From “The Show” to Best of Show?
(Should be) Hall of Famer Barry Bonds is back in a competitive sports field, kind of: Bonds and his dog Rocky are part of the 145th Westminster Dog Show, with the miniature schnauzer participating in the terrier group during the event.
Bonds, making an appearance on FS1 extolling the virtues of his pup, was glowing when discussing his dog on the broadcast:
“About 25 years, my sister bought a miniature schnauzer, and I got one with her,” Bonds said on the broadcast. … “She does all the work. I’m not gonna sit there and say I do — I don’t do much. My sister does it all. I support her to death. She’s my best friend in the whole wide world.
“This is just amazing,” Bonds continued. “Just to be here, to see it. It’s beautiful. I’ve watched it on TV many years. But to actually be here is amazing, and to actually have a dog here is even more gratifying.”
MORE: Every winner from the 145th Westminster Dog Show
Bonds says that he has two miniature schnauzers: The salt-and-pepper Rocky and the black-furred Apollo. Bonds admitted the dogs were named after the characters in the famed “Rocky” film series.
Unfortunately, Rocky wasn’t picked as a winner among the group. Still, Bonds was happy to be there.
“The reward is getting here,” Bonds said with a smile. “He qualified, and that’s the reward. It’s like I sit there and say, when I played baseball, it’s just getting there. I’ve been to a lot of playoffs, and I’ve been to the World Series and I’ve never won. But for 22 years, I kept trying.
“But the actual thing is the work ethic, it’s how you do, how you get there. I’m just proud that he’s here. I’m not expecting anything, I’m not looking at him, I’m not nervous. I’m just proud that he did a great job and that he qualified to get here.”
Bonds’ is the league’s all-time home run king but his career was mired in allegations of steroid use, leading to his Hall of Fame candidacy dwindling down to a slim chance. The next round of voting in 2022 will be Bonds’ last chance to get in. He finished with 61 percent of the vote on his ninth ballot, with 75 percent needed to get in.
Though a ring eluded Bonds throughout his career, maybe he’s got a future with dog shows.
