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The godfather Bonds can rely on Mays under World Series pressurePosted: Sunday October 20, 2002 9:25 PMUpdated: Tuesday October 22, 2002 2:58 AM
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) -- Willie Mays flicked his wrist with a practiced motion. Even in the muted light of the stadium tunnel, the well-worn 1954 World Series ring on his left pinky finger gleamed and sparkled. "I've been wearing it this year to remind him," Mays said. "Barry knows that whatever he does, I'm behind him -- but sometimes you can give a little extra motivation." Barry Bonds' godfather is enjoying the San Francisco Giants' surprising run to the World Series almost as much as Bonds himself. Even though Bonds turned 38 a few months ago, he still relies on Mays for guidance -- and Mays reminds him that these are the best days of his long career. "To have him smiling again and enjoying it, that's great for me," Mays said. "I think he's realizing it's just a game, and he can have a lot of fun out of it. ... People sometimes say he's not smiling, but I never smiled when I played. I think he's having more fun now than he did five or 10 years ago." Mays was in Las Vegas when Bonds hit a long homer in the first at-bat of his first World Series game on Saturday night. Mays made it to Edison Field in time for Game 2, but security guards wouldn't let his car into the lot until two police officers recognized him. "It's important for me to let him know that I'm here, even if I'm not in the stands," Mays said. "When something goes wrong, we talk about it. ... Whatever he wants to do, I'm backing him. I had a lot of help when I was coming up. When I was 20, 19, a lot of people helped me out. I want to pass that along any way I can." Mays has been a constant presence in Bonds' life since childhood. He's a frequent visitor to the Giants' clubhouse at Pacific Bell Park, where a bronze statue sits out front on the corner of 3rd and King streets. Mays doesn't flinch when others call him baseball's greatest player ever, and he doesn't object when Bonds is given the title. As Mays sees it, such designations are irrelevant. He and Bonds are a team, with a championship for the Giants as their common goal. Mays still wears the ring from the Giants' last championship team in New York, and he was on the last San Francisco team to win a World Series game before Saturday. It happened in 1962, when the Giants lost to the Yankees in seven games. "It's more difficult to get to the World Series than it was 40 years ago," Mays said. "Now, you've got to got through so much travel and back-and-forth. My hat's off to guys that make the World Series now." After 17 seasons, Bonds has joined that club, and Mays thinks the hard part is finished. Winning the Series would be "just a little icing on the cake." But Mays knows just how much the upcoming week means to Bonds. When Mays saw Bonds' homer on TV, he chuckled. "When he hit the ball, if you looked at him, he seemed to be surprised," Mays said. "If you noticed, the second time up, he was a little nervous. He swung at a pitch that was over his head. ... Even if we don't win, I think he's had a great career. I just want to make sure he's enjoying the moment." As Mays spoke, Bonds walked past him on the way to the field, where his teammates were taking batting practice. Perhaps sensing a chance to polish his surly reputation, Bonds pointedly shouted at Mays: "Say Hey, let's go! Damn these people!" Needless to say, Mays doesn't agree with those who describe Bonds as difficult to like. Perhaps more than anyone in Bonds' life, Mays can relate to the motivations behind Bonds' public persona. But Mays also doesn't believe Bonds' public declarations of indifference about individual achievements; when Bonds hit his 600th homer earlier this season, Mays saw just how much it meant in Bonds' eyes.
"Don't listen to him," Mays said. "I think he wants to win, and I think he wants to be the MVP. They're not things that you go out and brag about and talk about, though."
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