Bonds’ legacy tainted
I am a longtime seasonticket holder with great feeling and memories for the game of baseball. Barry Bonds spent a lot of money and went in front of a lot of judges until he found one who overturned his conviction. Does he think now we all will change our minds? He may be not guilty on the books, but when my grandson asks who the baseball heroes are, his name will not come up.
Robert Nice, Redwood City
Bonds critics
Regarding “Ex- Giant Bonds cleared of felony”( April 23), now that the dubious and questionable conviction of Barry Bonds has been thrown out, what will Bonds haters have to hang their hats on now? The cabal of sports media types are left with their distaste for his treatment of them, to fuel their crusade to keep him out of the Hall of Fame. Good luck with that.
Vernon Burton, San Leandro
Wrong message
While the appeals court overturned Bonds’ conviction, ruling that his evasive answer as to whether Greg Anderson and BALCO gave him performanceenhancing drugs was not perjury, Bonds still did not answer the question with a yes or no. Bonds was tested positive for steroids and it defies belief that he did not knowingly take steroids. Before the San Francisco Giants even considering bringing Bonds back in any capacity, I would expect the Giants to require Bonds to confess to knowingly using steroids.
Remember, Mark McGwire and Alex Rodriguez confessed to using steroids. But does it matter? In this age of widescale cheating and lying by public officials, researchers, school officials, students, etc., Bonds’ use of steroids appears irrelevant to a lot of people. After all, baseball is just entertainment and everyone was doing it. Yes, it does matter because steroid use is up among high school students and even eighth- graders. Celebrating a cheater like Bonds sends the wrong message to our young people.
Ralph Stone, San Francisco
Cordileone valued
I’ve noted a few ironies in the current controversies surrounding Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone. For months, The Chronicle articles, opinion pieces and letters to the editor which were focused on the controversy often seemed mean- spirited, intolerant and divisive. Yet through it all, the archbishop has maintained a spirit of equanimity. We’ve also been told regularly that the archbishop has little support here in San Francisco, but SFGate. com took an opinion poll, and it showed that 79 percent of those who voted believed the archbishop should not be removed, because he was upholding the values of the Catholic Church.
Dolores Brady, San Francisco
Keeping culture
Regarding “Cartoon museum needs new home” ( April 22) — well, there’s a bitter pill for you. Establishments who pay their rent during hard times, like, say, the Cartoon Art Museum, Jeffrey’s Toys and Capp’s Corner, get their rent quintupled ( or whatever) when times are good. Who knew prosperity would come at such a price? I guess there is no such thing as a benevolent landlord with a heart of gold.
San Francisco doesn’t need another national chain drugstore or clothing store, or another expensive restaurant. We need places that make a community, that contribute to the heart and soul of a big city. I grew up with unconditional love. I know what that is. But sometimes, I really hate the city I love.
David Fink, San Francisco