Mike Sweeney: Barry Bonds Was a 'Class Act'

It's not very often that you hear or read a statement like that, so I'm not sure if Sweeney's just trying to grease up Brian Sabean for a trade deadline deal (instant rumor!) or if Sweeney genuinely likes Bonds -- which is how it appears. As Daniel Brown tells it in the San Jose Mercury News, Sweeney went completely out of his way to praise Giants outfielder Barry Bonds, bringing up the slugger's name unsolicited. Sweeney explained himself:

"Well, it seems like everybody has a bad story about Barry Bonds. I had a chance to go to Japan with him to play on the American All-Star team. And he was awesome," Sweeney said. "He was a great teammate. He played the game hard and he played it the right way. ... I'm rooting for him."
...
"I was expecting something different, but he was nothing but a class act," Sweeney said, looking back to their time as teammates on the Japan tour. "I know some people might not feel the same way, but I'm rooting for the guy - 11 more, right?"

Yes Mike, 11 more to break the record -- which by the way -- Sweeney feels the commish should be in attendance for. But imagine that, Sweeney went completely out of his way to say he was supporting Bonds. So there you have it, not all tales of Barry by fellow players are evil. Some like him, and in this case, they even stick up for him.

Previously at FanHouse:
When Will Barry Bonds Hit Home Run No. 755?