I've always been a Bonds apologist, mainly because I'm a Giants fan, and whatever he did, he did to make himself a better ballplayer. But I never understood why some people want their ballplayers to be their buddies or their role models or autograph-signing automatons. They owe us their effort and their competence/excellence on the field, not their friendship. I have a bigger issue with cokeheads and drunkards who aren't performing to the best of their ability because they're wasted... if I pay my money to see the best, I wanna see them play their best. Once they leave the field, they don't owe me anything but to take care of themselves to play tomorrow.
Sure Bonds was an arrogant ******* off the field, but I loved watching him hit for 12+ years in San Francisco. Now he's showing up to be a decent guy, as long as it's on HIS terms, which is his prerogative.