The NY Daily News’ Bill Madden is in the minority when it comes to common sense:
….the H
all of Fame’s Great Dilemma: It continues to bill itself as a museum, and the custodian of the game’s history, and records. But down the road, how does the Hall justify that if it excludes the holders of the most significant of those records?
…. with 15 MVP and Cy Young Awards between them, Clemens, ninth all-time in wins and third in strikeouts, and Bonds, the all-time home run leader, are the two most decorated players in the history of the Baseball Writers’ awards voting — and yet those same writers, many of whom are of the opinion they have an obligation to abide by the “integrity and sportsmanship” clause, feel compelled to say “No” when it comes to a plaque in Cooperstown.
…. “The problem you have now is that the Hall of Fame is supposed to tell the history of the game, good and bad,” said a baseball official, “and unfortunately there is this inconsistency between the records and the people elected to the Hall. If you’re going to keep out the suspected steroids players, don’t you then also have to put an asterisk or something on their records? You can’t have it both ways. Obviously, the commissioner has no intention of putting an asterisk on the records, and so, if they’re going to stand, Bonds and Clemens should be in the Hall of Fame. And, frankly, so, too, should Rose.”
Um, yeah. I’ve been saying that for going on a decade. Better late than never.
Meanwhile, Mike Lupica, (savior of children, baseball and integrity, though maybe not in that order) still wants us to know he’s got it right about Bonds and Clemens:
…. You break no laws, by the way, if you don’t care whether Clemens and Bonds and Sosa were shooting up in the dugout.
You don’t have to care.
But if you do, ask yourself a question:
Do you believe Clemens was clean over the second half of his career?
Once again, we see how it is with guys with a computer, a newspaper and am axe to grind. “Apologize.” Done. “Not enough.” “Gotcha, now go on trial.” Beat it. “Not enough.”
On and on. Just remember that Clemens was better than Lupica’s boyhood idols, Bonds was better than Lupica’s boyhood heroes, and that’s why he won’t let up. Guys like Palmeiro, guys like Ramirez, those guys he’s already forgotten about. Jason Grimsley? The only time Jason Grimsley will be in a Lupica article is if he shoots somebody. He didn’t beat an immortal.
UPDATE: In a related article written by Murray Chass, I came across this Buster Olney quote:
“The institution of baseball condoned the use of performance-enhancing drugs for almost two decades with inaction. To hold it against a handful of individuals now is, to me, retroactive morality.”
Again, not to belabor the point, but I have been saying that for going on a decade. At the risk of repeating myself, I’ll also mention that Pete Rose is in the same boat with these moving target assholes.. The sportswriters who now champion his permanent exclusion from baseball absolutely knew he was betting on sports for years; and at least a couple of them suspected he was betting on baseball. They said, wrote and did nothing, until it was politically expedient to act shocked and horrified.
On and on…. They demanded that Rose admit what he did, come clean, and apologize. The minute he did, they jumped down his throat insisting that he didn’t apologize the right way. Jason Giambi went through the exact same thing. So did A-Rod. Only Andy Pettitte appeared to handle his apology the right way. Of course, the writers already didn’t believe he was cheating anyway. He was an acknowledged “good guy,” which meant that he was a good interview for the sycophants.
CDP+ is a quick and reliable diagnostic tool serving as a link between vehicle and computer csh
Many genuinely excellent web sites on this internet site, relation pertaining to factor.
I am stunned at the small print you have here. It unveils the best way effectively someone perceives this particular matter. Added that web page, restarted for further content articles. Anyone, my pal, ROCK! I stumbled upon the data I actually previously searched everywhere and easily would not come across. What great website.
We’ve not long ago started off an internet site ., the data you are offering on this internet site has hel
I found your blog internet site on the search engines and view a portion of the early on content. Always maintain in the great. I recently extra the Rss to be able to my personal Windows live messenger Media Reader. Awaiting reading through far more from you afterwards!
[url=http://www.nikefreerunsdenmark.info][b]nike free run[/b][/url]
nike free run
Very interesting details you’ve got noticed, appreciate it with regard to putting up.
Just what exactly may perhaps a person would suggest regarding submit for you to produced few days in the past? Any kind of confident?
How are things? I liked studying this kind of submit. My husband and I happen to be looking into because of this
form of write-up with the longest some time to We understand that the specifics of the problem at hand is just
right. I will be likely to bring in this specific submitting to my own neice. Can you tell us the way to attain your
Feed? Always maintain on writing a blog!
Fantastic posting, you could have talked about some excellent information, I also conceive this can be a very fantastic website.
How are things? My partner and i liked examining this particular distribute. My
spouse and i have been looking into just for this sort of report with the best
some time to We know that the specifics of the matter accessible will be just
right. I’ll be likely to present this kind of submitting for you to my personal
neice. Can you tell me the best way to acquire your brand-new Feed? Always
maintain upon running a blog!
Wohh exactly what I’m searching for, thanks for installing.
http://www.marcjacobshandbags2u.com
http://www.supraskytopvip.com
Extremely regularly I go to this website. It very a great deal is pleasant to me. Thanks the author!
Here is an area that might be of help for you!
Hi! Your publish rocks and can be a great study!
The sports series (Sneaker Collection) is an advanced version of UGG classic sports shoes, a wealth of material integration of traditional UGG luxury comfort elements, reflecting the UGG both comfort and fashion design concepts.
The classic series and the cold weather series (Duck Boot Collection & Cold Weather Collections) is the perfect partner, not only of the rain and snow can make your feet all day to stay warm and dry, wearing them comfortable, breathable, effective protection from rain and snow belt to the trouble.
this is kind of like when the sex pistols had the number 1 record in england and for 2 weeks there was no number 1 listed because it was offensive or when howard stern had the number 1 book and the ny times refused to list it
im sorry…its just wrong
if bonds and the rocket dont make it to the hall…then that place is a giant joke
I wonder if some of this goes to the players calling the writers’ bluff and the BBWAA not expecting any of the players to admit to anything. Now that they admitted their wrongdoing, what do you do? There’s no way Rose would be magically healed if he just came clean for something everybody knew he did anyway. Seems like the steroid issue is something similar, in that no matter what they say or do, there is nothing that can “clear” these players in the minds of the writers, right or wrong. It just makes for good copy to say “He should own up to it.”
Most people have forgotten about the steroid users anymore. Does anybody else care? Rafael Palmeiro put up some pretty high career numbers, but he didn’t take down any single big-time record the same way Bonds or McGwire did, which is the only reason those two are even talked about anymore. And let’s face it, Jason Grimsley….if anything, he’s the poster boy for the “steroids don’t really help” camp.
Goin’ to court & beating the rap but still gettin’ the cold shoulder from MLB & omitted from Cooperstown isn’t all that new — Shoeless Joe was acquitted by the court, but baseball is still holding him guilty almost 100 years later. It’s sad how MLB does this kind of thing… but then again, Bud Selig still believes Abner Doubleday invented baseball, so what can we expect?
Lupica’s sanctimony is intolerable. Its been a hallmark of his for his whole career.
Lupica. 50/50 he thinks Paterno is a great guy and knew nothing about Sandusky. Is irrelevance is directly proportional to his height and inversely proportional to his ego