two and drove the rest of the way to 73.
Bonds said Giants Manager Dusty Baker helped by reminding him that Hank Aaron also faced threats when he challenged Babe Ruth's all-time home-run mark.
"Then I started playing again and then I started hitting them again," Bonds said. "I just thought, 'If this is what's going to happen, you know what? I went doing something I love and I have a great family."'
During the three-hour interview with KNBR host Rick Barry, Bonds said he told only his wife and Baker about the threats. He did not divulge the nature of the threats. The FBI did not immediately respond to calls for comment Wednesday evening.
"I didn't want anybody else on the team to know this," he said. "I didn't want my wife to know about this either, but I had to tell her for my little girl's sake. I was like, 'You know what, honey? If it happens, it happens. What are you going to do about it? The main thing is just take care of our daughter. Whatever happens to me is fine. Let God handle that."