Barry Bonds Is Ready For His Closeup, ESPN

Call us cynical, but we've been mulling over this whole Barry Bonds-in-drag thing that occurred at the Giants spring training practice field on Tuesday. Upon further review, we smell a very large and stinky rat. This, you see, was a very un-Barry-like thing to do. Whatever Barry is about, he is not about entertaining the masses — especially if it involves panty hose. Oh, you may say that he's trying to rehabilitate his image, to lighten up, to finally start having a little fun with this career homer record thing. But sorry: We're not buying it.

And sure enough: Barry's stunt on Tuesday happened to be on the very same day that ESPN began filming for his new reality show. So, basically, Bonds dressing like Paula Abdul and playing "Giants Idol" with some teammates was about as spontaneous as an ESPN staff meeting — which is where the entire thing was most likely conceived. Come on, Barry, what's next, popping out of a coffin in Beetlejuice makeup?

God, we feel so used. So cheap.

Barry Bonds Reality Show Draws Criticism [SFGate] Hide Your Eyes, Children [Deadspin]