Giants honor Jeff Kent

[Upton]

Welcome back, Jeff Kent. All is forgiven.

That was the widespread sentiment Saturday among fans who helped celebrate Kent's induction into the Giants' Wall of Fame, a distinction reserved for the most accomplished and longest-tenured performers in San Francisco history.

Not a boo was heard from the 500 or so fans attending the afternoon ceremony in which the plaque honoring Kent was unveiled on AT&T Park's King Street wall, joining the 43 others representing last year's charter class of inductees.

Maybe a handful of fans hooted at Kent when he took a bow for the AT&T Park crowd in the middle of the second inning. But any catcalls were drowned out by the standing ovation he received from the packed house, which also was treated to a video tribute featuring Kent's exploits as a Giant. Kent returned the salute by waving and tipping his cap -- a Giants cap, naturally.

Odds are, at least some of these spectators booed Kent when he returned to San Francisco following his 2002 departure from the Giants. The volume of verbal abuse, particularly when he moved from the Houston Astros to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2005, was almost deafening at times.

But Kent probably guaranteed that he'll be cheered forever by Giants fans as he professed his undying love for the club he played with for six years, the most time he spent with any of the six teams that employed him.

"The only place I ever cared about and gave my heart to was San Francisco," said Kent, whose 351 home runs and 1,389 RBIs as a second baseman rank first in Major League history.

http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090829&content_id=6688370&vkey=news_sf&fext=.jsp&c_id=sf

Jeff Kent's demeanor off the field made him one of those guys who made it tough for you to genuinely like him. On the field though he was one of the greatest second baseman of all time, a sure fire Hall of Famer, in which he says he'll go in as a Giant, and as Giants broadcaster Duane Kuiper pointed out, the heart and soul of those great Giants teams.

[trumad]

1. I see a couple of Bonds defenders were booing Kent...

Douchebags...

[Upton]

2. Not for the first time..

I have no idea what you're talking about. Granted, I was doing about 3 different things when Kent was introduced but I heard no boos at all..and a prolonged standing ovation.

[trumad]

3. Hooted...Booed...what's the fiucking diff...

From your own piece...

Maybe a handful of fans hooted at Kent when he took a bow for the AT&T Park crowd in the middle of the second inning. But any catcalls were drowned out by the standing ovation he received from the packed house, which also was treated to a video tribute featuring Kent's exploits as a Giant. Kent returned the salute by waving and tipping his cap -- a Giants cap, naturally.

[Upton]

4. Lets take a look..

"Maybe a handful of fans hooted at Kent when he took a bow for the AT&T Park crowd in the middle of the second inning."

You do know what the definition of the word "maybe" is? If not, lets go over that too:

may·be (mb)
adv.
Perhaps; possibly.
1. An uncertainty
2. An uncertain reply

And even if we suppose for a moment that what you imply is true and there actually were some who hooted or booed, there is no evidence to suggest that they were Bonds defenders.

[trumad]

5. Nice try---

fact of the matter is---It was your b---oy Cboy hooting at Kent because Kent had the temerity to get in BB's grill.

[madinmaryland]

12. Kent and Bonds love-in??...

Dayum, a bit of roid rage from Barroid???

..snip

Bonds shoved Kent in the chest during a scrape that spiced up the San Diego Padres' 10-7 win over the feuding Giants. Bonds hit his 592nd career homer right after the dustup and the Giants erased a five-run deficit, but their bullpen blew the lead.

The dispute appeared to begin with Kent yelling at third baseman David Bell. Bonds became involved and as the argument escalated, he shoved Kent. Bonds and Kent had to be separated, and TV replays showed that trainer Stan Conte was holding back manager Dusty Baker after Baker moved from the other side of the dugout to intervene.

Several sources, including a Giants player, told the San Jose Mercury News that Kent snapped at Baker and told him: "I want off this team." Another source said that Kent told Baker: "It's his team anyway, of course you'll take his side."

..snip

Bonds and Kent.. a pair of douchebags.

[Onceuponalife]

6. "Not a boo was heard"

After the relentless trashing of Kent's name over the past 7 years, with even accusations of racism, from the Barry Bonds fetishists, suddenly they love him. Shameless hypocricy. Those few people who "hooted" (what are they, owls?)at him are the only ones with their honesty intact.

[Upton]

7. BS

what did you want Giants fans to do when Kent came back in a Dodger uniform, cheer him? Do Red Sox fans cheer Johnny Damon?

Now that Kent is retired, and he flushed that disgraceful blue uniform*, it gave all the wonderful Giants fans a chance to look back at all the great things he did as a Giant and rightfully give him his due.

That's not hypocrisy, that's sports.

[Captain Hilts]

8. I remember seeing him play with Toronto when he came up with them. nt

[Upton]

9. Kent was with the Mets and Indians too

before Brian Sabean made the trade for him, sending Matt Williams to the Indians. Giants fans were calling for Sabean's head, I can't remember anybody who liked it, including myself, but strangely enough it turned out to be possibly the greatest trade in Giants history.

[Onceuponalife]

10. I never booed Dusty Baker or trashed his name

after he went to the Giants, or any other player. You boo someone to feel self righteous, then when you need a shot of narcicism you are very happy to cheer for them. It's all about you, not the player.

[Captain Hilts]

11. Yes, as a Mets fan I was delighted by the trade. But he had an attitude that became

counter productive. I don't know how much of that was his fault.

Both the Mets and Giants benefited from the trade.