Shikari Bonds Says "F*** the media"

The Burden of Bonds' Legacy
Shikari Bonds Lashes Out at Her Fathers' Detractors

By: Joshua Fischman

How could I be connected to Barry Bonds? I recently realized that I am indeed linked to the Home Run King; and not in the same way that Bonds is allegedly linked to BALCO. At a Bar Mitzvah in the Bay Area in the summer of 2005, I met a girl with whom I became friends (and later kept in touch with). A year later, I started to talk on Facebook with a friend of this girl. The friend's name was Shikari Bonds. I might never had made the realization that Shikari is the daughter of Barry Bonds had she not invited me to a group on facebook entitled "Barry Bonds should not be indicted". When I saw Shikari's invitation, it hit me like a ton of bricks (or rather, a ton of syringes): Shikari is Bonds' daughter.

I have no plans on joining the Facebook group, but I am ashamed to say that I have been constantly checking the group for posts from Bonds' daughter. Shikari's posts are often naive, ignorant and misinformed; but almost always so in a humorous fashion. Despite Shikari's lack of information, she seems like an intelligent young woman. After all, aspects of her posts have made valuable points (though they are few and far between). Maybe after I explain Ms. Bonds' stance on the issues surrounding her father, you too will begin to care about what she says.

In Shikari Bonds' 16 posts from November 15-18, her most commonly used phrase is "F*** the media" (I love how the asterisks serve a dual purpose here!). I think it's safe to say that Shikari may be the only human being who hates the media more than Barry. Needless to say, Shikari does not hold journalists in very high esteem. "F*** the media and quit trying to bring people down for doing something better with their life than you ever did," Shikari posts on the group in all capital letters. "If u spent half as much time directing your attention towards more important things in the world rather than trying to bring down someone for having a great talent maybe people would respect you more." (The second part too, is all in caps). Apparently, Shikari is assuming that members of the media regularly check Facebook for comments directed toward them.

According to Ms. Bonds, the media has been constantly proved wrong with regard to their allegations against her father. Game of Shadows aside, of course. Shikari feels that the media only gives people one side of every story and that it usually portrays the negative aspect of a story to make people look bad; all for the sake of entertainment. She finds it "fishy" that the "media needs to dedicate so much of their time and energy trying to bring [her] dad down when there's nothing [to bring him down for]." Fishy, you say? Others might call Bonds' downfall justice.

Shikari warns that it is naive to believe everything one hears on TV and reads in the newspaper. "The media is not known for the truth," she says. As for her father's relationship with the media, this is what Shikari had to say: "Maybe he treats the media like crap but THATS for good reason. His feelings towards the media are an understandable retaliation of all the bashing they've done of him throughout his whole career." Yet in spite of Shikari's immense hatred for the media she says, "I've been watching the news all day."

Barry's daughter also has a lot to say about those in the public who think that her father is guilty of perjury and intentional steroid use. Shikari says that these people are "jealous, naive and arrogant enough to say things against him." She laments that it is "unfortunate that people are so cold hearted" and that they "want to punish someone for their success." Shikari goes on to say that such people "can't stand to see someone go down in history for an amazing achievement."

When it comes to that last statement, I strongly disagree. I, for one, would love to be a part of history. And being alive when an "amazing achievement" occurs puts one squarely in the middle of the historical event; watching it occur is even better. I think that these people are objecting to how Barry got to the point where he could make history, not to the fact that he is going down in history.

On the group's message board Ms. Bonds implies that people do not understand what Barry, his family and those around them are going through. Shikari seems to feel that her father has long been pronounced -- and treated -- as if he is guilty and claims that this is unfair in a system that is supposed to treat defendants as innocent until proven guilty. As Shikari says, "...accusations that can affect someones life in the way this indictment can affect my fathers with no concrete evidence, is wrong and something no one should have to go through."

As for Shikari's feelings about her father, she obviously cares about him a great deal. Shikari's love for her father shields her from considering the strong possibility that he is a criminal. Psychologists and sociologists will tell you that this is perfectly normal; a very common feeling for relatives of criminals to have. It would be much too painful for Shikari to admit the possibility that her father is a liar, cheater or drug abuser; Barry apparently is still very important to her.

Shikari claims that her father has never failed a drug test and that there is no concrete evidence against him. These are foolish claims that only someone so close to Bonds could say with a straight face.

According to his daughter, Bonds has "spent all his life fighting for his dream." Since when are professional baseball players fighters?

Shikari calls her dad "wonderful", presumably because he's been a good father and "because of his accomplishments and inspiration to other people." However, Shikari admits that she does not know everything about her father. For instance, she admits that she "didn't know he hunted until about 12 o'clock today" in a post on November 15, 2007.

This whole ordeal must be tearing Shikari up. Can you imagine the possibility that your father is going to prison for 30 years? I can't. "I happened to be on the phone with him about an hour before the indictment," Shikari says. All I can say is that I hope that justice is doled out, whatever justice may be in the Bonds case. In addition, I wish the best for Shikari Bonds; who, to the best of my knowledge, has not broken any laws herself and seems to be suffering right now.

[Editor's note: Shikari Bonds declined to comment on this story. Her comments can be found on the wall of the Facebook group "Barry Bonds should not be indicted" by anyone with a valid Facebook username and password.]

