Side Lines for Thursday — September 16, 2004

• Alou wants Bonds to get more respect

• HSF contest on Sept. 18-19

• KVMH benefit golf tournament

• Lions Golf Tourney Oct. 9

• Officials meeting for those interested

Alou wants Bonds to get more respect

MILWAUKEE — Felipe Alou wants Barry Bonds to get some respect, and not the kind that pitchers and managers show by walking him all the time.

The San Francisco Giants manager said he hopes the public’s perception of the surly slugger will change when Bonds joins Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron in the 700-homer club.

“Some of the great things that this man does would be finally and truly recognized,” Alou said.

Bonds nearly joined the club Wednesday night, sending the first pitch he saw to the right-field warning track.

He went hitless for the second straight game, however, going 0-for-4 with a walk in the Giant’s 8-1 win over the Brewers that kept San Francisco one-half game ahead of the Chicago Cubs in the NL wild-card race.

Alou is averse to giving Bonds a day off with the Giants in the playoff race, so his left fielder will play Thursday afternoon in the series finale, which will be broadcast nationally by ESPN.

If Bonds doesn’t do it in Milwaukee, he’ll get the chance to hit his historic homer where he has most of them, at SBC Park, where his shots often splash into McCovey Cove in San Francisco Bay.

The Giants start a nine-game homestand Friday night against the San Diego Padres, his favorite victims. Bonds has hit 78 homers off Padres pitchers, more than any other opponent.

Despite his power, Bonds is far from a beloved player. He’s been bedeviled by his often cantankerous disposition and, in recent years, steroid suspicions.

Alou played with Aaron and would like to see Bonds respected in the same manner.

“Hank was a guy who was not Mr. anything. He was Mr. Gentleman,” Alou said. “Even to this day he’s hoping that somebody would break his record. But not everyone’s the same. … People come from different environments. “I don’t know why Barry is the way he is or why Hank was the way he was. And it would be impossible to make everybody likable to the public.”

HSF contest on Sept. 18-19

Progressive Expressions and Billabong presents contest #1, at PK’s in Po‘ipu from Sept. 18-19. You must be a member to participate. Divisions include menehune 11-under, boys 12-14, junior men 15-17, open men 18-24, girls 17-under, boys bodyboard 14-under, junior bodyboard 15-17, women 18-up, senior men 35-44, longboard, and Garden Island Brotherhood, 4-A surf series.

For more information, call 338-1952.

KVMH benefit golf tournament

West Kaua‘i Medical Center/KVMH Charitable Golf Tournament happens on Saturday, October 2 at the Kaua‘i Lagoons Golf Course (Mokihana Course).

Entry fee is $85, which includes greens fee, golf cart, and banquet luncheon. Format is two person scramble, with a shotgun start at 8 a.m. Maximum handicap is 26 for men and 36 for women (20% of combined team handicap, USGA rules apply). Mulligans are $5 each (4 max per person). There will be great prizes, cash awards, and door prizes. All proceeds to benefit the programs for the KVMH Charitable Foundation for new hospital equipment. Registration deadline is September 25. For more info, call Steve Kline at 338-9452 or 482-0808. Email: skline@hhsc.org.

Lions Golf Tourney Oct. 9

The Lions Golf Tournament is set for Saturday, October 9 at the Princeville Makai Golf Course.

Registration opens at 7:00 a.m. with a shotgun start at 8:00 a.m. $80 entry include green fees, cart, cookout, and prizes.

All golfers are invited to participate. This is a Kaua‘i North Shore Lions Club fundraiser, and entry forms will be available at all Kaua‘i Golf Courses and at Pro-Am Golf, or call 826-7963.

Officials meeting for those interested

If you are interested in becoming a football official or if you want to get back into officiating, there’s an official’s meeting every Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. at the Lihu‘e Neighborhood Center.