Even with homers, Bonds not a hit

SAN FRANCISCO – Barry Bonds’ smiling mug won’t be gracing boxes of the Breakfast of Champions anytime soon.

Since hitting No. 756 there have been no “I’m going to Disneyland” moments for Bonds, no cereal box immortality.

“We simply have no plans at this point,” to work with Bonds, Wheaties spokeswoman Tara Johnson said by e-mail.

The home run king remains radioactive to corporate sponsors. A possible federal indictment for tax evasion and perjury, rumors of marital infidelity, alleged steroid use and an often combative relationship with the media is too much baggage for companies seeking an athlete to hawk its wares.

“Character, character, character is first and foremost in the minds of my clients,” said Scott Novak, who represents National Sports Marketing Network, the trade organization of the sports business industry.

Tiger Woods earns $100 million a year off of the golf course and baseball’s top pitch man, New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter, earns about $7 million, according to Sports Illustrated.

“I can’t imagine very many major brands signing a contract with Barry to be their ambassador,” said Novak, who is also a senior vice president for sports marketing at a New York firm. “Companies don’t want to wrap themselves in the veneer of steroids, whether the allegations are true or not.”

Bonds’ marketing potential is also hurt by the fact that he is near the end of his career and he’s on a losing team and has never won a championship, Novak said.

Before indictment rumors and steroid allegations, Bonds made some inroads with sponsors. After breaking the single-season home run record in 2001 he landed short-term deals with KFC parent Yum! Brands Inc. and Charles Schwab Corp. and was paid to wear gear made by the Italian sporting goods company Fila and Franklin Sports.

But after he became embroiled in the federal BALCO steroids investigation, Bonds’ already shaky relationship with corporate culture turned sour. MasterCard International Inc. called off negotiations in 2005.

While Bonds most likely will make a lot money after his retirement from selling signed bats and balls, the steroid suspicions will keep companies from signing deals with the embattled slugger.

“The specter of steroids in sports is enough for any company to take pause before signing on the dotted line,” Novak said.