Bob_R
06-10-2005, 07:19 PM
http://chicagosports.chicagotribune...-home-headlines
Bonds: Kittle an idiot for remark
Ex-Sox star stands by charge slugger made racist comment
Barry Bonds called former White Sox outfielder Ron Kittle "an idiot" for claiming in his book that the San Francisco Giants slugger once refused to autograph a jersey for Kittle's charity because "I don't sign for white people."
"Who is Kittle? How long did he play? He played in our league?" Bonds told the Associated Press before Thursday's game at San Francisco's SBC Park. "Ha! Do you guys believe that? Do you guys know my life history a little bit? One, you insult my children, who are half-white. I was married to a woman who was white, so let's get real. I don't even know the guy. Tell him he's an … idiot. Somebody said he wanted a piece of me. Tell him I'm at 24 Willie Mays Plaza and he can come get me anytime he wants to—with pleasure. Don't insult my family."
Kittle, who hit 176 home runs in his 10-year career and was American League Rookie of the Year with the Sox in 1983, responded later Thursday.
"I'm not surprised he acted like he didn't know who I was because he wouldn't know who I was if I stood next to him," Kittle said. "He pays attention to himself, not anybody else. It's not a very good response from him. I am not sure he is whole-heartedly denying that he said it."
Kittle, a Gary native who now lives in Chesterton, Ind., retired after the 1991 season. Bonds and the Giants were in Chicago to face the Cubs at Wrigley Field in 1992 when Kittle said he approached him for his autograph to help raise money for cancer research through his charity golf outing.
"I am very good at remembering things," Kittle said Thursday. "I couldn't have introduced myself to him any more politely. I showed him the brochure and I did this thing as professional as could be. If it weren't pertaining to my charity, I probably would have cared less and just said he was a jerk. But when there is a chance for me to do something or for his signature to do something for charity, I won't stand for that. It's ironic that his dad (former big-league star Bobby Bonds) died of cancer too."
As detailed in the book "Ron Kittle's Tales from the White Sox Dugout," written with former Chicago sportswriter Bob Logan, the incident was witnessed by Bonds' teammates.
Kittle wrote:
"Bonds stood up, looked me in the eye and said, 'I don't sign for white people.' If lightning hits me today, I will swear those were his exact words. Matt Williams and other Giants were in the room and they heard what Bonds said. …
"I said, 'White guys aren't the only ones who get cancer,' but Bonds just turned his back on me and walked out of the clubhouse. … That day, I drove home from Wrigley Field at about 150 miles an hour and sat there, fuming. I'll never forget what that man said. So if Barry Bonds is looking for a breath of fresh air to live and I'm the one who has to give it to him, unfortunately, the man will die. I just don't like guys like that."
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Bonds: Kittle an idiot for remark
Ex-Sox star stands by charge slugger made racist comment
Barry Bonds called former White Sox outfielder Ron Kittle "an idiot" for claiming in his book that the San Francisco Giants slugger once refused to autograph a jersey for Kittle's charity because "I don't sign for white people."
"Who is Kittle? How long did he play? He played in our league?" Bonds told the Associated Press before Thursday's game at San Francisco's SBC Park. "Ha! Do you guys believe that? Do you guys know my life history a little bit? One, you insult my children, who are half-white. I was married to a woman who was white, so let's get real. I don't even know the guy. Tell him he's an … idiot. Somebody said he wanted a piece of me. Tell him I'm at 24 Willie Mays Plaza and he can come get me anytime he wants to—with pleasure. Don't insult my family."
Kittle, who hit 176 home runs in his 10-year career and was American League Rookie of the Year with the Sox in 1983, responded later Thursday.
"I'm not surprised he acted like he didn't know who I was because he wouldn't know who I was if I stood next to him," Kittle said. "He pays attention to himself, not anybody else. It's not a very good response from him. I am not sure he is whole-heartedly denying that he said it."
Kittle, a Gary native who now lives in Chesterton, Ind., retired after the 1991 season. Bonds and the Giants were in Chicago to face the Cubs at Wrigley Field in 1992 when Kittle said he approached him for his autograph to help raise money for cancer research through his charity golf outing.
"I am very good at remembering things," Kittle said Thursday. "I couldn't have introduced myself to him any more politely. I showed him the brochure and I did this thing as professional as could be. If it weren't pertaining to my charity, I probably would have cared less and just said he was a jerk. But when there is a chance for me to do something or for his signature to do something for charity, I won't stand for that. It's ironic that his dad (former big-league star Bobby Bonds) died of cancer too."
As detailed in the book "Ron Kittle's Tales from the White Sox Dugout," written with former Chicago sportswriter Bob Logan, the incident was witnessed by Bonds' teammates.
Kittle wrote:
"Bonds stood up, looked me in the eye and said, 'I don't sign for white people.' If lightning hits me today, I will swear those were his exact words. Matt Williams and other Giants were in the room and they heard what Bonds said. …
"I said, 'White guys aren't the only ones who get cancer,' but Bonds just turned his back on me and walked out of the clubhouse. … That day, I drove home from Wrigley Field at about 150 miles an hour and sat there, fuming. I'll never forget what that man said. So if Barry Bonds is looking for a breath of fresh air to live and I'm the one who has to give it to him, unfortunately, the man will die. I just don't like guys like that."
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