Barry Bonds Still Hasn't Retired

SAN FRANCISCO -- Barry Bonds appeared at the Giants-Dodgers game tonight, waved to the crowd like a returning hero, did a few innings in the Giants radio and TV booths and even chatted amicably for a few minutes with reporters.

The headline: He's still not retired.

Q: Working out?

A: A little bit.

Q: Still thinking of playing? What's your status?

A: I just haven't retired. That's the only status I have. The only interest I have is to go to my seats and watch the Giants beat the Dodgers.

For whatever reason, Bonds has refused to use the "R" word, even though it's obvious to everyone that he's not going to play again. There is the grievance about whether owners colluded to keep him out of baseball, but that's been tabled until after his perjury trial, which is currently on hold, most likely until sometime next year.

He seemed happy with his post-baseball life, though.

"I'm a fan now and I love it," he said on the radio broadcast.

Bonds also denied a report that he had hip surgery over the winter. "I popped my quad. It wasn't hip surgery."

Bonds said he was in town visiting a boy he had befriended years ago during the boy's battle with leukemia. Christopher Laub was one of the 49 recepients of the Unsung Heroes of Compassion award, presented by the Dalai Lama on Sunday.