Barry Bonds doesn't understand why people don't like Alex Rodriguez and believes the New York Yankees should celebrate him if he ties and passes Willie Mays for fifth place on the all-time home run list.

Rodriguez needs five home runs to tie Mays.

"Anytime anybody in the game does something that's a great accomplishment, the game of baseball should celebrate that," Bonds told USA Today Sports. "No matter what. Baseball is benefiting from that person's hard work, so baseball should at least celebrate.

"Why the hate? Why hate on something you're paying to see? I don't understand it. He's entertaining us. I wish life wasn't like that."

Rodriguez has three years and $61 million remaining on his contract with the Yankees, could earn a $6 million bonus by tying Mays.