When I came on board, I was excited. Blake and I exchanged emails about topics and we had some great ideas. There were, however, a few topics that we said we hated talking about. Blake is going to be putting together a piece on why he is boycotting the NFL (I had mentioned there was no way I was posting on that and giving Vick the satisfaction). I am looking forward to that piece.
Which brings me to my apology. I am sorry that I am about to post about Barry Bonds. I know the media has covered to the point of vomiting, but I want to hear what people around us say. Sure, we hear a lot reporters towing the company line. I want some opinions.
So, here's mine.
Where to begin? I was inspired by a CNN.com list of the "Greatest non-drug related Scandals ever". It covered Pete Rose (gambling), The Chicago Black Socks, current NBA situation, etc. It seems that people are not able to draw a line between different types of cheating. There was recently a "town hall" discussion hosted by ESPN in San Fran (of all the places!). There was this huge debate about types of cheating. Some of the guests were arguing that all cheating is the same! They were honestly putting scuffing a ball and using Vaseline on the same level as juicing.
Am I missing something here?
To me, it is different. When Kenny Rogers has a little somethin' on his hand...fine. If Niekro gets away with having that emery board, so be it. I am willing to draw the line and say, "If somebody does this and doesn't get caught, that's life." However, when one crosses the line of gambling and drugs, it has gone to far. It is self destructive behavior and is hurting the game.
The next attitude that I can't stand that stems from not being able to differentiate between levels of cheating is from Buster Olney, a columnist for ESPN.com. His point was that we are in the steroids era and Bonds has hit those home runs against guys who could very well be juicing. Since there is no way to tell who is and who isn't using the cream and the clear, he is either voting for nobody or everybody. He isn't going to deny someone his vote because of alleged steroid use.
This is pathetic. Grow a back bone and using your judgement skills. That is why you have a Hall of Fame vote. As a person that has a vote for the most prestigious club in sports, you need to be able to look at each case and identify if they should be allowed that honor. Buster, when you read this, take a look at the picture below. That is the guy that is going to have one of the greatest records in sports history. He thanks you for your vote.
Which brings me to my apology. I am sorry that I am about to post about Barry Bonds. I know the media has covered to the point of vomiting, but I want to hear what people around us say. Sure, we hear a lot reporters towing the company line. I want some opinions.
So, here's mine.
Where to begin? I was inspired by a CNN.com list of the "Greatest non-drug related Scandals ever". It covered Pete Rose (gambling), The Chicago Black Socks, current NBA situation, etc. It seems that people are not able to draw a line between different types of cheating. There was recently a "town hall" discussion hosted by ESPN in San Fran (of all the places!). There was this huge debate about types of cheating. Some of the guests were arguing that all cheating is the same! They were honestly putting scuffing a ball and using Vaseline on the same level as juicing.
Am I missing something here?
To me, it is different. When Kenny Rogers has a little somethin' on his hand...fine. If Niekro gets away with having that emery board, so be it. I am willing to draw the line and say, "If somebody does this and doesn't get caught, that's life." However, when one crosses the line of gambling and drugs, it has gone to far. It is self destructive behavior and is hurting the game.
The next attitude that I can't stand that stems from not being able to differentiate between levels of cheating is from Buster Olney, a columnist for ESPN.com. His point was that we are in the steroids era and Bonds has hit those home runs against guys who could very well be juicing. Since there is no way to tell who is and who isn't using the cream and the clear, he is either voting for nobody or everybody. He isn't going to deny someone his vote because of alleged steroid use.
This is pathetic. Grow a back bone and using your judgement skills. That is why you have a Hall of Fame vote. As a person that has a vote for the most prestigious club in sports, you need to be able to look at each case and identify if they should be allowed that honor. Buster, when you read this, take a look at the picture below. That is the guy that is going to have one of the greatest records in sports history. He thanks you for your vote.
4 comments:
I want to make one thing clear. I love Buster Olney, I really do. He's the reason I pay for ESPN Insider. If he stopped his daily baseball blog I'd have no need for Insider. That being said...
I have struggled for over a year with his logic on why he'll vote for Bonds, McGuire, etc. I agreed, I didn't, I wasn't sure. I can now say, again, that I just cannot agree with it. I'm with Rob 100%, that's why he has a vote, to make that call, not to avoid making any sort of call. If I had a vote, I wouldn't vote for him, I couldn't. I'm not a racist, I don't have a problem with his attitude, those things have nothing to do with his numbers. I just have to believe that a person can't really put on muscle like that without juicing. Pictures of Big Mac from that era are even more disturbing. There are certain guys who have avoided the steroid talk. Frank Thomas has been sweet for almost 20 years, no one has accused him. Thome, same thing, lots of guys. Anyway, that's my 2 cents.
Also, I'm in New Orleans until Friday night, so no posts for me until at least Saturday. Rob will have to run this ship.
I have to disagree with you both. Im pretty sure Bonds and McGwire and up to 50% of baseball did some kind of illegal drug. How can you decide who goes to the hall? This whole era is going to be scarred and to be honest it is still going on in the game. What they have learned from the testing that it comes from fast guys that cant hit out of the infield, relief pitchers, power hitters and starting pitchers. You cant find exactly who is doing it unless you trust Jose Canseco who is out to get everybody. I would vote for Bonds to go into the hall.
Since you don't have a handle, I will call you Joe.
Listen Joe, that is exactly the logic we are looking at but you need to take it one step farther. What I am saying is that as anyone who votes for the Hall needs to be able to differentiate between the cheaters and non-cheaters and not have some catch all rule. The people who have votes have them because of their judgement, not because they will set a list of rules and choose who to vote for by that. If that is what The Hall was about, wouldn't there just be a list of requirements on the front door?
You use the 50% number. Obvisouly you just pulled that from the blue bec you have no idea. Since we don't know and we are not going to listen to Jose "The clear has clouded my brain" Canseco, their needs to be discretion on who gets in and who gets left at the door step.
Ok, but steriods are not just muscle builders. The designer drugs also build hand-eye coordination, concentration and puts athletes in the zone. So with that it is possible that Ichiro has done steriods since he was in Japan. This might be a little out there but, he has speed, excellent hand eye coordination and concentration. How do you know that Ichiro isnt on steriods? Alex Sanchez didnt look like he was on steriods but he tested for it. Also, big guys like Frank Thomas could have been doing something since high school and there just isnt any testing for the drug that he is on. Canseco was doing steriods back in high school and came up big and was always big. So, not everyone transformed like Bonds did. And, yes I think Bonds did something but I would still vote him in. And, I am no way saying that Frank Thomas or Ichiro did anything but its two superstars that are considered to be clean but no one knows for sure.
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