Time will tell whether Bonds Boulevard will be a hit with Tempe residents or strike out with Tempe City Council.
ASU officials have plans to inquire about renaming 100 yards of Rio Salado Parkway to Bonds Boulevard after former ASU-hardhitter Barry Bonds.
To change a street name, ASU must submit a request to the City of Tempe, and then the Tempe Planning and Zoning Commission must hold a public hearing and make a recommendation to the city council.
"The city of Tempe has not received a formal request from Arizona State University about the renaming of a part of Rio Salado Parkway for Barry Bonds," Mayor Neil Giuliano said. "Until we do so, there is not an issue to comment about, and folks should not get all worked up one way or the other."
Mark Brand, ASU's assistant athletic director of media relations, said ASU's development area is trying to get help from former players, and Bonds is one of them.
"We have no formal plans to do that, we have not sent a proposal to city council," Brand said. "If it were a nine-inning ball game, we would be in the pre-game."
Barry Bonds, an outfielder for the San Francisco Giants and four-time Most Valuable Player in the National League, set a new standard for single-season home runs, clubbing 73 for the Giants in 2001. He also broke two of the legendary Babe Ruth records in walks (177) and slugging percentage (.863).
Bonds, who played for well-known Coach Jim Brock at ASU from 1982-85, was named All-Pac-10 three times and in 1985 was selected to The Sporting News All-America team. In 1996, he was named to the all-time College World Series team. His ASU number, 24, was retired in 1993, and Bonds was selected for the ASU Hall of Fame in 1999.
In 1994, Bonds started the Barry Bonds Family Foundation, which supports activities and programs to improve education and quality of life for African-American youths.
Nevertheless, Ronny Ruiz, a justice studies junior, said he does not think Bonds deserves to have a street named after him near ASU.
"I personally think it is totally bullshit," Ruiz said. "Yeah he (Bonds) was at ASU, but what has he done for the city of Tempe, or Arizona for that matter?"
Mike Glitsos, a marketing junior, said there are two sides to the issue.
"I think it is good on one hand, because it would draw more attention to ASU baseball," Glitsos said. "It is great because he is arguably the greatest living baseball player, he represents our University very well on the field, but off the field he does not do such a great job of representing us."
Glitsos said more people would pay attention to ASU baseball if they knew players such as Reggie Jackson and Barry Bonds attended ASU.
"We have one of the best baseball programs in the country and no one really pays attention to that," he said.
Reach the reporter at erin.hawksworth@asu.edu.