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The Burden of Bonds' Legacy Shikari Bonds Lashes Out at Her Fathers' Detractors By: Joshua Fischman How could I be connected to Barry Bonds? I recently realized that I am indeed linked to the Home Run King; and not in the same way that Bonds is allegedly linked to BALCO. At a Bar Mitzvah in the Bay Area in the summer of 2005, I met a girl with whom I became friends (and later kept in touch with). A year later, I started to talk on Facebook with a friend of this girl. The friend's name was Shikari Bonds. I might never had made the realization that Shikari is the daughter of Barry Bonds had she not invited me to a group on facebook entitled "Barry Bonds should not be indicted". When I saw Shikari's invitation, it hit me like a ton of bricks (or rather, a ton of syringes): Shikari is Bonds' daughter. I have no plans on joining the Facebook group, but I am ashamed to say that I have been constantly checking the group for posts from Bonds' daughter. Shikari's posts are often naive, ignorant and misinformed; but almost always so in a humorous fashion. Despite Shikari's lack of information, she seems like an intelligent young woman. After all, aspects of her posts have made valuable points (though they are few and far between). Maybe after I explain Ms. Bonds' stance on the issues surrounding her father, you too will begin to care about what she says. In Shikari Bonds' 16 posts from November 15-18, her most commonly used phrase is "F* the media" (I love how the asterisks serve a dual purpose here!). I think it's safe to say that Shikari may be the only human being who hates the media more than Barry. Needless to say, Shikari does not hold journalists in very high esteem. "F* the media and quit trying to bring people down for doing something better with their life than you ever did," Shikari posts on the group in all capital letters. "If u spent half as much time directing your attention towards more important things in the world rather than trying to bring down someone for having a great talent maybe people would respect you more." (The second part too, is all in caps). Apparently, Shikari is assuming that members of the media regularly check Facebook for comments directed toward them. According to Ms. Bonds, the media has been constantly proved wrong with regard to their allegations against her father. Game of Shadows aside, of course. Shikari feels that the media only gives people one side of every story and that it usually portrays the negative aspect of a story to make people look bad; all for the sake of entertainment. She finds it "fishy" that the "media needs to dedicate so much of their time and energy trying to bring [her] dad down when there's nothing [to bring him down for]." Fishy, you say? Others might call Bonds' downfall justice. Shikari warns that it is naive to believe everything one hears on TV and reads in the newspaper. "The media is not known for the truth," she says. As for her father's relationship with the media, this is what Shikari had to say: "Maybe he treats the media like crap but THATS for good reason. His feelings towards the media are an understandable retaliation of all the bashing they've done of him throughout his whole career." Yet in spite of Shikari's immense hatred for the media she says, "I've been watching the news all day." Barry's daughter also has a lot to say about those in the public who think that her father is guilty of perjury and intentional steroid use. Shikari says that these people are "jealous, naive and arrogant enough to say things against him." She laments that it is "unfortunate that people are so cold hearted" and that they "want to punish someone for their success." Shikari goes on to say that such people "can't stand to see someone go down in history for an amazing achievement." When it comes to that last statement, I strongly disagree. I, for one, would love to be a part of history. And being alive when an "amazing achievement" occurs puts one squarely in the middle of the historical event; watching it occur is even better. I think that these people are objecting to how Barry got to the point where he could make history, not to the fact that he is going down in history. On the group's message board Ms. Bonds implies that people do not understand what Barry, his family and those around them are going through. Shikari seems to feel that her father has long been pronounced -- and treated -- as if he is guilty and claims that this is unfair in a system that is supposed to treat defendants as innocent until proven guilty. As Shikari says, "...accusations that can affect someones life in the way this indictment can affect my fathers with no concrete evidence, is wrong and something no one should have to go through." As for Shikari's feelings about her father, she obviously cares about him a great deal. Shikari's love for her father shields her from considering the strong possibility that he is a criminal. Psychologists and sociologists will tell you that this is perfectly normal; a very common feeling for relatives of criminals to have. It would be much too painful for Shikari to admit the possibility that her father is a liar, cheater or drug abuser; Barry apparently is still very important to her. Shikari claims that her father has never failed a drug test and that there is no concrete evidence against him. These are foolish claims that only someone so close to Bonds could say with a straight face. According to his daughter, Bonds has "spent all his life fighting for his dream." Since when are professional baseball players fighters? Shikari calls her dad "wonderful", presumably because he's been a good father and "because of his accomplishments and inspiration to other people." However, Shikari admits that she does not know everything about her father. For instance, she admits that she "didn't know he hunted until about 12 o'clock today" in a post on November 15, 2007. This whole ordeal must be tearing Shikari up. Can you imagine the possibility that your father is going to prison for 30 years? I can't. "I happened to be on the phone with him about an hour before the indictment," Shikari says. All I can say is that I hope that justice is doled out, whatever justice may be in the Bonds case. In addition, I wish the best for Shikari Bonds; who, to the best of my knowledge, has not broken any laws herself and seems to be suffering right now. [Editor's note: Shikari Bonds declined to comment on this story. Her comments can be found on the wall of the Facebook group "Barry Bonds should not be indicted" by anyone with a valid Facebook username and password.]