Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Bonds' Son: The Bigger Hat Was Mine

Nikolai explains the real reason his dad's baseball cap size grew

By Polly Davis Doig, Newser Staff

Posted Apr 5, 2011 11:39 AM CDT

(Newser) – Nikolai Bonds scrutinizes every nuance of dad Barry Bonds' perjury trial from afar: He winces over the ex-mistress's allegations and watches old friends turn on his dad, but for him, the trial's outcome was settled in 2003. "Did you?" he asked the Giants slugger about rumors of steroid use. The elder Bonds told him "no," says Nikolai, and that was the end of it. Highlights of the 21-year-old college kid's interview with the Wall Street Journal:

On the real reason Barry Bonds' cap size grew between 2000 and 2002: The larger hat was really his, says Nikolai, who started wearing a bigger cap in middle school and who, as a bat boy, had a locker next to Bonds. "I totally believe [a mix-up] is possible."
On ex-mistress Kim Bell's testimony: "I didn't know about these women until now. I love my dad and support him regardless, but I have my own feelings about that—I'd never condone that sort of activity, especially towards the mother of my sister, or my mom."
On Bell's contention that Barry Bonds had numerous affairs: "For a dude that has all these (sexual performance) problems, how does that make sense?"
On how he knows dad didn't use steroids: "No substance that you put in your body is going to help you see the ball the way he saw it."
On his dad's trial: "Nobody talks about it."

San Francisco Giants' Barry Bonds is congratulated by his son Nikolai, left, after hitting a home run, his 755th, on Saturday, Aug. 4, 2007. (AP Photo/ Chris Park)

This Oct. 4, 2001, file photo shows San Francisco Giants' Barry Bonds celebrating his 70th home run of the season, as his son Nikolai, right foreground, runs to greet him. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan, File)

San Francisco Giants' Barry Bonds kisses his son Nikolai after hitting a two-run home run off of Toronto Blue Jays' Josh Towers, Monday, June 11, 2007. It was Bonds' 747th career home run. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Barry Bonds #25 of the San Francisco Giants hands his bat and elbow pad to his son/bat-boy Nikolai Bonds after a walk against the Los Angeles Dodgers on August 2, 2007. (Getty Images)

This is a July 26, 2007, file photo showing Nikolai Bonds, son of San Francisco Giants baseball player Barry Bonds. (AP Photo/Ben Margot, File)

Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants looks on with son/bat-boy Nikolai Bonds during practice against the Atlanta Braves on July 24, 2007. (Getty Images)

Barry Bonds greets his son Nikolai after Bonds hit a two-run home run off of Colorado Rockies' Byung-Hyun Kim in San Francisco, Sunday, May 28, 2006. (AP Photo/San Francisco Giants, Andy Kuno)

San Francisco Giants' Barry Bonds, left, and his family, wife Liz, son Nikolai, and daughter Aisha in San Francisco, Thursday, July 26, 2007. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

Barry Bonds watches Team USA take batting practice with his son Nikolai before the Round 1 Pool B Game of the World Baseball Classic on March 10, 2006 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Getty Images)

Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants hands his bat to his son Nikolai as he is walked against the Houston Astros at Enron Field in Houston, Texas. (Getty Images)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

CLICK BELOW TO VOTE

19%

24%

10%

37%

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

Ex-Mistress: Bonds Blamed 'Roids for Injury

Perjury trial continues over slugger's denial of using steroids

(NEWSER) - Barry Bonds' ex-mistress took the stand in his perjury trial today, testifying that the ex-slugger blamed steroids for a 1999 elbow injury, and that his head got bigger—literally—and testicles got smaller over the course of their nine-year relationship. Kimberly Bell, who maintained the relationship even after he told her he was marrying another woman in 1999, said Bonds told her his muscle and tendons grew too fast, and "blew out" the joint. More»

Clemens Pleads Not Guilty

Pitcher to fight charges of lying to congress

(AP) - Seven-time Cy Young winner Roger Clemens pleaded not guilty today to charges of lying to Congress about whether he used steroids or human growth hormone. When asked for a plea, the retired pitcher said in a clear voice: "Not guilty, your honor." Clemens and all-time home run leader Barry Bonds could both begin their day in court next spring, turning the spotlight back on MLB's long-running drug scandal just as it opens the 2011 season. More»

Congress Asks Justice Dept. for Clemens Probe

Bipartisan letter wants to look at star's steroids denials for perjury

(NEWSER) - A congressional committee today asked the Justice Department to examine Roger Clemens’ denials under oath that he used performance-enhancing drugs and determine if they constitute perjury, the AP reports. In the letter to Attorney General Michael Mukasey, Reps. Henry Waxman and Tom Davis cite the pitcher's statements contradicting those of his former trainer and a teammate. More»

McNamee: I Gave Clemens Steroids in '98

Chief accuser takes the stand in pitcher's perjury trial

(AP) - Brian McNamee has testified that he first injected Roger Clemens with steroids when they were with the Toronto Blue Jays in 1998. McNamee said today he injected Clemens in the buttocks in Clemens' apartment at the pitcher's request. McNamee is the chief witness for the prosecution in the perjury trial of the seven-time Cy Young Award winner. He is the only person who will testify with firsthand knowledge of Clemens using performance-enhancing drugs. More»

Barry Bonds Convicted of Obstructing Justice

But jury deadlocks on three counts of perjury

(AP) - Barry Bonds was convicted of obstruction of justice today, but a jury failed to reach a verdict on three other counts that the home run king lied to a grand jury when he denied knowingly using steroids and human growth hormone. Following a 12-day trial and almost four full days of deliberation, the jury of eight women and four men could reach a unanimous verdict only on one of the four counts against Bonds. US District Judge Susan Illston declared a mistrial on the others, a messy end to a case that put the slugger under a cloud of suspicion for more than three years. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Bonds' Son: The Bigger Hat Was Mine

Nikolai explains the real reason his dad's baseball cap size grew

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

steroids • Barry Bonds • anabolic steroids • perjury • Mitchell steroids investigation • Major League Baseball • Nikolai Bonds • Barry Bonds trial

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Ex-Mistress: Bonds Blamed 'Roids for Injury

Perjury trial continues over slugger's denial of using steroids

Clemens Pleads Not Guilty

Pitcher to fight charges of lying to congress

Congress Asks Justice Dept. for Clemens Probe

Bipartisan letter wants to look at star's steroids denials for perjury

McNamee: I Gave Clemens Steroids in '98

Chief accuser takes the stand in pitcher's perjury trial

Barry Bonds Convicted of Obstructing Justice

But jury deadlocks on three counts of perjury

About Us

Site

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?