espn.com

NEW YORK -- Going, going, gone.

 

That's what San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds has told the Major League Baseball Players Association's licensing arm.

 

Bonds informed the union that he would not be signing the organization's group licensing agreement, sources told ESPN Radio in New York on Friday. Baseball's home run record holder plans to pursue his own licensing opportunities.

 

Players usually sign the group licensing agreement, which allows companies that obtain MLBPA licenses the right to use players' names and likenesses on their products. In exchange for their rights, the players in the four major sports get a percentage of the sale of the products such as trading cards and video games.

 

MLBPA spokesman Greg Bouris confirmed to ESPN.com that Bonds has indeed opted out of the agreement for the immediate future, but will remain a member of the union. Eric Levin, president of Pro Access Inc., which does the marketing for Bonds, declined comment.

 

Licensees must reach individual deals to use the name and images of players who are not part of the agreement.

 

Bonds' decision will have immediate repercussions for baseball fans, who will no longer be able to purchase the Giants' slugger's jersey. Also, Bonds will no longer be able to appear in advertisements or on trading cards in his San Francisco uniform.

 

"Barry, don't do this! Please, come back!" said Bill Dully, president of Donruss trading cards. He was not joking.

 

Dully points out that Bonds is on the cusp of being the greatest player in baseball history, and the home run king's decision opt out of the league's licensing agreement makes it impossible to put him on the company's cards because players must be depicted in their team uniform.

 

Bonds' move is not unprecedented. For some time, Michael Jordan was not part of the NBA Players Association's group licensing agreement, and Washington Redskins linebacker Lavar Arrington has not signed the NFL Players Association's group licensing agreement.

 

i never hated him but this is stupid

Man, this means we're gonna get that OF #25 crap on video games now! That's beyond weak.

good for him

good for him

At least Bonds is growing.

 

Now, instead of thinking he's too good for his Giants teammates, he thinks he's too good for everybody in the league.

 

I don't understand how they won't be able to purchase his jersey though. Giants jerseys don't have names on them do they?

 

And in a perfect world, they'll leave him off the video games completely. That way we can all laugh at Giantsin04 when he comes on here and complains that the Giants "suck" on MVP without Bonds, when he supported this selfish crap.

 

Is there anyway we could write a code into this board that automatically replaces "Barry Bonds" or "Bonds" with "OF #25"?

it's smart on his part. he wants to make more than what he would've been offered through the MLBPA licensing deal. it's not like he can't be used on anything, it's just that the companies will have to negotiate a deal with him.

 

although that inability to have his team logo affiliated with him thing might be a problem, i'm sure he'll still be able to rake in a lot more dough this way.

 

there are not too many players with the notoriety to make more money off of this sort of thing. if he can do it, more power to him. i wasn't planning on buying a bonds baseball card anyways...

Plus, if Barry Bonds gets suspended for steroid use, MLB can't take away his merchandising money.

Fairy Bonds is a conceited jack@$$...plain and simple!

Man, this means we're gonna get that OF #25 crap on video games now! That's beyond weak.

"And now playing in LF for the Giants... Yens Browsfa"

... or "Henry Bonsai"

who was the guy that played Kevin Millar in last years High Heat?

you could just change the name and number of the player, but the annoucer will still say the default name. This sucks, I have always hated Bonds now i hate him even more.

So this also means his stats. won't be included in the video games.

I don't know about High Heat, but the APBA computer simulator always referred to him as "Mike Butcher".

Man, this means we're gonna get that OF #25 crap on video games now! That's beyond weak.

Same thing I said. It's kind of annoying having to edit names when you start a new season on High Heat just to make it more realistic. Now he's going to look like a replacement player! :jackass

for a while Michael Jordan was never on any of the video games either. Bonds is being smart

for a while Michael Jordan was never on any of the video games either. Bonds is being smart

If he's so smart, why are no other baseball players doing the same thing? Just curious.

because no other baseball players are on his level, just like no other basketball players were on jordan's level

u can still write his name on the site why is his name filterd? is it suposed to be a joke?

howcome nobody calls jordan a loser? he did the same thign

because no other baseball players are on his level

Ah, of course ......

you can't argue that this decision wouldn't net bonds more money. obviously there is a reason why he would choose to negotiate his licenses individually as opposed to having his name lumped together with the entire MLBPA.

 

other athletes don't do it because they aren't popular enough to sell that much of their own merchandise. i have no doubt bonds will make more money this way.

 

what i really want to know is why arrington isn't part of the NFLPA's licensing agreement.

when you get to much fame-you start acting dumb.

who was the guy that played Kevin Millar in last years High Heat?

Al Gill

thanks Rune.... lmao

Isnt Arod on his Level or will be?