Remember the summer when Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire had that thrilling home run chase? I do. I also remember who everyone knew they were juicing on something, fans and writers alike. But all of us were hooked. So now when it is time for Hall of Fame voting, the writers who were cheering right along sid of us, suddenly become holier-than-thou and refuse to vote for McGwire or Sosa. (And I assume the same will be true of Rafael Palmero, Barry Bonds, Manny Rameriez and Roger Clemens and maybe even A-Rod.) Let me make this clear: the Baseball Hall of Fame without those men is incomplete.
I haven't yet spoken to one baseball fans who cares about steroids. Yes, juicing will make you stronger butit will not make you more talented. So yes, Barry Bonds on roids makes a difference. But Ronnie Cedeno could take all the steroids in the world and it wouldn't do a damn bit of good. We were all watching when Bonds set the single season and career home run records. The writers were there for every at bat when Barry was sitting on 755. Now their sanctimonious attitudes will keep him from his rightful and deserved place in the HOF. (Keep in mind some of the writers refuse to vote for any player during his first year of eligibility, which is why no player has ever been a unanimous selection. So you see what we are up against.)
The same will happen to Roger Clemens who, like Barry, has nothing but allegations of steroid use following him. Roger Clemens is one of baseball's all-time greatest pitchers. I defy any of you to make a list of longer than five pitchers better than Roger. But the arrogance of people like Buster Olney and Peter Gammons will keep him out of the Hall.
When it comes to Rafael Palmero and Manny Rameriez, both of whom tested positive for steroids, again I ask: does anyone other than some aging, fat sports writers give a crap? No. The Hall of Fame is for the fans. We want to see ManRam and Palmero enshrined. We want busts of Clemens and Barry and McGwire and Sammy on display.
The writers are not the baseball police. They have no right to deny the game's greatest exclusion from the Hall of Fame. We as baseball fans must let our voices be heard and encourage the enshrimenet of all these players who are now eligible and the others when their time comes. Put an end to the hypocrisy and sanctimony and give the fans what they want: a Hall of Fame with all the right players.
No comments:
Post a Comment