Alex Kurland is a member of the zinged-by-Barry Bonds club.

He was 6 years old, in the midst of a family vacation taking in spring training games in Arizona, when he spotted the San Francisco Giants' moody slugger in a Phoenix hotel lobby.

As a kid who loved baseball, Kurland made the natural move: He racheted up his courage, approached the perennial All-Star and asked for an autograph.

"Instead of him signing something for us, what we got was a lecture," said Kurland, the Marmonte League's Most Valuable Player after a sterling senior season as a catcher at Calabasas High. "It was disappointing. It would have meant a lot to us if he had signed an autograph for us.

"He was with a couple of ladies, and even they were saying, C'mon, give them an autograph.' But he wouldn't do it."

Kurland, who has signed a letter of intent to join the USC baseball program, isn't the only kid to be snubbed by major league baseball's newly annointed home run king.

He won't hold a grudge, either, characterizing Bonds' record-setting achievement as "amazing."

But the episode does illustrate the mixed-bag legacy Bonds has created even while chasing baseball's most hallowed record.

In terms of energizing fans and galvanizing the baseball community, the player who eclipsed Babe Ruth and surpassed Henry Aaron mostly goes down on strikes.

"Most kids are ambivalent about him and the record," said David Griffith, who coached the Foothill Senior (ages 15-16) Little League team this summer. "Barry Bonds is a great baseball player, but most kids have the perception that he used steroids and cheated to get the record.

"It's all a little sad."

Dan Maye, Royal High's baseball coach, concurs.

"There is no doubt that he is a great baseball player," said Maye, the dean of Marmonte League coaches. "But as far as him getting the record, I really don't care.

"I wouldn't follow it. My thought was, Well, maybe I'll see the highlight on TV later on.' "

Even in a baseball-mad region like Ventura County, which produces elite players and top-notch teams like Napa turns out grapes, Bonds' impact can be both a hit and a miss.

The baseball community lauds the player's ability, but laments the man's character. All agree Bond's record is a significant achievement, steroids allegations notwithstanding.

"You still have to hit the ball," said Garrett Rau, the Pacific View League's Player of the Year after helping Camarillo High reach the CIF-Southern Section Division II championship game. "We don't know if he took steroids, or he didn't. But he's still a great player. He still has the have the ability to hit a baseball."

Justin Shutt, who graduated from Oxnard High in June as an all-league player in baseball and football, said he's focused on the on-field deeds.

"I try to look past all the controversial stuff and just look at the player," said Shutt. "I'll give him the benefit of a doubt and be happy for him. I'm not sure I want to know if he took steroids or not."

Jordan Lindebaum, the Pacific View League's Pitcher of the Year as a senior at Rio Mesa High, typifies the wide-range viewpoint.

"I don't really have strong feelings about him, either way," said Lindebaum. "He's a great offensive player. Not just anybody can hit home runs. None hit them like he does. You've got to give him credit.

"But there are all the questions about steroids. Whether he did or he didn't, I don't know. I know I would never do it."

Mike Vinyard, an all-Marmonte League second baseman as a junior at Royal, said there are lessons to be learned in watching Bonds.

"He's an amazing baseball player," said Vinyard. "Nobody can do what he has done. But there's always going to be the thought that he did it the wrong way. As a player, you have to be careful to what you do to yourself."

Admire Bonds or not, area coaches note the player has brought the issue of steroids to prominence.

"One of his legacies will be as the player who brought the steroids issue to the forefront," said Zach Miller, baseball coach at Westlake. "I think that's fantastic. Kids are talking about it, and they're thinking about it. This help them make the right choices."

John Lister, a standout football and baseball player at Thousand Oaks, is adament on his choice.

"I would never do it," said the junior-to-be. "It's all about what you learn from your parents, and your coaches. It's all about your personal feelings.

"I don't think (steroids) are worth it. You have to think about your body. You have to think about what's best for you."