In a recent Sports Byline USA Fan Poll, 65% of the fans voted that they respected Cal Ripken Jr. more as a baseball player than Barry Bonds. Seemingly, fans voted for the player they liked more and the player with whom they felt the most comfortable. I can only surmise that, from a fan perspective, "feel good fuzziness" is more important than talent.

I wasn't surprised by the results. One thing I've had re-enforced by talking with fans is they lead with their hearts rather than their heads. For fans, sports are more about emotion than statistics; it's style over substance and perception beats reality. So in this case the results are understandable.

Cal Ripken Jr. has played baseball for 21 years in a Baltimore Oriole uniform. He has been an outstanding player and a 19 time All-Star. He's been a league MVP two times and won a World Series. He has never embarrassed his team or his manager. He has a gentleman's personality on and off the field. He willingly signs autographs and interacts with the fans. He broke Lou Gehrig's long-standing record of consecutive games played with 2,632. He's a future Hall of Famer. And, he is white.

Barry Bonds was the most consistent and powerful player of the 90's. He'll be baseball's first player to hit 500 home runs and steal 500 bases. He could erase Mark McGwire's two-year-old single season home run record of 70. Today he is the most feared hitter a pitcher will face. He has won three MVP titles. He's a future Hall of Famer. But, also Bonds is aloof and generally unfriendly to the fans. He makes fans feel like his signing an autograph is an imposition and an irritation. His teammates respect his baseball ability, but not his personality, demeanor, or leadership skills. He has failed to produce where the truly great players produce: in the playoffs. And, he is black.

Given the two descriptions, you can understand why the fans voted for Ripken over Bonds on the respect issue. Aside from the emotional criteria fans normally use in deciding whom they give their support to, comfort is an important part of that fan support commitment. Ripken doesn't rock their emotional boat. He plays the game with an excellence and style they're comfortable with. When he interacts with the fans, his tall, fatherly, warm and professional demeanor makes you feel like he appreciates your support for him and baseball. Fans have told me that when they've met Ripken, it's a moment they'll never forget. Ripken presents himself as a part of the game-not bigger than the game. The package of Ripken the ball player and person is what the fans like and want.

On the other hand, as a person, Bonds is portrayed by the media as difficult, sometimes surly, and uncooperative. He backs up that portrayed image with a cold, distant, indifferent attitude toward fans. They either can't or don't want to connect with Bonds emotionally. No matter how good he might be as a player, the fan appreciation and respect for Bonds starts and ends with each at bat and each game. His ability and performance take a back seat to fans' belief that Bonds is unapproachable. For fans, there is no mystique or wonderment. No longing memory of a moment or a connection to Bonds the person as well as the ball player. Hall of Famer Willie Mays is Bonds' godfather. He knows what it's like to be a great player, beloved by the fans and an icon of the game. He told me recently that he would like to help Barry enjoy his remaining years in the game. He wants to help him relax and play for the fun of the game. That means Barry must appreciate and understand what the fans mean to baseball and what the players mean to the fans. So far Mays' efforts have failed. Apparently Bonds either doesn't care about enjoying and understanding the whole baseball experience or is happy with the path he's chosen.

Another reason the fans respect and embrace Ripken over Bonds is their difference in race. Race does not play a part in all cases of respect and respectability, but it's still a factor. It always will be. There was anger, hatred and disdain for Hank Aaron when he broke Babe Ruth's record for career home runs. The saddest part is that again the appreciation of talent gives way to comfort and emotion. It's an inherent human trait. Fortunately in the respect comparison between Ripken and Bonds, it doesn't have an ugly manifestation. If Bonds were a white player with the same perceived character and personality faults, the fans would still use emotions and comfort to pick who they respected more. However, with race as a factor, there's no close call in that decision. Consciously or subconsciously, a mindset comes into play that makes the black ball player have to go the extra mile to be compared or evaluated equally with a white ball player-- even if they're both very talented.

I know its wishful thinking that fans will one day place as much value in a player's talent as they do in their image. It's probably not humanly possible; however, if we do that, then the consideration of race and personality will be removed from our understanding and vision of people. And, that will give us a better view of mankind and life in general.

I feel better now.

I'm Ron Barr.

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