found this on sportsline..........

Bonds to skip Home Run Derby

SAN FRANCISCO -- San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds will skip the Home
Run Derby before the All-Star Game next week in Chicago.

When asked why he won't participate, Bonds told a group of reporters, "Because
I'm a grown man and I don't have to do it."

"Did Michael Jordan play in the slamfest every year?" Bonds said. "Nobody asked
him why. I'm 30-something years old. They didn't even ask me. Go ahead and get
mad at me. Say what you want, but no."