What’s a godfather supposed to say?
Willie Mays said all-time home run leader Barry Bonds will someday join him in the Baseball Hall of Fame despite the steroids cloud that hovers over his godson.
“I think he’s going to be in the Hall of Fame, and I don’t think he did anything other than what other guys were doing,” Mays told Bob Costas in an interview to be shown on MLB Network next Tuesday.
“I don’t even really know that, but I don’t like to get involved in things that I don’t know about — controversial stuff — and that’s why a lot of times I don’t even go on shows, because they’re going to ask me the same kind of questions,” Mays said. “As far as what he was using, I don’t really know. I really didn’t ask him about his problems because it wasn’t my duty. He never asked me about anything, so why should I get involved in what he was doing? So I really don’t know.
“I don’t get involved unless he calls. I don’t know what he does. If he did something, I’d be right there. I don’t care what it is, I’m never going to leave someone that I like very much, and I think if he picks up the phone and calls me, I would be right there.”
Others who have admitted to or been accused of steroids use — most notably Mark McGwire — haven’t come close to election to the Hall of Fame, with others (such as Roger Clemens) not yet up for election.
Mays played on the Giants with Barry’s father, Bobby. The full interview will air on “Studio 42” on Feb. 9 at 8 p.m.
* Outfielder Reed Johnson agreed to an $800,000, one-year contract with the Dodgers.
The Giants agreed to a minor league deal with free-agent reliever Guillermo Mota and invited him to spring training.
* Outfielder Scott Hairston and the Padres agreed to a $2.45 million, one-year contract to avoid arbitration. Hairston had asked for $2.9 million and the team offered $2.1 million.
Jeff Weaver agreed to return to the Dodgers for a minor league deal. –With AP