Bye, bye Barry
Mike Tollin, the producer for the ESPN-delivered "Bonds on Bonds" documentary series, said today that the series has indeed ended -- and it's Barry's fault.
The ESPN press release put it this way:
"Tollin/Robbins Productions and ESPN have decided not to produce any additional episodes of Bonds on Bonds. The next show was to have focused on a behind-the-scenes look at Barry Bonds hitting his 715th home run.
"ESPN’s statement: 'Bonds’ representatives wanted creative control for the final episode, which Tollin/Robbins Productions and ESPN have been unwilling to give throughout the project.'�
Tollin (pictured here) had a plan: As soon as Bonds hit No. 715, he would do a one-hour special to get an historial perspective of the feat. A half-hour "Bonds on Bonds" episode scheduled for Memorial Day was canceled because it happened with so little turn-around time from when Bonds hit No. 715 the previous day. Tollin then said he was going to delay the one-hour show, then go on hiatus, then come back later this year to catch up.
In a text message from Dodger Stadium on Friday night, where Tollin is watching his beloved Phillies face the Dodgers, he said simply: I have nothing else left to say about it. When the series started in April, Tollin said Bonds would review the episodes, but he had no control. That was the deal.
Rachael Vizcarra, Bonds's publicist, also refused to comment.
We can read between the lines there.
Tollin has had enough. Barry has had enough. Now, it's up to Hollywood Walk of Famer Jim Gray to be his confidant for the rest of his playing days. Or hours.
Stay tuned.