Barry Bonds' Image Overall Winner In Bryan Stow Education Gesture

In case you missed the news earlier today, Giants legend Barry Bonds has officially offered to pay for the college education of Bryan Stow’s children in a move that helps to provide some security for a family that has endured incredible chaos. Yet the indirect winner of such a charitable moment is Barry Bonds himself, who reminds us that there’s a real person behind the endless allegations, accusations and debate.

Tyler and Tabitha Stow, who are 12- and 8-years-old respective, also received a signed bat from Bonds, who spent the day with Stow and his family in the hospital on April 22. Stow’s attorney Thomas Girardi made it clear that Bonds did this without a press conference, and this isn’t to insinuate that Bonds did so for any spotlight. It’s just hard to miss the opportunity to discuss a player who could use a public image makeover despite what he intended to do or not with the gift to Stow’s children.

The reality is that Barry Bonds is the leper of Major League Baseball. Along with Pete Rose, two of the game’s best hitters of all time must yell “unclean” any time they want to do anything associated with the game. Only their hometown fans stick beside them, and even then there are some who hurl insults. And despite behavior that certainly mars the image and/or records broken, the talent is often forgotten and the humanity is almost always lost.

So it’s nice to see Bonds in a positive light for a change — reminding us that he’s still around and that he’s still ostracized. Some might say that he deserves to remain on the fringes of baseball history, but here’s hoping that history is kinder to Bonds as a case and as a person. Perhaps gestures like the one toward Bryan Stow’s family brings some indirect comfort and healing for Bonds himself.

Dodger Drama: Bryan Stow's Family Prepares To Sue Los Angeles Dodgers

As if the drama and turmoil surrounding the Los Angeles Dodgers organization couldn’t become any more distracting to the 25 players trying to compete in the NL West, the family of Bryan Stow is adding more fuel to the fire by announcing they will sue the franchise for an unspecified amount.

The tragic attack on Stow occurred March 31 when two unidentified assailants attacked the Giants fan while exiting the stadium. Stow has been in critical condition ever since, and was in a coma for several weeks. He’s still hospitalized and a suspect, Giovanni Ramirez, is now in custody from a tip from a parole officer.

There’s no denying the family needs reparations in some economic form for what has taken place with mounting medical bills and the loss of work income. The family is also suing for economic damages for Stow’s two children as well.

As the family’s attorney, Thomas Girardi, told the media, “The Dodgers have shown a total disregard for public safety. They’ve gotten rid of security people. They’ve had all these incidents at their games, more than other teams. There’s also a known gang presence. What did they think was going to happen?”

In an already tumultuous season featuring the attack on Stow, the added security presence and the complete takeover by Bud Selig, it’s been a difficult season in terms of public perception and distraction for the Dodgers. It doesn’t look like that cloud is lifting anytime soon.

Good News Finally Breaks In Bryan Stow Assault Case

It is the unsolved crime that shook every sports fan in America. And now some resolution is finally breaking through. The first alleged attacker has been arrested in the Bryan Stow assault case, the violent attack that took place at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Stow, a Giants fan, and two unnamed assailants.

Weeks after the initial attack on March 31, police finally received a tip that led them to the apartment of 31-year-old Giovanni Ramirez. A raid early Sunday morning by an S.W.A.T. team at the apartment complex led to several possible accomplices surrendering peacefully in response to a police megaphone and Ramirez was taken custody during the raid. Police are still searching for the other at-large suspect portrayed in police sketches on billboards around the L.A. area. They're also looking for the woman who helped the two suspects flee the scene.

In total, twenty detectives have worked a total of 6,000 hours to find the attackers with hundreds of tips coming in over the weeks. Total rewards now stand at $250,000 if Ramirez or someone else is convicted of the crimes committed against Stow.